Rudyard Lake Railway

Address: Rudyard Station, Rudyard Road, Rudyard, Nr. Leek, Staffordshire ST13 8PF
Location Type: Miniature Railway Line Telephone: 01538 306704 Email: info@rlsr.org
Line Length: 1½ miles Gauge: 10½ inches Route: Around Rudyard Lake
Stations: Rudyard - The Dam - Lakeside - Hunthouse Wood Journey Time: 35 minutes return
Service: January, February, March every Sunday / February 21 - 26 / March 26 / April - October Saturday & Sunday / April 18 -22 / May 2, 30, 31 / June Wednsdays , 2, 3 / July Wednesdays 21, 22 / August every day / September Wednsedays, 1, 2 / October 24 - 28 / November Sundays / December 10, 11
Tickets: Adult £5.00, Child £3.50 unlimited travel on day of issue
Parking: Rudyard Station ST13 8PF
Website: www.rlsr.org YouTubevideo location map

Rudyard Station: Refreshments, picnic area

Rudyard Lake was built in 1797 to act as a reservoir to supply water to canals. In 1829 the North Staffordshire Railway Company laid a track that went along the eastern edge of the lake. Promotion by the railway company resulted in the area becoming popular with day trippers. One couple that visited were later married and named their son after the lake, he was Rudyard Kipling, the famous writer.

A miniature railway was first set up at Rudyard Lake in 1978 but this lasted only two years before it moved to Trago Mills, Devon. Construction of the present line which is called the Rudyard Lake Steam Railway began in December 1984 with passenger services starting in August 1985. The railway line has been extended a number of times and is now 1½ miles long, going from Rudyard station using part of the original railway trackbed.

Trains travel through woodland and along the side of the lake to the terminus at Hunthouse Wood. Two extra stations allow you alight to go for a walk before returning on a later train. Rudyard Lake is an attractive area with rowing boats, sailing and fishing.

All passenger services are steam powered with five locomotives available they are No.6 'Excalibur' 2-4-2T, No.7 'Merlin' 2-4-2T, No.8 'King Arthur' 0-6-2T, No.9 'Pendragon' 2-4-2T and No.196 'Waverley'. Open most weekends and school holidays the railway is an excellent way to view the area.

Abbey Pumping Station Railway

Address: Corporation Road, Leicester LE4 5PX Location Type: Museum / Narrow Gauge Railway Line
Telephone: 0116 299 5111 Email: museums@leicester.gov.uk Line Length: 300 yards Gauge: 2ft
Open Days: Museum every day 1 February - 30 October, railway operates occasionally (see website)
Admission: Free, nominal charge for train rides Parking: On site LE4 5PX
Website: www.leicester.gov.uk YouTubevideo location map

Construction of the Abbey Pumping Station was completed in 1891. This impressive Victorian building has four steam beam engines which pumped sewage at Beaumont Ley treatment works. Closed in 1964 the pumping station reopened as a museum in 1972.

Three of the four beam engines are in working order and can been seen in steam on special open days. Built in Leicester by Grimson and Sons they are rare Woolf compound rotative beam engines.

Track for a narrow gauge railway was laid in the early 1980s, this followed the layout of a previous railway. Manned by volunteers the railway gives rides to the public on special event days. Trains are usually hauled by Bagnall 'Leonard' 0-4-0ST built in 1919 also available are four industrial diesel locomotives manufactured by Simplex and Ruston which date from 1931 - 1979.

Snibston Colliery Railway

Address: Snibston, Ashby Road, Coalville, Leicestershire LE67 3LN Location Type: Museum / Standard Gauge Railway Line

Telephone: 01530 278444 Email: snibston@leicester.gov.uk Line Length: 1200 yards Gauge: 4ft 8½ inches

Open Days: Museum / Country Park every day, railway operates occasionally (see website)Admission: Museum: Adult £6.95, Child £4.75, Family £21.00 (2 adults and 2 children), Train Rides: Adult £1.50, Child £0.95, Family £3.50 (2 adults and 2 children)

Parking: Free on site LE67 3LN

Website: www.leics.gov.uk YouTubevideo location map

Snibston Colliery opened in 1832 and produced coal for over 150 years. In 1836 a railway was built at the mine under the guidance of Robert Stephenson, the line connected the colliery to the Swannington to Leicester Railway. After nationalisation of the coal industry in 1947 Snibston had production modernised by using the latest mechanisation techniques. The colliery closed in 1983, with most of the buildings being saved.

