The line was built on a surveyed course that followed the main driveway, across parkland, fields, and across two public highways. Across the Grosvenor estate, the railway was built to be as unobtrusive as possible by being laid level with the ground with a central drainage pipe beneath; however after leaving the park the line was embanked. Neither was the line fenced - where it crossed between fields it was carried on girders over a deep ditch to prevent cattle straying. Its used red furnace cinder for ballast which was deep and wide. The track was steel flat-bottomed rail of, attached by spring clips to cast ironsleepers, long and wide, spaced at centres. Pointwork was prepared at the workshop in Duffield ), and carried to site. The maximum gradient was 1 in 70, Eaton Hall being above the sidings at Balderton. Bridges over one or two streams, the longest being, but it crossed roadways on the level, at one point the main Wrexham to Chester road. Although Lord Heywood had obtained wayleave, it could only be a temporary arrangement because the Chester Corporation was not able to enter into a permanent agreement with a private railway. Heywood therefore campaigned for a clause in the proposed Light Railway Bill which would allow permission for public road crossings to be granted in perpetuity. The railway opened in 1896. The line included a branch to the brick store and estate workshop at Cuckoo's Nest at Pulford.
Rolling stock
The first engine was "Katie", an with Brown/Heywood valvegear. Following this were two identical locomotives, "Shelagh" and "Ursula". Further details are given below. Katie proved capable of handling up to on the level, or on the gradient, at a speed of around. Under test, was achieved in safety. All rolling stock was built to negotiate curves of minimum radius. Self-acting coupler-buffers were fitted and measures were taken to ensure interchangeability of parts. Thirty open wagons and a 4-wheeled brake van were initially provided, each wagon carrying about of coal or of bricks. The wagon 'tops' were removable to allow them to be used as flats, and bolster fittings were supplied to carry long items such as timber. An open 16 seat bogiecoach, a bogie parcel van and a small open 4 wheeled brake 'van' were also provided at the opening. Finally, a closed bogie passenger vehicle, some long seating 12 people inside and four outside, a bogie brake van seating four inside and four outside were supplied after opening. Other wagons were constructed by the Eaton Estate and rebuilt over the years.
The original Katie was sold to the newly built Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway and then in 1922 to the Llewellyn Miniature Railway in Southport. In 1923 she was sold to the Fairbourne Miniature Railway where she operated trains until scrapping in 1926. In 2016, a replica Katie was rebuilt, using its original frames. The replica has been on display at the Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway Museum, although it has occasionally been run, its first service was in 2018.
1904 Shelagh
*boiler
*grate area
*heating surface
*cylinders
*wheel diameter
*Brown/Heywood valve gear.
1916 Ursula
*as Shelagh
Operation
Lord Heywood envisaged that the line could transport about per year. Fright would mainly be coal, timber, road metal and bricks. Heywood believed this to be perfectly adequate for a gauge of railway. One of Eton Hall's fuel suppliers was the Chester fuel merchant Allan Morris & Co. It arranged for fuel supplies to be delivered in Standard-gauge waggons to Balderton sidings where the coal could be transferred into the line's narrow gauge trucks.
A new railway, named the Eaton Park Railway was opened in 1994. Trains on the line are hauled by a 'replica Katie. It is not available for use by the public except on the various garden open days. The new line consists of a large loop with a spur leading to the engine shed. The latter section of track follows a small part of the original route.
