Last Updated on June 23, 2024 by Suzy McCullough
A ride on a steam train big or small is one of our favourite things to do. So much so we are prepared to travel to wherever a steam train may be. I have compiled a list of everywhere, that we know of, that has a steam train or similar that you can ride on in the East Midlands. If I am missing anywhere off please leave a comment below to let me know. I can currently find 14 family-friendly places to ride on a train in the East Midlands – please note some are diesel services.
We often choose a steam train ride as a rainy day activity but they are great all year round. A lot of the places listed below also have other things to do on-site and some are miniature trains which are more open to the elements.
Have you visited any of the places below?
1 – Battlefield Line Railway – Leicestershire
Where does it stop? – Shakerstone – Market Bosworth – Shenton.
How long is a single trip between the stations? 20 minutes.
When do the trains run? – Trains run at weekends and bank holidays between March and November. Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, in July and August, and Wednesdays in June, September and October.
Any Special events? – Yes – Click here
Anything else to do? At Shackerstone there is a free car park. The Victorian country station has a small museum and a café, plus a shop.
How much? Your ticket gives you unlimited travel. Adults – £14.50. Child 3-15 £7.50, under 2 are free and family tickets are available. Fares may differ on special event days. Find out more about Battlefield Line.
Belton House, near Grantham – Lincolnshire
Where does it stop? – This is a miniature diesel train that runs through the playground of Belton House Gardens.
How long is a single trip between the stations? – A round trip takes approx. 5 minutes.
When do the trains run? – From 11 am, usually from the end of March until the end of October.
Any Special events? – Belton House itself offers special events – click here
Anything else to do? – Yes. Belton House is a National Trust property (fee to enter see below). There is an extensive outdoor playground. Plus an indoor play area, extensive grounds to walk around and a beautiful house to look around.
How much? – A return journey is now £2.00 each (per seat – younger children can ride on your lap for no extra cost). To use the train you first have to pay an entrance fee to the National Trust at Belton. Further pricing information is here. Find out more about Belton House
3 – Cleethorpes Light Coast Railway – Lincolnshire
Where does it stop? – The 2-mile line runs between Cleethorpes Kingsway – Lakeside station – Humberston.
How long is a single trip between the stations? – I’m afraid their timetable has confused me a little. I think a round trip takes 30 minutes. If that is incorrect please let me know.
When do the trains run? – From early April until October daily. Then mostly at weekends on and off through the other months.
Any Special events? – Yes – They have a Day out with Thomas, Santa specials and much more. See here for more details.
Anything else to do? – At Cleethorpes Kingsway, there is a well-stocked shop, they also offer snacks and refreshments. At Lakeside Station, you will find one of the smallest pubs in the world. There is also Platform One Cafe which offers breakfasts, lunches and refreshments. Extra entertainment and things to do are often available during special event days.
How much? – Special events are charged at a different rate to their daily rates. They offer a variety of pricing options at a daily rate. You can purchase single tickets. An adult return costs £5.00. An all-day ticket costs more and children are cheaper. Family tickets and child tickets are also available. Find out more about Cleethorpes Light Railway
4 – Conkers Conkerchoo II – Leicestershire
Where does it stop? – The train runs between the Discovery and Waterside centres at Conkers.
How long is a single trip between the stations? – A short ride.
When do the trains run? – Conkers is open year round apart from Christmas Day and Boxing Day.
Any Special events? – Conkers itself has special events. See here for more information.
Anything else to do? – Yes – There is a full day out to be had at Conkers. Outdoors there is a barefoot walk, activity trail, explorer dome, adventure and water play. Plus hi and lo ropes and even more outdoors. There’s also loads to discover indoors.
How much? – The train itself is included in your entrance fee. Entrance costs between £8-12. Find out more about Conkers
5- Ferry Meadows Railway, Peterborough – outskirts of Lincolnshire
Where does it stop? – Steam trains run between Ham Lane station to Gunwade station through Ferry Meadows
How long is a single trip between the stations? – Unknown
When do the trains run? – Most weekends plus most school holidays (March-October). The train does not run on wet and or windy days.
Any Special events? – Not that I can see
Anything else to do? – At Ham Lane station there is a gift shop, café and a small adventure playground. There is another adventure playground at Gunwade station. From this station, you can explore the Ferry Meadows park.
How much? – You can ride all day with a wristband for £5.00 for an adult and £4 for a child. All single fares are £1.50. A return adult fare is £2.50 and a return child £2.00.
6 – Great Central Railway – Loughborough and Leicester – Leicestershire
Where does it stop? -Trains run between Loughborough and Leicester north and stop at Quorn & Woodhouse and Rothley
How long is a single trip between the stations? – 30 minutes
When do the trains run? – Every weekend and selected days mid-week (not every week), Click here for a full timetable
Any Special events? – Yes. They run a Santa special event plus many other events throughout the year. They also offer dining services. Follow this link for a list of future events.
Anything else to do? – There are places to eat at each stop. Loughborough seems to have the most to look around such as a museum, locomotive shed and more. They have extra activities during their special events.
How much? – Special events are usually charged at a different amount. Standard fares vary especially according to which stations you are travelling from and to. You can purchase an adult unlimited-day travel ticket for £18.00 and £9.00 for a child. Single and return fares are also available. Find out more about the Great Central Railway
7 – Lincolnshire Wolds Railway, Ludborough – Lincolnshire
Where does it stop? -Trains run between Ludborough station and North Thoresby
How long is a single trip between the stations? – Approx. 20 minutes with a stop for a while at either end. Trains run hourly.