Leicestershire County Council purchased the site in 1986 and opened it to the public in 1992. The area now has a Discovery Museum, a 100 acre country park and nature reserve as well as the colliery.

Part of the railway track was relaid by Coaltrack volunteers and opened in 2001. On open days trains travel from Coalville to Snibston. Occasionally demonstration coal trains are operated. The locomotives used are diesel shunters that were at the colliery. As the railway does not run regularly a check must be made on the Snibston website.

Amerton Railway

Address: Amerton Farm, Stowe by Chartley, Nr. Weston, Staffordshire ST18 0LA Location Type: Narrow Gauge Railway Line
Telephone: 01785 850965 Email: enquiries@amertonrailway.co.uk Line Length: 1 mile circular Gauge: 2ft Stations: Amerton - Chartley Road
Service: Sunday 27 March - 30 October / Saturday 2 April - 27 August / 29 August / Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday 2 August - 28 August / 27 November / December 3, 4, 10, 11, 17, 18 , 24
Tickets: Adult £2.20, Child £1.50 Parking: ST18 0LA
Website: www.amertonrailway.co.uk YouTubevideo location map

Site Facilities: Booking office/gift shop, museum, locomotive shed, farmyard, bakery, tea room, garden centre, craft shop, picnic tables

Amerton Railway owes its existence to a narrow gauge steam locomotive called 'Isabel' built by W.G. Bagnall of Stafford in 1897. The locomotive hauled granite at the Cliffe Hill Granite Company, Markfield, Leicestershire until withdrawn from service in 1946. Instead of being scrapped 'Isabel' returned to W.G. Bagnall in 1953 to be restored for display at their works. English Electric took over W.G. Bagnall in 1961, 'Isabel' was later moved and displayed opposite Stafford railway station.

The Staffordshire Narrow Gauge Society formed to restore 'Isabel' to full working order. After three years the restoration had been completed and the search began for a satisfactory site within Stafford Borough Council area for a railway line. In 1990 a suitable location for the new railway was found at Amerton Farm.

By Easter 1992 the first part of the track had been laid. A Railway Inspector visited the railway and approved the line for passenger services. The first train consisting of 'Isabel' and one coach ran on 19 July 1992, with the official opening ceremony taking place on 27 March 1993.

Completed in 2001 the present track consists of a one mile circular route around Amerton Farm with two passing loops enabling more than one train to run at a time. Another station has been built called Chartley Road which is adjacent to an area with picnic tables.

At the Amerton Railway steam locomotives available include W.G. Bagnall 'Isabel' built 1897 and Hunslet 'Jennie' built 2008. Steam locomotives operate on Sundays, Bank holidays and special event days, at other times industrial diesel engines are used.

Crich Tramway Village

Address: Matlock Road, Crich, Nr. Matlock, Derbyshire DE4 5DP Location Type: Working Tramway Museum
Telephone: 01773 854320 Email: enquiries@tramway.co.uk Line Length: 1mile
Open Days: February 19 - 27 / March - Saturday & Sunday / April 2 - October 30 / December 3- 8 Saturday & Sunday only
Admission: Adult £12.00, Child £7.000, Family £35.00 (2 adults and 3 children) free return visit and unlimited rides Parking: Museum DE4 5DP
Website: www.tramway.co.uk YouTubevideo location map

Site Facilities: Refreshments, picnic area, children's playground, museum, indoor children's play area, exhibition, workshop, walks

A group of tram enthusiasts got together in 1948 to purchase one of the last trams to run on the Southampton Tramway. No.45 was an open top tram which cost the enthusiasts £10. Later in 1955 the Tramway Museum Society formed with aim of finding a place appropriate for a working tramway museum. After a long search a site near Matlock proved to be suitable. The area originally had a railway that went from a limestone quarry in Crich to Ambergate.

Crich Tramway Village has one mile of track for trams. The journey starts at the Edwardian village terminus, stopping at Wakebridge before continuing on to the end of the line where there are outstanding views of the surrounding countryside. Usually at least two trams will be operating, with many more at peak times, so the the wait for a ride is never long.

Over 60 trams from all over the world are on display. In the Exhibition Hall there is an authentic trade show with various vehicles showing the development of the tram. The organisation has facilities for the complete restoration of vehicles, with a public viewing gallery. Crich Tramway Village is an great day out for all ages with the added bonus of free return visits.

