Heritage Railways

For over half a century enthusiasts have been opening heritage railways on disused lines, from humble beginnings, the early venutres have developed in to major tourist attractions, there's a whole range of railways and railway centres to visit in the UK, with around 140 being members of the Heritage Railway Association.

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local heritage railway volunteers
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Sunday 5th February 2023 11am-2pm - No booking required – just turn up and meet the team!

Ever thought about volunteering but don't know where to start? Why not try your local heritage railway, right here in Quainton! The list of available roles is plentiful, and we currently need more hands on deck, so this Volunteer Recruitment Day has been set up to allow potential volunteers to meet current volunteers, take a look around the site, see an engine in steam and find out about what we do and how you might be able to lend a hand.

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Launceston Steam Railway train
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Launceston is a picturesque market town built on the side of a hill. The town is 42 miles west of Exeter and 26 miles north of Plymouth. It is located a mile from the River Tamar which forms the divide of Devon and Cornwall. Launceston is overshadowed by a Norman castle an ancient and dramatic landmark built in 1070 by the halfLaunceston Steam Railway Train-brother of William the conqueror.

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Middleton Railway train
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The Middleton Railway was the first railway to be authorised by an Act of Parliament. It opened in 1758 and has operated trains every year since then making it the world’s oldest continuously operating railway

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GWSR – The Friendly Line in the Cotswolds
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We are known as the Friendly Line in the Cotswolds. This provides a unique opportunity to travel behind both steam and diesel locomotives and also the diesel railcar (DMU) which help recreate train travel as it was in the 1950’s and 1960’s. 

You pass through the beautiful Cotswolds scenery; to the west the Vale of Evesham, and on clear days you can see Tewkesbury Abbey, Gloucester Cathedral, the Malverns and Wales. To the east the Cotswolds climb steeply uphill. 

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Green train on railway track
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South Tynedale Railway is England’s highest narrow gauge railway and lies in the North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) sandwiched between two World Heritage Sites and a National Park. You can climb aboard at any of our four stations for a leisurely ride through the scenic South Tyne Valley and take in the stunning views of wide open skies and wildlife aplenty. You’ll meet our volunteer train crews who will happily tell you more about the railway and the local area.

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