A NARROW gauge railway snaking its way round the heart of the Forest is being suggested as a perfect and unobtrusive way to attract more tourists to the area.
Freeminer David Harvey of Coleford is floating the idea to obtain the views of local people. He has already had talks with the Forestry Commission.
Mr Harvey has been working on a scheme to reveal the old Mireystock tunnel and says he was struck by the number of people who stopped to ask him historic details of the old line and what industries it served.
"It occurred to me that the line actually went by many of the old colliery sites and other places of interest. Not everyone can walk for miles or use bikes and there are many people who would enjoy a conducted tour through a beautiful part of the district," he said.
Mr Harvey said he appreciated it would be a huge project but the route was already in place along former railway embankments presently used as cycle trials.
"I admit it would be a massive project but it is not pie in the sky. It could be achieved," he said.
The route would lead from Mireystock and follow the former line to Drybrook Road Station, Foxes Bridge Colliery, under the road bridge at the Dilke, past Lightmoor Colliery and on to Mallards Pike, ending at New Fancy.
"It could even be a completely circular route taking in Cannop on the way back. And in could run in tandem with the existing cycleways as the railway could be on 2ft gauge tracks. The engines are available and they are very quiet and quite safe.
"There would be no noise nuisance or fire risk," he said.
"It's no more than an idea but one I believe is worthy of discussion. It would be interesting to get the views of Review readers," he said.