For more than 35 years, a single miniature steam-train has made laps around Cockington Green – but it will now have a friend.

The team at Cockington Green Gardens commissioned a new train in 2023, to be named Douglass William, which will make its official debut in early December.

“Historically, if the train [called Mighty Mike] was out for service or anything like that, then we had no train,” said general manager Amanda Somerville.

“That won’t be the case anymore – we’ll always have a train to run, which is obviously really popular with our visitors.”

Douglass William is named after Doug Sarah, who, with his wife Brenda Sarah, founded Cockington Green Gardens in 1972.

The pair was inspired by miniature villages they saw on an extended family holiday in the United Kingdom, with their creation featuring detailed miniature buildings and manicured gardens.

The newest train was purpose-built in Wagga Wagga, in the NSW Riverina region, before it was transported to Canberra.

Ms Sommerville said the Riverina link was a chance connection.

“The expertise that we needed was located there,” she said.

“For us, it was a bonus that it wasn’t too far for us to go and have a look as the build was going on.”

The Cockington Green team were able to choose the kind of train they wanted, but it had to meet one key requirement.

“We’re on a 12-inch gauge track, so the train has to be specifically built to ensure that it can run on that track.”

Both Douglass William and Mighty Mike are gas-powered, though the former is a tad bigger.

Mighty Mike was built more than 30years ago and is a half-size replica of a ‘Fowler Cane’ locomotive. Photos: Thomas Lucraft.

The two trains will be used on a rotating basis, in the hope that any service disruptions will be minimised.

“We’ve been doing passenger testing for the last week [with Douglass William].

“It’s been such a long time coming … It’s like a big Christmas present for us.”

Ms Sommerville said Cockington Green has earned its place as a much-loved attraction – in part due to its miniature train rides.

“I’ve got photos or slides of myself when I was little at Cockington Green, and then I’ve got [the same with] my kids. It is a very much a generational experience, I think.

“Most of the people who come are bringing their kids because they came when they were kids. It’s really nice that they bring their own kids back to have that experience.”

For the train’s official launch in early December, “a little Christmas festival” will be held at Cockington Green, featuring balloon twisting, ice cream, and roving entertainment.

(And for those who have been good, the promise of a visit from Santa.)

The team at Cockington Green has also partnered with the Salvation Army to fundraise for their Christmas appeal.

“We’re really hoping that that [launch] will bring people out and have them, in the spirit of Christmas, give to those who are less fortunate than others.

“We select different charities at different times of the year … the Salvation Army and all the good work that they do came to mind.”

Cockington Green Gardens is open seven days a week from 9:30 am to 5 pm (last entry is at 4:15 pm), at 11 Gold Greek Road, Nicholls. Tickets cost between $15.50 and $75. They will be closed on Christmas and Boxing Day.

Their new train will be officially launched on Saturday (6 December). The celebrations will run from 10 am to 2 pm.