Rushden Transport Museum

Address: Rushden Station, Station Approach, Rushden, Northants NN10 0AW
Location Type: Working Transport Museum
Telephone: 01933 318988 Email: davec@rhts.co.uk
Line Length: 1 mile Gauge: 4ft 8½ inches
Open Days: Easter - October 31, Saturday and Sunday, train service once a month Admission: Free to museum

Website: www.rhts.co.uk YouTubevideo location map

Rushden Station: Refreshments, picnic area, museum, bar

Rushden station was the only intermediate station on the line that went from Wellingborough to Higham Ferrers. The Midland Railway built the branch which opened in 1894. Passenger services continued until 1959, with British Railways closing the line completely in 1969.

Northampton County Council purchased Rushden station and rented it to small businesses. In 1984 the Rushden Historical Transport Society (RHTS) were granted a lease on the station. A new road project proposed in 1987 threatened the demolition of the station. After three years of campaigning and strong public opposition the decision was made not to demolish the station. The RHTS purchased the station and surrounding area from the Council in 1996.

Rushden station has been restored to a high standard and houses the museum where there are many transport and railway artefacts including lamps, signals, tickets, signs, photographs etc. A social club provides drinks for members of RHTS and non-members on open days.

A short section of track has been laid with associated sidings at Rushden station. Train rides are given on most special event days. There are plans to extend the line to Higham Ferrers where a small halt would allow passengers to alight. Locomotives available are Barclay 'Edmunsons' 0-4-0ST, No.70048 0-4-0 Barclay diesel shunter and No.31206 main line diesel.

Lincolnshire Coast Light Railway

Address: Skegness Water Leisure Park, Walls Lane, Ingoldmells, Skegness, Lincolnshire PE25 1JF
Location Type: Narrow Gauge Railway
Postal Address: 12 Giles Street, Cleethorpes, Lincolnshire DN35 8EA Telephone: 01507 363881
Line Length: ½ mile Gauge: 1ft 11¾ inches
Service: May 1,29,30 / July 17,24,31 / August 7,14,21,28 / September 3,4
Tickets: £1.00 per person return
Parking: Skegness Water Leisure Park PE25 1JF
Website: www.lincolnshire-coast-light-railway.co.uk YouTubevideo location map

The rolling stock and rails for the Lincolnshire Coast Light Railway (LCLR) came from the agricultural railway at Nocton owned by Smith's Crisps. In 1960 a group of enthusiasts formed a company to run a passenger railway using some of the equipment previously used on the Nocton potato estate.

Half a mile of track was laid from Humberston Beach, south of Cleethorpes to North Sea Lane with a passenger service starting on 27 August 1960. By 1966 the LCLR had been extended a further half a mile to reach Humberston Fitties Holiday Camp on a new alignment. The railway proved to be a popular way for holidaymakers to travel to the beach. In 1985 the lease was due for renewal but unfortunately over the years the number of passengers had fallen to only a fraction of those using the LCLR in the early days. This culminated in the decision to close the railway with all track and equipment put into storage.

Twenty years later in 2005 a suitable site in Skegness was found to rebuild the railway. On Sunday 3 May 2009 the LCLR officially opened at its new location in the Skegness Water Leisure Park. The line goes past an airfield, fields, woods and the return journey is almost one mile long.

Five Simplex locomotives built by Motor Rail of Bedford are at the railway. They also have a steam locomotive Peckett 'Jurassic' 0-6-0ST built in 1903 which is waiting to be restored.

North Ings Farm Museum

Address: Fen Road, Dorrington, Lincolnshire LN4 3QB Location Type: Narrow Gauge Railway and Museum
Telephone: 01526 833100
Email: info@northingsfarmmuseum.co.uk
Line Length: 1/3 mile Gauge: 2ft
Open Days: First Sunday of the month April - October
Tickets: Adult £3.00, Child £1.50
Parking: Museum LN4 3QB
Website: www.northingsfarmmuseum.co.uk YouTubevideo location map

The narrow gauge railway line at North Ings Farm was set up in 1971 to serve the chicken farm on the site, using a Ruston diesel and some waggons. In 1981 the poultry farm closed and it was decided to form a small agricultural museum with the railway as the main feature.

The museum opens once a month in the summer. A station and signal box have been added to the railway which now has an extended track going around the farm on a circular route. A selection of industrial locomotives can be seen from a variety of manufacturers including Ruston, Motor Rail. O & K and Lister. Trains are often hauled by a steam tram 'Swift' which has a vertical boiler and was built by the farm owner.

There are tractors, oil engines, agricultiural equipment and narrow gauge waggons on show. Passenger waggons are basic but serve their purpose, all part of the rustic charm of North Ings Farm Museum.

