AS the train pulls in to Stourbridge Junction station, I wonder if I’m in Legoland by mistake.
The tiny shuttle carriage could carry four dozen people at a push — and with its goofy looks, it’s like something out of a cartoon.
But this Parry People Mover railcar is the only one of its kind in the world.
Its driver, David Hardwick, says: “We’ve had people come here specially to ride the train, from Japan, Australia, Africa.”
“From every continent except Antarctica,” adds his colleague Ross Bevan, whose website has provided information for hundreds of trainspotters since they began venturing here in 2009.
But it’s not just the train that is unique — it’s the line that it serves too.
I hop on board to discover more. And like the best things in life, it’s all over in a few minutes.
The branch line that connects Stourbridge Junction to Stourbridge Town in the West Midlands is less than one mile long — the shortest rail line in Britain, and one of the world’s shortest.
That’s why this dinky railcar, which uses a flywheel to generate energy from braking, was invented to serve it.
I see the rail yards and sidings as we pull out of Stourbridge Junction. A train peels off on the main line to Birmingham, and on the left is a housing estate down a slope.
In the distance, I can see an old church tower with a St George’s Cross fluttering on top.
The train rounds a curve and passes under a bridge — the drama is almost too much — before creeping into Stourbridge Town station.
After watching the little train depart (there’s just one service every ten minutes) I head to the high street to see what Stourbridge has to offer.
For centuries it was an important market town. After the Industrial Revolution exploded in the Black Country, the town became the world centre of glassmaking.
There are handsome historic buildings like King George VI College and the Victorian Gothic red brick Town Hall which has hosted many a live music event over the years.
One local street artist has recently painted huge murals of big Nineties home-town bands The Wonder Stuff, Pop Will Eat Itself and Ned’s Atomic Dustbin on the sides of several buildings.
As I grab a lime and soda at the Cock & Bull, Wolverhampton’s Slade are blaring out from the speakers.
Then it’s time to head back on the tiny train to Stourbridge Junction.
The train, designed and built in the Midlands by inventor John Parry, almost hits 20mph on its three-minute journey.
Ahmad, who runs Cafe Presto on the platform, tells me to look out for George, the station cat — who is now world famous, with tens of thousands of followers on social media.
I track down the ginger Tom at the ticket office, where he’s getting his belly rubbed by staff members.
Even George has travelled on Britain’s shortest railway line — and they’ve even named the train after him.
GO: Stourbridge
GETTING THERE: London North Western and West Midlands Trains run services from around the country to Birmingham and Stourbridge.
Trains can be booked through Omio. See omio.co.uk.
A ride on the shortest train costs £1.60 each way and tickets can be bought in person at the ticket office or online in advance.
STAYING THERE: Hotel Du Vin in nearby Birmingham has rooms from £100.
See hotelduvin.com.