Name: Apedale Valley Light Railway
Rating: 5.0

Apedale Valley Light Railway

Apedale Valley Light Railway, Loomer Road, Chesterton, Newcastle-under-Lyme, UK

1-90 Years

Paid

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Description

Apedale Valley Light Railway is a narrow-gauge heritage railway located in Chesterton, Newcastle-under-Lyme. It is operated by the Moseley Railway Trust and offers short but enjoyable historic train rides. The railway provides a fun and educational experience for families, railway fans and visitors of all ages.

Visitors can enjoy a 15-minute round-trip train ride beside Apedale Community Country Park. Trains are hauled by historic steam or diesel locomotives, and passengers board at the station next to the Apedale Heritage Centre. The site also includes a well-stocked station shop, optional tours of the locomotive shed on steam days, access to the free museum and café at the Apedale Heritage Centre, and special events held throughout the year.

Standard train ride prices are £5.00 for adults and £1.00 for children aged 3–15. Special experiences include the Morning Steam Footplate Experience (£175), Afternoon Steam Footplate Experience (£175), and Industrial Diesel Driver experience (£100).

Overall, Apedale Valley Light Railway offers a charming heritage experience with hands-on opportunities and historic trains. It is ideal for families, enthusiasts and anyone looking for a relaxed day out. With special events, driver experiences and scenic surroundings, it is a great place to enjoy railway history in a friendly setting.

Features

Paid
Host birthday parties: No

Features

Morning Steam Footplate Experience: Your day begins at 08:30 with meeting your host for the safety brief. You will then be part of the team preparing the locomotive and lighting the fire. You will assist the crew with making the loco ready for service – needs to be ready for the first train at 1130! You will be on the footplate as a passenger for the 11:30 and 12:00 scheduled trains. In between the scheduled trains, you will be able (with instruction and guidance) to drive the locomotive. Your experience will end at approximately 13:00.
Afternoon Steam Footplate Experience: You will meet your host at 14:00, and he will give you a safety brief and introduce to the crew on the steam loco. You will travel with them as a footplate passenger on the afternoon trains. After the 16:00 train, you will be able (with instruction and guidance) to drive the locomotive. At approximately 17:30, the locomotive will be returned to the shed area, where you can assist the crew with the various tasks which have to be carried out on a steam loco at the end of each working day. Your experience will end at approximately 18:00.
Industrial Diesel Driver: Your chance to get hands-on with some of the locomotives from our collection! The experience starts at 14:00, meeting your host for a safety brief. You will then receive tuition on a number of our historic diesel locos, and when ready, you’ll be in charge! You will have the Apedale Field Railway and some wagons to test your new-found skills. Your experience will end at approximately 17:00.
Station Shop: Our shop is located in the station building at our main Apedale Road station. We are open on all operating days from 11am until after the last train of the day. This is where you come to buy your train tickets (watch us endorse the ticket using our original “Edmondson” ticket dating machine).

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Price

Price: Paid

Price Details

Adult: £5.00
Child (aged 3-15): £1.00
Morning Steam Footplate Experience: £175
Afternoon Steam Footplate Experience: £175
Industrial Diesel Driver: £100

Pricing URL: https://avlr.org.uk/timetable

Birthday Parties

Offer Birthday Parties: No

Visit the website to view timetable.

Address: Apedale Valley Light Railway, Loomer Road, Chesterton, Newcastle-under-Lyme, UK

Post Code: ST5 7LB

Council: Newcastle under Lyme

County: Staffordshire

From the North and the West

Leave the M6 at Junction 16 and follow the A500 towards Stoke on Trent
At the A34 junction, leave the A500 and turn right towards Newcastle-under-Lyme
At the second roundabout after leaving the A500 (McDonald’s restaurant on the left), turn right onto the B5369 following signposts to the Apedale Valley and Loomer Road Industrial Estate.
After about 600 metres, at the main roundabout in Chesterton take the second exit into the Loomer Road Industrial Estate
Follow Loomer road to the end, and follow the road to the right into the country park
There is a height barrier, set at 6 feet 6 inches, at the entrance to the country park. If this is a problem for your vehicle, please contact us.
Keep going straight ahead until you see car park signs, just by the Apedale Heritage Centre. Please park in the marked car parks.
The railway is located just beyond the Heritage Centre, although there is no access to cars

From the East via the A50

Follow the A50 until it meets the A500 (“Sideway”) and turn right following M6 North signs
Follow the A500 until you see the A34/Kidsgrove junction before you reach the M6
Turn left onto the A34 south towards Newcastle under Lyme
After about 600 metres, at the second roundabout after leaving the A500 (McDonald’s restaurant on the left), turn right onto the B5369 following signposts to the Apedale Valley and Loomer Road Industrial Estate.
At the main roundabout in Chesterton, take the second exit into the Loomer Road Industrial Estate
Follow Loomer road to the end, and follow the road to the right into the country park
There is a height barrier, set at 6 feet 6 inches, at the entrance to the country park. If this is a problem for your vehicle, please contact us.
Keep going straight ahead until you see car park signs, just by the Apedale Heritage Centre. Please park in the marked car parks.
The railway is located just beyond the Heritage Centre, although there is no access to cars.

From the South via M6

Leave M6 at Junction 15
Follow A500 towards Sideway and Stoke, the proceed as above.
The more confident may opt to leave the A500 at the A34 intersection; following the A34 north will take you through Newcastle-under-Lyme town centre.
Turn left onto the B5369 at McDonalds roundabout as described above.

By Public Transport

Stoke-on-Trent railway station is well served by trains from all parts, including Avanti West Coast trains from London Euston, Cross Country trains from Birmingham, Manchester and elsewhere.
There is no direct bus route from Stoke station to Chesterton; it is recommended that one catches a (frequent) bus to Hanley from outside Stoke Station.
From Hanley bus station, take the bus route 38 or 38A. Route 38 goes from Hanley to Kidsgrove, via Chesterton and Newcastle-under-Lyme. Route 38A goes to Waterhayes via Chesterton.