Home to Margaret the steam locomotive and the historic Sarnau Signal Box, the Railway Garden is a highlight of any trip to Scolton
Get up close to two irreplaceable pieces of Pembrokeshire locomotive history, enjoy a drink or picnic, and don’t forget the Scolton Express Play Train, specially designed to bring the subject alive for younger members of the family!
Built by the famous Fox, Walker & Co. in 1878, Margaret is the only surviving example of their work in Wales. She worked first transporting slate on the Narberth Road and Maenclochog Railway (she was named for the quarry-owner’s wife), and after a long and varied career in the area came to Scolton Manor in 1974.
She was joined by another treasure of Welsh railway history in 1979: Sarnau Signal Box, a rare example of the twist-locking boxes built only in the 1880s. Together with Scolton’s collection of historic railway material and items on loan from Pembrokeshire Archives, the pair represent a vivid and colourful encounter with Pembrokeshire history!
The Railway Garden was opened to the public in June 2021, with both Margaret and Sarnau Signal Box having been fully restored by the Scolton team. Help was gratefully received from local experts as well as enthusiastic volunteers from Norman Industries and beyond, and the restoration was funded by the Welsh Government and the Pilgrim Trust.