Hi all Just wondered if anyone could recommend some good heritage lines/railway museums in the UK I could visit, possibly with my daughter under 10... So far I've visited Midland Railway Centre - but their main display shed has been closed for years due to a dodgy roof so most of the collection is inaccessible. Ecclesbourne Valley Railway - no real collection easy to see but runs steam a lot I've heard good things about Peak rail at Rowsley, would love to know people's reccomendations for places like Crewe and York (Though I think york is also under renovation). I'm Derbyshire based, and reliant souly on public transport/trains/bus links.
I’ve never been, but i think the GCR could be possible. you can catch a train to sheffield, then EMR to Loughborough, then a bus link to Loughborough Central
The NRM in York is really good but unfortunately, about half of it is inaccessible right now with the renovations. Still worth a trip in my mind but might be too much hassle depending on how much travelling is involved (time+cost). The Bluebell Railway is really excellent (also for the young'uns). Great rides all day long almost every day. Easy to get to from London (Southern service from London Victoria to East Grinstead, the Bluebell Railway station in East Grinstead is adjacent to the National Rail one). In Sheffield Park, there's the Steamworks (or something like that). Quite a bit of fun stuff for children to do there.
I could quite easily get a service Derby to Loughborough and walk for 20 mins or there's a £2 bus if I have 90 minutes to spare! I had no idea that there was one that way!
Once York has reopened it's obviously going to be one of the best places to go but Locomotion in Shildon was decent enough when I went. Also Keighley worth valley railway but it was quite pricey.
Oh yeah, true. I did a two day tour back in the day: NRM - York on day 1, Head of Steam (now Hopetown, it seems?) - Darlington and Locomotion - Shildon on day 2.
Peak Rail is a very good one from my experience, but near Derbyshire the GCR is a must visit too. A bit further afield the North Norfolk is a good one, and I have even had decent days out at the Nene Valley, both having connections (or in NV's case a 5 min walk from) national network stations. York and Shildon both goodens too, but obviously they are purely a museum. Just thinking a bit more Didcot is a good one with a large collection, with trains running about the site as well. Again 5 minute walk from the national rail Didcot station.
Darlington Railway Museum, or Head of Steam as hardly anyone called it, has indeed reopened as part of Hopetown Darlington which encompasses several of the old railway buildings and access to the A1 Trust's new building where the P2 2007 Prince of Wales is being built. I haven't actually been there yet (it's a bit of a sore point- I applied for a job there but apparently if you have a railway attraction with a museum at the heart of it the last person you want working there is a rail enthusiast with 20 years of experience as a museum attendant) but I imagine it's worth a look. It's also a few stops along the S&D line from Shildon and Locomotion (which has just opened a new building greatly increasing its exhibition space and yes- I was after work there too) and there's the Weardale Railway running from Bishop Auckland to Stanhope.
If you’re Derbyshire based, Peak Rail (Matlock - Rowsley) is a good ride and covers part of the Peak Rail TSW route. Also Barrow Hill roundhouse is a worthwhile visit especially if you go on an event day where there are usually more trains and they have live running. If you want to expand beyond trains, the Tramway Museum at Crich is also an excellent day out. I’m not sure what the public transport situation is for these last two though as I have driven whenever I’ve been there and I live out of the area now.