nearest steam railway to Northampton - take the kids on during the x-mas hols
10 December 2008, 04:28 PM
#1
Scooby Regular
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: Disco, Disco!
Posts: 21,825
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
nearest steam railway to Northampton - take the kids on during the x-mas hols
Can anyone reccommend one with 30-40 miles of Northampton?
10 December 2008, 06:19 PM
#7
Scooby Regular
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: A big town with sh1t shops: Northampton
Posts: 21,366
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Blimey, I would have suggested the Brampton one, but never knew about the other ones and I live close to all of them. 
(Must be a geek thing!)
Not heard of the Irchester Country Park one, do tell
(Must be a geek thing!)Not heard of the Irchester Country Park one, do tell
Trending Topics
10 December 2008, 06:30 PM
#9
Guest
Posts: n/a
Irchy CP used to be an Ironstone Quarry. All the Iron that Sydney Harbour Bridge is built from is from Irchester in fact.
They have a volunteer steam railway using locos that used to haul the ore to where it needed to go.
"Located within the park, there is a small museum of working steam and diesel locomotives run by the Irchester Narrow Gauge Railway Trust. Open Sundays 10 am – 5 pm (summer) or 10 am – 4 pm (winter). For more information call (01234) 750469 or (01604) 675368.
Free entry
4 working steam locomotives, 4 diesel
over 40 items of rolling stock
250 metre long demonstration line
Working locomotive demonstrations held on the last Sunday of every month during the summer."
All the chaps that work there are good old boys and you can usually get a trip on the footplate and blow the whistle etc
They have a volunteer steam railway using locos that used to haul the ore to where it needed to go.
"Located within the park, there is a small museum of working steam and diesel locomotives run by the Irchester Narrow Gauge Railway Trust. Open Sundays 10 am – 5 pm (summer) or 10 am – 4 pm (winter). For more information call (01234) 750469 or (01604) 675368.
Free entry
4 working steam locomotives, 4 diesel
over 40 items of rolling stock
250 metre long demonstration line
Working locomotive demonstrations held on the last Sunday of every month during the summer."
All the chaps that work there are good old boys and you can usually get a trip on the footplate and blow the whistle etc
10 December 2008, 06:52 PM
#10
Scooby Regular
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Some country and western
Posts: 13,488
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
From memory the Loughborough one is better. My uncle used to drive one of the trains there
The one at Brampton is basically, growns up playing with a big train set. I once spent the best past of £20 to go backwards on forward on "Thomas"
The one at Brampton is basically, growns up playing with a big train set. I once spent the best past of £20 to go backwards on forward on "Thomas"
Last edited by davyboy; 10 December 2008 at 07:36 PM.
10 December 2008, 07:30 PM
#11
Scooby Regular
The Great Central at Loughborough is the only preserved railway currently operating a double track main line, and is home to an impressive collection of former express locomotives 
11 December 2008, 01:06 AM
#13
Scooby Regular
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: It's like finding a cocktail sausage, when what you really wanted was a rather large saveloy.
Posts: 20,535
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
is didcot too far?? they have some special events coming up including thomas the tank engine rides to see santa..?
Didcot Railway Centre | Events | Calendar of Events#
Didcot Railway Centre | Events | Calendar of Events#
11 December 2008, 01:19 AM
#14
Scooby Regular
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Northants, Wellingborough
Posts: 1,988
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Didcot.... thats oxford only bout 45 min drive from Northampton
Is Ferry Meadows still there? God remember that from a young age Didn't know they still had trains down Irchy county park never even got to see them working wen was little well gutted 
lol
Is Ferry Meadows still there? God remember that from a young age
Didn't know they still had trains down Irchy county park never even got to see them working wen was little well gutted lol
11 December 2008, 08:59 AM
#15
Scooby Regular
Went to Didcot many years ago when i lived in Witney nr Oxford.
Severn Valley Railway is probably about hour and a half away from you but we went in the summer. Enjoyable day.
My inlaws live near Keighley in West Yorkshire. I'm hoping to go have a visit while we are up there for xmas.
Theres a little one near me in West Wales. Its a very small line but good enough for a steam fix - although I'm a modern diesel man myself
Severn Valley Railway is probably about hour and a half away from you but we went in the summer. Enjoyable day.
My inlaws live near Keighley in West Yorkshire. I'm hoping to go have a visit while we are up there for xmas.
Theres a little one near me in West Wales. Its a very small line but good enough for a steam fix - although I'm a modern diesel man myself
Last edited by EddScott; 11 December 2008 at 09:01 AM.
11 December 2008, 09:03 AM
#16
Scooby Regular
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Northants. 22B sold, as-new Lotus Omega instead.
Posts: 2,027
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My Dad's been involved with the Brampton/Pitsford railway ever since the Northampton-Market Harborough line closed. I remember travelling on the last ever BR passenger train back in about 1980-something (he's still got a large framed photograph of the event). They held a big public meeting at Nene College Kingsthorpe to gather support for re-opening the whole 18 mile stretch (I remember going there as a 10 or so year old as the pillion passenger on a Suzuki 600 ), but this was soon knocked on the head when the MH council took the railway bridge away that leads that route into MH station. There were also some high maintenance tunnels to contend with. The route became a cycle/dog-walking path.
Thereafter followed years of problems
, and diminishing support, until they finally got to where they are now. I have to be brutally honest but I still don't find it very impressive. During my childhood my Dad would take me to places like Severn Valley, Keighley & Worth Valley, North York Moors, Torbay, GCR, Nene Valley all of which had a decent stretch of track for the trains to use. Brampton's only got about 2 miles, despite long-term plans for more, so it's not much of an experience.
Having said all that you have to admire their dedication. My Dad travels up from West Wales to help out as a volunteer during the feature events (like the ever-popular Thomas weekends). He also has a half-share in one of the locomotives being restored there (an old tank engine called Colwyn from Corby steelworks), so often spends time up there getting his hands dirty.
I'm probably going to give the Nene Valley Railway a go this winter: I haven't been on it since I was a nipper, and now I have 2 of my own!
), but this was soon knocked on the head when the MH council took the railway bridge away that leads that route into MH station. There were also some high maintenance tunnels to contend with. The route became a cycle/dog-walking path.Thereafter followed years of problems
, and diminishing support, until they finally got to where they are now. I have to be brutally honest but I still don't find it very impressive. During my childhood my Dad would take me to places like Severn Valley, Keighley & Worth Valley, North York Moors, Torbay, GCR, Nene Valley all of which had a decent stretch of track for the trains to use. Brampton's only got about 2 miles, despite long-term plans for more, so it's not much of an experience.Having said all that you have to admire their dedication. My Dad travels up from West Wales to help out as a volunteer during the feature events (like the ever-popular Thomas weekends). He also has a half-share in one of the locomotives being restored there (an old tank engine called Colwyn from Corby steelworks), so often spends time up there getting his hands dirty.
I'm probably going to give the Nene Valley Railway a go this winter: I haven't been on it since I was a nipper, and now I have 2 of my own!
11 December 2008, 09:20 AM
#18
Scooby Regular
11 December 2008, 10:35 AM
#19
Scooby Regular
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Bushey
Posts: 2,542
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
11 December 2008, 11:10 AM
#20
Scooby Regular
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Northants. 22B sold, as-new Lotus Omega instead.
Posts: 2,027
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
As for K&WVR, the only time I've visited was probably 25 years ago, so I'm probably not the best person to ask! I think it's only about 5 miles long, compared to about 15 miles for the Severn Valley or 18 miles for the North York Moors.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
the shreksta
Non Car Related Items For sale
1
19 September 2015 01:39 PM
