- Join Santa on a magical vintage Steam Train ride! Gifts, treats, and festive fun for every child on the Santa Express!
All Change!- Step Back to the Decade That Transformed Britain’s Railways. The award-winning Railways at Work Gala returns this summer! Join us for a captivating journey through the transformative 1960s – a decade of upheaval, innovation, and identity change for Britain’s railways.
This immersive two-day event marks 200 years of the rail industry by exploring how the modern railway took shape during one of its most dramatic eras. From the end of steam to the rise of diesel, from British Rail’s bold new look to the start of railway preservation, we’ll be bringing the full story to life across the whole line.
An intensive timetable will be in operation throughout the weekend featuring a blend of steam and diesel locomotives, representing traction typical of the 1960s.
Expect lively scenes at every station: from uniformed porters and police officers to everyday passengers, all with tales to tell. Our costumed performers will transport you back to a different time at every stop on the line.
Don’t miss the Tin Shed Ale Bar at Quorn & Woodhouse, serving real ale alongside live sets from DJ Soul Sauce spinning authentic 60s sounds. Stay into Saturday evening for a nostalgic party atmosphere – dancing encouraged!
Discover the early years of the decade where modernisation was badly needed. Witness a railway caught between tradition and transition, with period passenger experiences and costumed staff reflecting the era’s challenges.
Focused on freight and goods handling in the shadow of the Beeching report. Watch live crane lifting displays, shunting demonstrations, and narrated 60s-style goods movements. The ever-popular pick-up goods train returns, alongside an atmospheric array of working exhibits.
Welcome to British Rail’s new era – new branding, a fresh identity. We’re looking at containerisation, modern freight, and a railway trying to move with the times.
Experience the final years of steam on British Railways and the spark that ignited the preservation movement. The end of one era becomes the beginning of another.
