We all love a steam train, and while the big beasts make occasional weekend trips though the city, there are a surprisingly large number of miniature steam trains chugging around parts of the city as well.
Operated by local model railway enthusiasts, these miniature railways offer trips for the public for a nominal fee most weekends throughout the summer.
While almost certainly aimed at children, we big people get as much delight from them as the kids, and many parents seem to take their kids along simply as an excuse so they have have a ride themselves.
A lot of them are opening up now for their summer season
Most are cash only venues, including those that offer a local tea house.
In alphabetical order
Only open when the London Transport Museum depot has its open weekends.
Trips usually £1 — although you have to have a ticket to the museum depot as well, which if you haven’t been is a very worthwhile place in itself.
Offers a mix of steam and diesel engines – and a miniature tube train.
The 7.25 inch gauge trains take you on a journey, just under 1/4 mile from Park Gates Station to Lakeside Halt.
Open weekends from April to September, 12pm to 6pm.
Prices unknown.
Brockwell Park Miniature Railway
A decent sized 7¼ inch gauge miniature railway offering round trips from Herne Hill Gates to the Brockwell Lido and return.
Opened in 2003 and runs for 240 yards along a single track with loops at either end. The railway has been relaid close to the formation of the original railway which ran between 1951-1961.
A range of diesel effect battery and steam locomotives.
Runs every Sunday from March to October with trips from 11am-4pm and cost £1 each.
(note, due to shortage of volunteers, check their website for Sunday runnings)
Chingford and District Model Engineering Club
One of the best kept secrets in Chingford is the 2 model train tracks at the back of Ridgeway Park. There is a 1000 foot long raised level track and a 3000 foot long 7¼” ground level track.
Rides are 50p or £1 depending on the trip taken.
Open every Sunday and Bank Holiday April to September, 2pm-5:30pm
Two newish railway tracks at this mainly model railway group.
Open on the first and third Sunday afternoons each month from May to October, 2pm – 5pm
Fares unknown.
Only just on the outside of the M25, so included anyway. Two tracks offering trips of 15-20 minutes each on a huge selection of locomotives – they have 25 steam engines plus others.
Open every Sunday from May to November in the afternoons only.
Fares are £4.50 per adult and £3.50 per child.
Harlington Locomotive Society (review)
Built in what was once a back garden, this decent sized loop railway has several steam and battery locomotives, a single station, and one tunnel to travel through. The tea room also contains a small railway history museum.
Fares are 70p per trip
Open April to November on the 2nd and 4th Sunday of the month.
Harrow and Wembley Society of Model Engineers
80 year old model railway society, offers a range of medium sized locomotives with sit-on carriages and a number of tracks looping around the site. Sometimes known as the Roxbourne Park Miniature Railway.
Fares are £1 per trip.
Open Sunday afternoons from April to late October.
Havering Miniature Railway Club
A new entrant this year, with rides on the first Sunday of the month, April to October, 11am-4pm. Currently on a temporary track, but aims to be permanent eventually.
Rides cost £1.
The small railway is located in the centre of Ickenham and has been giving rides to the public since 1970.
Open on the first Saturday of the month from April to December in the afternoons.
Fares are 50p per ride.
Model railway and a ride-on steam railway.
Open on the first Sunday of each month from April to September, 10:30am to 4pm.
Rides are 50p each, or £3 for an all-day pass.
Running since 1950, the live steam section has a continuous raised track suitable for 3½” and 5″ gauge locomotives. It is about 660 feet long and runs around the perimeter of the Community Centre site.
Fares unknown.
Open on the third Sunday of every month from April to September, 2pm-5pm.
A big railway for a miniature service – offering sit in carriages rather than the sit-on variety used by smaller model services. The two and a half mile round trip on the 12-inch gauge service takes about 35 minutes.
Runs every weekend from April-November and during the week during holidays.
Fares are £3 return for adults and £2.50 for children.
Sizeable railway that is also used as a cargo service for park visitors in addition to being a pleasure service.
The fleet includes a large range of battery electric locomotives and steam engines, and a couple of substantial stations.
Open most weekends from April to October, and every day in August.
Fares £1.50 per adult and £1 per child.
Thames Ditton Miniature Railway
A venerable organisation that has been around for nearly 80 years, they operate two independent railways. The ground level railway is for the larger trains the other is an elevated railway for the smaller scale trains, both are used for passenger hauling.
It is I believe the only one with a carriage specially designed to carry a wheelchair passenger.
Open on the first Sunday of every month April to October and also Bank Holidays.
Fares are £2.25 per trip, or £7.25 for unlimited trips.
Roughly 600 yards long, and apparently operational all year round. Has quite large locomotives with sit-in open air carriages.
Fares £1.50 per return trip.
Open weekends throughout the year in the afternoons only.
Welling and District Model Engineering Society
Founded in 1945, the society has a 1,268 long minature railway track with 3.5″ and 5″ gauge raised steel track. The track is electronically signalled, and features a full anti-tip rail, level crossing, footbridges, mini-viaduct, signal box and tunnel.
Fares unknown
Open on the a couple of Sundays of every month May to October in the afternoons.
Others
Not a miniature, but London’s closest full size heritage steam service. Open most weekends with trips between Chipping Ongar and North Weald (bus link from Epping tube station).
Trips are £13 for the bus shuttle, and unlimited trips along the train line. Add in the heritage in Chipping Ongar and the ancient churches, and it is pretty much a whole day out.
This is a light railway that runs along tracks laid for the original coal carrying railway that serviced the steam engines in the water pumping station.
Runs every weekend 11am-4pm.
This is a newly restored light railway associated with the steam pumping station.
Trips cost £2.50 for adults and £1 for children.
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If I’ve missed any off, let me know in the comments below.
If you find yourselves stuck on the M25 near Leatherhead, turn off and visit The Surrey Society of Model Engineers just outside the town centre.
Info from their website “Our extensive tracks feature both ground and raised level, in many gauges, with a variety of different locomotives & rolling stock. Our 320 metre long Jubilee extension opened on the 4th June 2012, so giving a longer ride on every Public Open Day.” http://www.ssme.co.uk/
I was at Welling & District last weekend. Fares are 60p per trip.
Ruislip Lido Railway also has carriages that ingeniously allow passage for wheelchair users. The whole side of the covered carriages can removed allowing wheelchairs users to travel. Staff are very helpful too. I’ve used it with wheelchair users many times and it’s a charming day out. There is also on the Lido site a huge water side pub (The Water’s Edge) offering very affordable meals.
The NLSME at Colney Heath, St Albans usually have free admission (donations welcome) with a small charge (£2?) for train rides.
http://www.nlsme.co.uk