Heatherslaw Light Railway
15-inch gauge railway between Heatherslaw and Etal on the Ford and Etal estate in Northumberland, running daily from spring to autumn.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The Heatherslaw Light Railway was founded by Neville Smith and Sid Ford and opened in 1989 on the Ford and Etal estate in Northumberland, close to the Scottish border. It has a gauge of 15 inches (381 mm). The station at Heatherslaw was built from the ruins of a former sawmill damaged by fire. The first route ran for about 1¼ miles through Letham Haugh to Etal village. It was later changed to follow the river, and a return trip is now about four miles.
The railway’s first locomotive was the steam engine Lady Augusta, which entered service in 1989. The main passenger locomotive today is the steam engine Bunty, built partly on site and completed by Alan Keef in 2010. A diesel locomotive called Binky, built in-house and in service since 2016, also hauls trains. Lady Augusta is now a spare locomotive, and an appeal to restore her is under way.
Trains run daily through the summer season, with steam-hauled specials on some weekends in December. The railway is described as the most northerly steam railway in England. Both ends of the line have a turntable so that locomotives can run facing forward, and tickets are sold only at Heatherslaw station.
Highlights
- Steam and diesel trains on a 15-inch gauge line between Heatherslaw and Etal
- Steam locomotives Bunty and Lady Augusta
- Scenic route between the villages of Heatherslaw and Etal
- Station shop with souvenirs
- Seasonal Santa specials in December
Permanent exhibition
- Steam and diesel locomotives – Passenger trains are hauled by the steam locomotives Bunty and Lady Augusta or by the diesel locomotive Binky.
- Founded
- 1989
- Operated by
- Heatherslaw Light Railway Company
Admission & discounts
| Adults | £12.50 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | £12Concession (aged 60 and over) |
| Children & teens | £6free up to age 1 · Child return fare for ages 2 to 15; under-2s travel free. |
| Seniors | £12Aged 60 and over. |
| Visitors with disabilities | –Carer and adult £17.50; carer and child £13.00. |
| Groups (10+ people) | –Groups of 10 or more can request a discount; enquire more than 5 days before travel via the group enquiry page. |
| Families | £34Two adults and two children. A family of three adults and one child pays £29. |
| Carer and adult | £17.50 |
| Carer and child | £13 |
| Family: three adults and one child | £29 |
Prices are for return tickets for the 2026 season (adult aged 16 to 59). Tickets are sold only at Heatherslaw station, not at Etal. Dogs travel free. Single and day rover tickets exist but their prices are not shown.
Accessibility
- Partially wheelchair accessible
- Elevator: no information
- Accessible restroom
- Accessible parking
- Service dogs welcome: no information
- Tactile models & exhibits: no information
- Sign language tours: no information
- Easy-to-read materials: no information
- Audio description: no information
The trains have two wheelchair compartments, and staff can help with platform access. There are three hard-standing disabled parking spaces. The car park and paths are gravel, and reaching Etal village involves a long uphill gravel path. There are no public toilets at the stations; accessible toilets are just over the bridge towards the mill and in Etal village.
Kids & families
Great for kids & families
| Kids’ admission | free up to age 1 |
|---|---|
| Family ticket | £34 · Two adults and two children. A family of three adults and one child pays £29. |
Family visits are welcomed, with family return tickets for two adults and two children, or three adults and one child. Children under 2 travel free.
Getting there & parking
By car
Parking available
Gravel car park at Heatherslaw with three hard-standing disabled parking spaces.
- Accessible parking
The railway is at Ford Forge, between the villages of Ford and Etal.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
- Museum shop
The railway has a shop selling souvenirs. There are no public toilets at the stations.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Good to know | Dogs travel free. A restoration appeal for the locomotive Lady Augusta is under way. |
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