Midland Railway – Butterley

About the museum

The Midland Railway – Butterley began in 1969, when Derby Corporation decided to create a working and static museum of the Midland Railway, its predecessors and its successors. After the council backers withdrew for lack of funds, a volunteer trust took over a short stretch of the former Pye Bridge to Ambergate line, which had closed in 1968. Work began in 1973 on a site that was largely a slag heap, with Butterley as the operating base and the museum at Swanwick Junction.

Volunteers rebuilt Butterley station using an identical building moved from Whitwell, held a first steam open day in 1975 and carried the first passengers on 22 August 1981. The line was later extended in both directions and gained stations at Swanwick Junction and Hammersmith, signal boxes from places such as Ais Gill, Kettering and Kilby Bridge, and workshops for locomotive overhaul and repair.

Swanwick Junction now includes a Victorian railwayman's church, a demonstration signal box, the West Shed with two Stanier Pacific locomotives, a road transport building, a stationary power collection and the narrow-gauge Golden Valley Light Railway. The trust runs trains on selected dates, mostly at weekends and in school holidays, alongside special events, and it keeps a large collection of railway objects from locomotives to tickets.

Highlights

• Heritage steam, diesel and railcar trains through the Derbyshire countryside
• West Shed Experience with Stanier Pacific locomotives
• Demonstration signal box and Victorian railwayman's church
• Museum collection of locomotives, signs, uniforms, documents and photographs
• Golden Valley Light Railway, play area and country park

Permanent exhibitions

• Museum collection – A large railway collection from locomotives to tickets, including signs, uniforms, documents, maps and photographs, shown at Swanwick Junction.
• West Shed Experience – A shed at Swanwick Junction that is home to two LMS Stanier Pacific locomotives.
• Demonstration Signal Box and railwayman's church – A signal box where visitors can see signalling equipment, and a Victorian corrugated-iron railwayman's church moved from Westhouses.

Operated by

Midland Railway Trust

Admission & discounts

The ticket covers a full day of travel on the running trains. Prices shown are for normal steam and diesel multiple unit running days; special event days, Santa Special trains and the fireworks evening have separate prices shown in the calendar and on the ticket pages. Paying with Gift Aid gives vouchers to spend in the shop. Tickets are non-refundable but can be moved to another date.

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom
• Accessible parking
• Service dogs welcome
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

This is a largely outdoor heritage site with uneven surfaces, gravel paths and historic buildings, so access varies. There are designated Blue Badge spaces by Butterley station and step-free access from the car park to the station; the car park surface is uneven in places. Not every historic carriage is wheelchair accessible, and wheelchair users usually travel in the guard's van with a companion seated beside them. Boarding help is available with notice, but there may be a step or gap between platform and train. Accessible and baby change toilets are on site, though their location depends on which areas are open. Registered assistance dogs are welcome throughout the site and on the trains; other dogs on a lead are also welcome, but not in some buildings or catering areas. A downloadable access guide is available and visitors are advised to call ahead. Steam trains can be loud.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Stroller-friendly
• Baby changing facilities
• Playground / play area

The railway describes itself as a day out for all ages. There is a children's play area and a country park for picnics, and special children's events are held through the year. Pushchairs normally travel in the guard's van without being folded, but there is a lot of walking at Swanwick Junction. Baby change toilets are on site.

Getting there & parking

From M1 junction 28 take the A38 towards Derby and Ripley, then the B6179 to Butterley; the station is just beyond the railway bridge next to Butterley Reservoir. Use postcode DE5 3QZ for satnav.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Museum shop

Deeley's Victorian Tearoom at Swanwick Junction and the shop at Butterley Station sell hot and cold drinks, sandwiches, snacks and ice creams. The Butterley shop sells railway-themed gifts, toys, books and models. Afternoon tea is not offered at present.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit