We organise visits to narrow gauge and miniature railways throughout the year for the benefit of Members. These are mostly private visits, by special arrangement with the owners or operators of the railway.
We often get to see behind the scenes of the railway, such as the sheds and the workshops – areas normally off-limits to the general public. For this reason, we restrict our visits to Members only. If you are not a member and would like to come along on one of our visits, please join the Society first before you book, see our Membership page.
The Old Kiln Light Railway is a 2 foot gauge railway, situated within the grounds of the Rural Life Living Museum, near to Farnham in Surrey. The railway has an interesting collection of industrial steam and diesel locomotives, along with other narrow gauge artefacts.
Our visit will take place on a day when the railway is not open to the public, so we will essentially have the railway to ourselves, with unlimited rides, and escorted shed tours.
As access to the railway is granted upon purchase to an entry ticket to the host museum, we have had to charge slightly more than usual for this visit, as we need to make payment to the Rural Life Museum, as well as making a contribution to the railway. Participants are welcome to explore the rest of the Rural Life Museum, as well as visiting the railway.
Cost: £16.00
Start time: 1030
The South Downs Light Railway is a 10.25 inch gauge railway, running for about a mile within a garden centre in Pulborough, West Sussex. Features include a steep section through a cutting, and a tunnel. The railway has an interesting selection of both steam and diesel locomotives.
Our visit will commence shortly before the railway opens to the public for the day, and will include a visit to the engine sheds, as well as unlimited rides on the railway.
Cost: £7.50
Start time: 1030
The Wingletang Railway is a small 10¼ inch gauge railway, near to Malvern, built by David Barrie. Due to the small size of the site, we are limited to 12 people per visit; in order to accommodate as many people as possible, we have visits arranged on both Thursday and Friday afternoon (and there will be time to get there from Perrygrove / Evesham). As well as rides, there will be the opportunity to drive “Sparky” (a battery-operated locomotive) and to try out the pedal-powered “Puff”.
Cost: £13
We start off the AGM weekend with a visit to the Perrygrove Railway, in the Forest of Dean. A party booking has been arranged, with the visit starting at 1030. The visit will include unlimited rides, and an escorted shed visit. The railway is open to the public on this day, and the café will be open.
Perrygrove Railway steam train days out, Treetop Adventure Treehouses, Forest of Dean
Cost: £8 (subject to a minimum of 10 people)
The Wingletang Railway is a small 10¼ inch gauge railway, near to Malvern, built by David Barrie. Due to the small size of the site, we are limited to 12 people per visit; in order to accommodate as many people as possible, we have visits arranged on both Thursday and Friday afternoon (and there will be time to get there from Perrygrove / Evesham). As well as rides, there will be the opportunity to drive “Sparky” (a battery-operated locomotive) and to try out the pedal-powered “Puff”.
Cost: £13
The Evesham Vale Railway is under the same ownership as Perrygrove, and we have again arranged a party booking, starting at 1030. The visit will also include unlimited rides, and an escorted shed visit. The railway is not open to the public on this day, so they are running especially for us.
Valley Railway Adventure - Historical Train Rides in Worcestershire
Cost: £8 (subject to a minimum of 15 people)
Those of you with an interest in carriages will be interested to know that Perrygrove are currently building 4 new carriages. They expect 2 of these to be in service at Evesham by the time of our visit; the other 2 will be in the workshop at Perrygrove (and available for viewing).
This is one for the Industrial Railway enthusiasts! The Tythe House Light Railway is a short, 2 foot gauge railway, only a few miles from Cropthorne. A visit has been arranged, to take place after the AGM, but with numbers limited. The visit is on the basis of viewing / photographing locomotives only, and it is unlikely that rides will be available.
Cost: £10 (Maximum 20 people)
Members who took part in the visit to Kyre Valley a few years ago will remember what a fantastic railway this is! The Kyre Valley Railway is 7¼ inch gauge, running for nearly 2 miles near to Tenbury Wells. As the owner has another event on the previous day, it is hoped that there will be some visiting engines.
Cost: £13
Travellers on the western side of the M25 will probably have noticed the Great Cockrow Railway, which sits alongside the motorway near Chertsey.
The Great Cockrow Railway provides group visits for clubs and societies, and we have arranged such a visit for Sunday 14th June. This will comprise tours of the engine shed, workshop and signal box, followed by a private train ride around the railway, before it opens to the public for the day.
Please note that, if you wish to take part in additional rides after our "private" ride, these are payable on the day.
Cost: £12
Start Time: To be confirmed, but likely to be around 1100/1130.
Crowle Peatland Railway is home to a fascinating collection of narrow-gauge locomotives and vehicles that once played a vital role in transporting peat from the moors to the processing mills. Highlights include a restored Simplex locomotive, and the powerful diesel-hydraulic Schöma engines introduced in the 1990s to modernise peat haulage. The collection also features a Wagonmaster locomotive, formerly used on the Bord na Móna peat railways in Ireland, a Wickham Trolley originally built for the 3ft gauge Lochaber Railway in Scotland and a former Lisbon tram.
During the course of the visit, they hope to be able to run trains for us using Schoma, Simplex and Wickham. Refreshments will be available at the railway’s café.
Home Page - Crowle Peatland Railway
Cost: £13
North Ings is a small museum, specialising in agricultural equipment, near to Sleaford in Lincolnshire. They have a 2 foot gauge railway, running for 600 yards, with a selection of industrial diesel locomotives. They are going to be running specially for us on this day, and are hoping to have at least 4 locomotives working for us on the day.
Cost: £13
Members who have registered their email address in Membermojo and wish to join us on a visit are able to book on line through our Membermojo Store which will take you straight to the Store Visits page, Alongside "Store Purchase", click on "Visit Store". In the Store, you will find a list of all Society Visits which are available for Online Booking.
In order to book a place on a visit, click the “Quantity” box for the specific visit, select the number of places that you would like to book, and then click on checkout. You can pay by debit or credit card. On receipt of your booking and payment, you will receive an automated email acknowledgement.
If you are booking for more people than just yourself, you will be asked to contact the relevant Visits Officer, providing the names, addresses and membership numbers (if known) in your party.
Once you have booked your visit(s), the relevant Visits Officer will contact you shortly before the visit with further details (including times, directions, meeting points).
To clarify the conditions for members and others making visits to railway sites or our library, you are advised to read our Visits Policy thoroughly. This is also available from the Downloads page.
There may be some visits where non-members or the general public may be present, the visits form will clarify if you can be accompanied by non-members
An application to become a Visits & e-NGN Member or to add an Associate to your membership can be made via this website's Membership page
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