When do the trains run? – On some Sundays throughout the year. They also have special events on other days of the year.
Any Special events? – Yes, events such as 1940s weekend, Teddy Bear’s Day and Meet Santa. Click here for a full list.
Anything else to do? – Yes. At Ludborough there is a café in an old train carriage. Plus a shop and a small playground with a wooden train for the kids to play on.
How much? – Special events may be charged at a different rate. We purchased a day rover ticket each which means you can travel on the train as much as you like. We went on a return journey before and after our lunch. I paid £9.00 for myself and £5.00 for my son. Find out more about Lincolnshire Wolds Railway.
8 – Midland Railway Butterly, Ripley – Derbyshire
Where does it stop? – Trains run from Butterly to Swanwick junction with an approx. 45-minute stop there. It then passes through Hammersmith back to Butterly.
How long is a single trip between the stations? – Although the train is gone for an hour the return journey only takes approx. 25 minutes
When do the trains run? – Trains run most weekends throughout the year and most school holidays. For a schedule click here – simply select the month you want to look at.
Any Special events? – Yes. During the summer months, the train takes you to the ‘beach’. They have many other events throughout the year.
Anything else to do? – Yes – As well as their special events there is a free car park at Butterly with a shop, tea room, model railways and a signal box. Swanwick Junction houses a museum complex a play area and much more.
How much? – Train fare prices vary according to the event and the traction being operated. You can contact them for further information regarding prices. Find out more about Midland Railway
9 – Nene Valley Railway, Peterborough – (just on the outskirts of Lincolnshire)
Where does it stop? – Most of their trains travel from Wansford to Peterborough. Stopping at Yarwell, Wansford, Overton (Ferry meadows) and Orton Mere.
How long is a single trip between the stations? – It depends on which day you visit. The train usually takes 25 minutes from Wansford to Peterborough.
When do the trains run? – Trains run most weekends of the year and selected days mid-week.
Any Special events? – Yes many. Wansford has a Thomas engine and they have a few Thomas the Tank engine days throughout the year. They run a very good Santa special and much more. Click here for a full list of events
Anything else to do? – Yes – At Wansford there is a café, model railway, carriages to explore, gift shop to explore, free parking and there is, even more, to do here during most special events. At Overton, there are limited refreshments and a miniature railway. There is the Railworld museum at Peterborough. Not all the trains stop here.
How much? – Prices vary according to what running day they have. For a standard non-event day, an adult ticket is £16.00-18/00, a child £8-9.00 and under 3s travel free. Find out more about Nene Valley Railway
10 – North Scarle Miniature Railway – Lincolnshire
Where does it stop? – It is a small miniature railway.
How long is a single trip between the stations? – The trip is a round trip through the onsite grounds. The track is one-third of a mile long
When do the trains run? – On only about 16 days a year. It is essential to visit their website for further information.
Any Special events? – Two Santa specials
Anything else to do? – Not that I can see
How much? – Approx. £2.00 each
11 – Peak Rail, Matlock Bath – Derbyshire
Where does it stop? – The train operates between Rowsley South and Matlock Platform 2 for a distance of 4 miles, with a stop in between at Darley Dale.
How long is a single trip between the stations? – 17 minutes plus a stop.
When do the trains run? – Most weekends and some days midweek.
Any Special events? – They have a 1940’s weekend and a few other events. A list of events can be found here.
Anything else to do? – There is a café at Rowsley South Station. Plus a small museum at Darley Dale and a model railway at one of the stops.
How much? – For some of the running days kids can travel for free – see the website for further information. Special events may be charged at a different rate. A standard adult ticket is £7.50, children 6-15 £4.50 and children under 3 travel for free. Find out more about Peak Rail
12 – Sherwood Forest Railway – Nottinghamshire
Where does it stop? -The train runs through part of Sherwood Forest
How long is a single trip between the stations? – Unknown
When do the trains run? – From mid-February until the end of November. Trains run from 11 am every day.
Any Special events? – No
Anything else to do? – Yes, there is an under 5’s play area, adventure play and refreshments including sandwiches.
How much? – £2.00 each. Under 1’s travel for free.
13 – Springfields Miniature Railway, Retail Outlet Spalding – Lincolnshire
Where does it stop? – The miniature steam trains travel around a small section of the festival gardens.
How long is a single trip between the stations? – The trip consists of 2 round trips and takes approx. 5 minutes.
When do the trains run? – Trains run from 12pm from Wednesday to Sunday every week. During school holidays the train runs every day.
Any Special events? – No
Anything else to do? – Yes – As well as there
How much? – £2.00 each (or is charged as part of your Adventureland admission). Find out more about Springfields Adventureland.
14 – Steeple Grange Light Railway – Derbyshire
Where does it stop? – It runs through the countryside near Wirksworth in Derbyshire on the main and branch lines.
How long is a single trip between the stations? – It is a 20-minute round trip.
When do the trains run? – The train runs on a Sunday and bank holiday Monday from Easter Sunday until the end of September. It also runs on Saturdays in July & August, plus selected days in the Autumn half-term.
Any Special events? – Yes, Santa specials plus other events. See the website for further information.
Anything else to do? – I’m unsure
How much? – Their fares include rides on both the main and branch lines. Single fares are available on the main line only at half the published rates. The fares are £5.00 for an adult, £3.00 for a child and children 3 and under travel for free. Find out more about Steeple Grange Railway
