Toddington Narrow Gauge Railway

About the museum

The Toddington Narrow Gauge Railway was started in 1985, when the Dowty Railway Preservation Society needed a new home for its collection of narrow gauge locomotives and rolling stock. It was set up next to the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway at Toddington and was long known as the North Gloucestershire Railway. In 2018 the line was officially renamed the Toddington Narrow Gauge Railway.

The line is about half a mile long and has a gauge of two feet (610 mm). Part of the track was reused from other lines, including the Southend Pier Railway and the Vale of Rheidol Railway. It is run entirely by volunteers, who also look after the locomotives and carriages.

The railway is worked by steam and diesel locomotives from Britain, Belgium, Poland and South Africa. Most of the rolling stock is kept in a large shed that visitors can enter on running days. Visitors can also see a former Midland Railway signal box, called California Crossing, which came from Gloucester, and a garden railway in 16 mm scale.

Highlights

• Two-foot gauge steam and diesel locomotives from Britain, Belgium, Poland and South Africa
• Open engine shed where most of the rolling stock is kept
• Former Midland Railway signal box California Crossing
• 16 mm scale garden railway
• Short train ride beside the heritage railway at Toddington station

Permanent exhibition

• Narrow gauge locomotives and engine shed – A collection of two-foot gauge steam and diesel locomotives and rolling stock, kept in a shed that visitors can enter on running days.

Founded

1985

Operated by

North Gloucestershire Railway (volunteer-run)

Admission & discounts

Tickets are bought at the ticket office on the day; visitors should arrive 10 minutes before departure. Exclusive-use hire of the railway for groups of up to 10 adults, with driving, guarding, shunting and signalling, costs £250 plus VAT for 11:00 to 16:00.

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: not available
• Accessible restroom
• Accessible parking: no information
• 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

Accessible toilets are in the car park at Toddington; there are no toilets on the narrow gauge site or trains. There are two steps with a handrail up to the ticket office, a loose-surfaced level path of about 50 metres to the platform, and a short steep ramp up to the platform and down to the engine shed. The signal box is reached by 7 steps. The carriages have two steps up; the centre carriage takes a standard manual wheelchair with ramps, but the Polish coach used on wet days cannot take wheelchairs.

Kids & families

Infants aged 1 to 3 travel free and a family ticket is available.

Getting there & parking

Sat nav postcode GL54 5DT; the what3words location of the ticket office is feasting.salsa.hogs.

Amenities & dining

There are no toilets or refreshments on the narrow gauge site itself. The neighbouring Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway station has the Cotswold Halt Café, a volunteer-run gift shop and toilets.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Private parties

Up to 10 guests.

The railway can be hired for exclusive use by groups, clubs or friends (up to 10 adults) and by tour operators; enquiries by email.

Plan your visit