With spring approaching, train services will soon be running on most heritage railways, and spring galas with special timetables, visiting locos and other attractions may also be of interest (but please check with the line concerned before your visit, details below are as at the date of this post):
- The Avon Valley Railway at Bitton, near Bristol, has steam train services every Sunday in March and a range of special events on selected dates during April, including Easter. Further details can be found under: https://www.avonvalleyrailway.org/
- Our Yorkshire friends at the Keighley & Worth Valley are operating every weekend throughout March and April, with a special 4-day Steam Gala 20-23 March and an extended “Easter Express” event from 5 April up to and including the Easter Weekend. Further details are under: https://kwvr.co.uk/events/
- At our local heritage line, the Midland Railway Butterley, trains begin running at weekends during April, extended over all 4 days of the Easter weekend, making special use of their preserved DMUs, prior to their Victorian Train Weekend, with steam-hauled Victorian carriages, 3-5 May. See: https://www.midlandrailway-butterley.co.uk/
- Not far away, Peak Rail has steam hauled trains running every Sunday and steam or diesel on Saturday in March & April, including Easter, as well as Easter Monday and other selected dates. For details see: https://www.peakrail.co.uk/
- In the Yorkshire Dales near Skipton, the Embsay & Bolton Abbey Railway is already running every weekend, plus Tuesdays in March and Tuesday as well as Wednesday in April. For full details see: https://www.embsayboltonabbeyrailway.org.uk/
