Launceston Steam Railway

About the museum

The railway follows part of the route of earlier standard-gauge lines at Launceston, which opened in 1865 and the 1880s and closed in 1962 and 1966. After the lines were lifted the trackbed became overgrown.

The present line began with the locomotive Lilian, built in 1883, which Nigel Bowman bought from a Welsh slate quarry in 1964 and restored to working order by 1968. In 1971 Bowman and Jim Stone proposed a narrow-gauge railway to Launceston Council, which backed the plan. Work started in the early 1980s, using track material from a naval depot near Plymouth, and the first public train, pulled by Lilian, ran on Boxing Day 1983.

The line was extended in stages along the Kensey Valley to Hunts Crossing and Canna Park, and the final half mile to Newmills opened in 1995, completing a line of about 2½ miles. Today the railway is run as a heritage attraction with several steam locomotives, a transport and engineering museum with vintage vehicles and railway memorabilia, a café and a gift shop.

Highlights

• 2½ mile narrow-gauge steam journey through the Kensey Valley
• Locomotive Lilian, built in 1883 and used on the first train in 1983
• Transport and engineering museum with vintage cars, motorcycles and railway signs
• Return tickets valid for repeat rides all day
• Dogs are allowed on the train

Permanent exhibition

• Transport and engineering museum – Vintage cars, motorcycles, railway equipment and memorabilia, including items from the old North Cornwall Railway; a second hall with more vintage cars opened in 2016.

Founded

1983

Admission & discounts

Return tickets allow unlimited rides on the day of purchase, and one-way tickets are available on request. Tickets are bought at the station ticket office and no booking is needed. The 4pm train has a 20% afternoon saver ticket, and the 2:30pm train has a discounted cream tea offer. The 2026 price list on the website shows the amounts without readable category labels.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible: no information
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: no information
• 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

Guide dogs are allowed in the café. The motorbike and railway sign displays in the museum are upstairs, so visitors with limited mobility should take care. The website gives no further access information.

Kids & families

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Getting there & parking

The railway is signposted from the A30 with brown tourist signs. On foot, take Priory Lane from St Thomas Road to the station platform, through the gate beside the gift shop; Priory Lane is private and may be used only on public operating days.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Museum shop

A café next to the shop, a gift and book shop with new and second-hand books, and outdoor seating, some of it covered. Dogs are not allowed in the café except guide dogs.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit