Colne Valley Railway and Museum

The Colne Valley Railway is a one mile long heritage railway located in North Essex, about 70 miles from London. The Railway was formed in 1974 primarily as a home for steam locomotive number WD190. It has developed into a fully functional railway, complete with a station, signalboxes, bridges, and other railway buildings - when the site was bought there were no buildings at all.

The Colne Valley Railway has specialised in education for many years, and is highly regarded in this field. Starting with ad hoc school visits, learning programmes have been developed for all ages.

The story of the Colne Valley Railway as it is today began one evening in the summer of 1973 when two railway enthusiasts walked a one mile section of the former Colne Valley and Halstead Railway at Castle Hedingham. The section of line chosen, between mileposts 60 and 61 was idyllic, for it meanders along the course of the river Colne, passes through cuttings and along embankments, in the beautiful and romantic English countryside.

The Railway is entirely operated by the volunteer members of the Colne Valley Railway Preservation Society, there are no paid staff. The volunteers are drawn from all walks of life and very few are professional railwaymen, the only thing they all have in common is the love of railways and conservation of our heritage.

The staff operating the Railway on the day of your visit may well be librarians, engineers, carpenters, lorry drivers, bank managers, salesmen, nurses, or plumbers, but all have been trained to become qualified as Guards, Signalmen, Firemen and eventually Drivers.

Sample the atmosphere of an award winning period country railway. A pretty line, relocated station buildings, signal boxes and bridges all lovingly restored and rebuilt.

A large and varied collection of operational vintage steam and diesel engines, carriages and wagons that represent much of our Railway Heritage is available to explore.

Ride on one or more of the fleet of vintage steam trains or a diesel railbus, and as an added attraction between May and September, a diesel operated goods or passenger train will also operate. There many special events held throughout the year.

General Information:

• Riverside car park and picnic area adjacent to station
• Access to Colne Valley Farm Park is through the railway
• Buffet Carriage at station open on train operating days
• Sorry no dogs (except guide dogs) on any part of railway or farm park.