Wicksteed Park Railway

Address: Wicksteed Park, Barton Road, Kettering, Northamptonshire NN15 6NG Location Type: Children's Playground, Fairground / Narrow Gauge Railway Line
Telephone: 01536 512475 Email: information@wicksteedpark.co.uk Line Length: 1½ miles circular Gauge: 2ft
Open Days: April 9 - May 2 / May - Saturday & Sunday, 30, 31 / June - Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday not 9, 10 / June 27 - September 5 / September 10, 11, 17, 18, 24, 25 / October - Saturday & Sunday, 24 - 31 / December 10 - 24 limited rides some days
Tickets: £2.00 reduced by purchasing tickets in bulk or having an all day armband Parking: SO31 5GA pay and display
Website: www.wicksteedpark.co.uk YouTubevideo location map

Wicksteed Park which has an area of 147 acres opened in 1921. The park grounds are open every day to the public and entry is free although there is a charge for car parking. A fairground has rides for children up to the age of 14 while the arena area has amusements for older people.

Charles Wicksteed pioneered the steam plough and established an engineering company in Kettering which still manufacturers children's playground equipment. Later Wicksteed purchased the land for the park that now bears his name. The amusement park opened in 1924 and is one of the oldest in England.

A narrow gauge railway began operating at the park in 1931 it quickly became a major attraction. Even today the railway carries 200,000 passengers a year making it the most popular narrow gauge railway in the country.

Two diesel locomotives built by Baguley called 'Lady of the Lake' and 'King Arthur' have been at Wicksteed since the railway started. In 1996 they were joined by 'Cheyenne', this locomotive has the distinction of being the only steam outline engine built by Motor Rail. Since 2004 new carriages built by Alan Keef have provided greater comfort for passengers but have proved too heavy for the older engines so only 'Cheyenne' is presently used for trains. Another locomotive named 'Merlin' has been built for the railway and will be operational soon.

In 2005 a steam locomotive visited the Wicksteed, this proved so popular that it has now become a regular event. During 2011 there are plans for three steam locomotives to run at Wicksteed.

Tyseley Locomotive Works

Address: 670 Warwick Road, Tyseley, Birmingham B11 2HL Location Type: Steam Locomotive Works
Telephone: 0121 708 4965 Email: office@vintagetrains.co.uk Line Length: ½ mile Gauge: 4ft 8¼ inches
Open Day: 23 October 2011 Parking: BH11 2HL
Website: www.vintagetrains.co.uk YouTubevideo location map

Tyseley Locomotive Works opened in 1908, built by the GWR to maintain, repair and house steam locomotives. In 1969 the Birmingham Railway Museum was formed to to provide on the Tyseley site one of the best equipped steam restoration and maintenance workshops in Britain.

Since the BR days Tyseley has concentrated on steam locomotives for the main line. There are two companies operated by the Birmingham Railway Museum Trust. that provide rail excursions on the national railway network. The Shakespeare Express is a steam train service that runs every Sunday in the summer months from Birmingham to Stratford-on-Avon. Another business called Vintage Trains operates rail tours to many different destinations.

Twice a year Tyseley Locomotive Works opens the site to the public giving an opportunity to see a wide range of steam locomotives, some in steam. Train rides are available along with turntable demonstrations. The open days are an excellent opportunity to see the work carried out at Tyseley.

Northamptonshire Ironstone Railway Trust

Address: Hunsbury Hill Road, Camp Hill, Northampton NN4 9UW Location Type: Museum and Standard Gauge Railway Line
Telephone: 01604 702031 Email: nirt@btinternet.com Line Length: 1½ miles Gauge: 4ft 8½ inches
Open Days: December 11, 17, 18, 24 Tickets: see website
Parking: Free Hunsbury Hill Country Park NN4 9UW
Website: http://www.nirt.co.uk location map

From the late 1800s to 1930s large quantities of iron ore were excavated from the guarry at Hunsbury Hill which is now a country park. At this location can be found the Northamptonshire Ironstone Railway Trust which has a museum and 1½ mile length standard gauge railway line.

The museum houses a collection of equipment once used in the open cast ironstone quarries around Northampton. On display you will find steam and diesel locomotives along with railway wagons and coaches.

Train rides are available from April - December, usually one or two days a month - check with their website Motive power is provided by two diesel shunters, No.4220001 John Fowler ' Charles Wake' 0-4-0 and No.3967 F.C. Hibberd 'Planet' 0-4-0. In 2011 steam returned to the line after a gap of 10 years with the visit of No.2088 Andrew Barclay 'Sir Thomas Royden' 0-4-0ST steam locomotive which operated the Santa Special trains.