Midland Railway Centre

Also  known as Midland Railway Butterley

Visited : Autumn '97 & August '98

Their Website :- Midland Railway Centre. Also Golden Valley Light Railway

Summary

Has great potential, but the mud and rain and lack of decent paths made it a poor day out.

Make sure you go on a day when all the attractions are open (unlike our first visit) !

Site  

The main car park is not at the main site ! If you don't go on a steaming day, it's a long, potentially muddy walk.

Main site is very large, with many buildings but no paths. Hence it too was a mud bath !

Ride

Quite long, some of it over a reservoir, but much of it was in a cutting.

Engines

Huge collection.

Rolling Stock

Large collection.

Engine Shed

One large, beautifully laid out viewing shed which felt like a small version of York railway museum.. Second was some walk away with just a couple on engines. Third was under construction.

Museum

As well as the engine sheds, small displays were in one of the shops.

Shops

One at the main site, one at the 'car park' site. Both a reasonable size.

Catering

Large, basic & functional. Felt like a truck drivers stop.

Toilets  

Unspeakably disgusting !

Other Facilities

• Golden Valley Light Railway - a narrow gauge railway through country park. This is quite sizeable and many people go for a walk from the station at the far end. The nice guard stopped the train when I dropped Little Ted out of the open top carriage. He even walked back down the line to get him for me.
• Signal box
• Rail workers chapel
• Petting Farm next door to main site.
• Children's play area at main site.
• Static Power Gallery (Open Sundays - Not seen operating)
• Miniature Railway at main site (Open Summer Sundays - Not seen operating)
• Covered model railway at 'car park' site.
• Open air model railway at 'car park' site. (Not seen operating)

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This page was last updated on March 31, 2005