Irchester Narrow Gauge Railway Museum
Volunteer-run museum in Irchester Country Park with narrow gauge steam and diesel locomotives, a quarry diorama and a short demonstration line; free entry.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The area around Wellingborough was rich in iron ore, and ironstone quarries opened near Irchester in the 1870s. Narrow gauge railways carried the ore to local ironworks, and the quarries closed in 1969. The old workings later became Irchester Country Park, which Northamptonshire County Council opened in 1971.
The museum was set up in the park in 1987 in a purpose-built building next to the former ironstone railway maintenance yard, and it is owned by the Irchester Narrow Gauge Railway Trust, a registered charity. It is run entirely by volunteers, who also restore and maintain the exhibits. The main line at the museum is laid to metre gauge, the gauge used by the old Wellingborough Iron Company, and other gauges of 3 feet, 2 feet and 20 inches are also represented.
The collection includes steam and diesel locomotives, wagons and other industrial railway items, and a life-size diorama of a quarry. Peckett steam locomotives that worked on the Wellingborough tramway are among the exhibits, and a short demonstration track lets volunteers run engines for visitors. Work continues on rebuilding and repainting locomotives, and the museum is supported by donations, membership and volunteer help.
Highlights
- Narrow gauge steam locomotives including Peckett engines from the Wellingborough tramway
- Diesel locomotives such as the Hunslet The Rock and the Ruston Milford
- Life-size diorama of an ironstone quarry
- Short metre gauge demonstration track
- Rail-mounted hand crane and industrial railway items
- Free entry in the setting of Irchester Country Park
Permanent exhibition
- Narrow gauge railway collection – Steam and diesel narrow gauge locomotives, wagons and industrial railway items, with a life-size quarry diorama.
- Founded
- 1987
- Operated by
- Irchester Narrow Gauge Railway Trust
Admission & discounts
Admission is free.
Entry to the museum is free; donations are welcome, and the museum is a volunteer-run charity. Annual membership of the Irchester Narrow Gauge Railway Trust costs £15 for adults, £12.50 for over 65s and children under 16, and £20 for a family.
Accessibility
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Kids & families
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Getting there & parking
By car
Paid parking
Pay and display car parking in Irchester Country Park.
The museum is inside Irchester Country Park, off the A509 about 2 miles south of Wellingborough. Sat nav postcode NN29 7DL.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
- Café
Irchester Country Park has refreshments at The Quarryman's Rest, toilets and a pay and display car park.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Good to know | Volunteers sometimes start and run engines on open days. The museum is inside the country park, which has about 8 miles of walks. |
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