Cambrian Heritage Railways
Heritage railway in Oswestry running steam and vintage diesel trains to Weston Wharf, with a railway museum, restored signal box and period stations.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
Cambrian Heritage Railways preserves part of the former Cambrian Railways network around Oswestry, on the England-Wales border. Passenger trains to Oswestry ended in 1966, but much of the infrastructure survived, including the station buildings at Oswestry and the locomotive, carriage and wagon works, which are listed structures.
The Cambrian Railways Society was formed in 1972 by local enthusiasts and former railway workers. It leased part of Oswestry goods yard, including the goods shed and the south signal box, set up a museum and collected locomotives, carriages and other artefacts. Passenger trains began running on a short section of track in 1987. In 1998 the Cambrian Railways Trust was founded to restore the line as a wider visitor attraction, and a new railway from Llynclys South to Pen-y-Garreg Lane opened to passengers in 2005. Oswestry Station was bought by the local council in 2005 and converted into a visitor centre.
The Trust and the Society merged in 2009 to form Cambrian Heritage Railways Ltd, a registered charity. Today heritage trains run on selected days over the 1.75-mile route from Oswestry to Weston Wharf, where a period station has a café, picnic area and displays of railway objects. The Llynclys South site opens on selected dates. Visitors can also see the railway museum next to Oswestry station and a restored signal box, which opens for special events.
Highlights
- Steam, vintage diesel and diesel multiple unit services
- Railway museum next to Oswestry station
- Restored signal box (open for special events)
- Period stations at Oswestry, Weston Wharf and Llynclys South
- The railway also has a railway museum at Oswestry, but the website gives no opening times or admission details for it. Drive a Train experiences
Permanent exhibition
- Railway museum – A museum next to Oswestry station showing railway artefacts and the story of the Cambrian line, set up by the Cambrian Railways Society.
- Operated by
- Cambrian Heritage Railways Ltd
Admission & discounts
| Adults | £8 |
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| Reduced | £7Concession: pensioners, people registered with a disability and carers |
| Children & teens | £5Child rover ticket. On Wednesdays (Timetable B days) children travel for £1. |
| Seniors | £7Concession rover for pensioners. |
| Visitors with disabilities | £7Concession rover for people registered with a disability and carers. |
| Families | £20Covers up to four people, with at least one and at most two adults. |
| Child rover on Wednesdays | £1Timetable B days. |
Prices are for the standard day rover ticket, which allows unlimited travel on the day of purchase. Special event days such as Santa Steam Trains have separate tickets and prices. Whether entry to the railway museum is included is not stated.
Accessibility
- Partially wheelchair accessible
- Elevator: no information
- Accessible restroom
- Accessible parking: no information
- Service dogs welcome
- Tactile models & exhibits: no information
- Sign language tours: no information
- Easy-to-read materials: no information
- Audio description: no information
The station building and platform at Oswestry, Weston Wharf and Llynclys South are wheelchair friendly. All trains can take wheelchairs, but space on board is limited and first come, first served, and large mobility scooters may not fit the ramp, so advance advice is recommended. The railway museum next to Oswestry station has three steps without a ramp, and the signal box is up steep wooden steps and is not suitable for visitors with mobility problems. Accessible toilets are at Oswestry, Weston Wharf and Llynclys South; there are no toilets on the trains. A hand-held magnifier can be borrowed in the museum. Assistance dogs are allowed everywhere, including the buffet carriages at Weston Wharf.
Kids & families
Great for kids & families
| Family ticket | £20 · Covers up to four people, with at least one and at most two adults. |
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- Family tours & workshops
- Stroller-friendly
Family rover ticket for up to four people, children's fare of £1 on Wednesdays, and seasonal events such as Santa Steam Trains. Pushchairs can be taken on the trains but must be stored in the guard's carriage, and may need to be folded when it is busy.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
Oswestry bus station
Oswestry bus station is directly opposite Oswestry station, with services from Shrewsbury and Wrexham (Arriva, Tanat Valley Coaches). The nearest mainline station is Gobowen, 3 miles away, with regular buses and taxis to Oswestry.
By car
Parking available
Limited parking at Oswestry station; there is plenty of parking in the town centre. There is no parking at Weston Wharf station.
Oswestry is just off the A5, which links to the M54 and M6.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
- Café
- Restaurant: not available
- Museum shop
Snacks-on-Tracks buffet carriages and a café at Weston Wharf, and a gift shop at Oswestry station with railway memorabilia and souvenirs.
Events & venue rental
- Spaces for rent
Train and venue hire is offered; details are on the website.
Inquiries & detailsPlan your visit
| Good to know | The train journey between Oswestry and Weston Wharf takes about 15 minutes. Dogs are allowed on the trains but must be kept off the seats. Drive a Train experiences (3 hours) can be booked on selected dates. |
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