The line was built in 1962 as a tourist attraction for visitors to the house.

Most of the rolling stock was acquired from the Royal Arsenal Railway, Woolwich, with two locomotives, Woolwich and Carnegie coming from that source, as well as seven goods wagons which were reduced to their frames and converted to passenger carriages.

Originally locomotives and carriages had royal blue livery.

The new owners sold the line's existing stock, and in 2000 took delivery of a 5.5 t (5.4 long tons; 6.1 short tons) diesel-powered replica tank engine.

The line's original equipment was purchased by the Waltham Abbey Royal Gunpowder Mills museum at Waltham Abbey.