VOLUNTEERS DAY
SATURDAY 4th JULY
CHILDREN IN NEED
SUNDAY 1st NOVEMBER
Our most rewarding event of the year!
CHILDREN IN NEED
SUNDAY 1st NOVEMBER
Our most rewarding event of the year!
Explore our special events for 2026!
Except for Santa and Halloween trains, all specials run from 11.30am to 4.30pm.
Fares (2025) are Adult £5, Child £4, Family (2+2) £14, Senior/armed forces concession £4.50.
Pay on the day or book in advance for our Advance Gala and Event Day tickets. Advance tickets will be available soon for 2026 - buy them for yourself or as a gift for family and friends.
Our next
special event!
Easter Egg Hunt
Sunday 5th April
Ride the trains, meet the Easter Bunny & join in our Grand Easter Egg Hunt!
Two engines in steam, plus traditional games, free competition with Easter prizes, children's fairground ride & our famous tearoom.
Don't forget we are also open for normal running (at standard fares) on Good Friday and Easter Monday.
Friendly Engines Day
Sunday 26th April
Come and meet our friendly engines!
A special day for families, with two engines in steam plus heritage diesels.
Attractions include children's fairground ride, traditional games, drive-a-diesel and our famous tearoom.
Teddy Bears Day
Sunday 17th May
Plenty of surprises down in the woods today! A special day for children who love their teddies. One loco in steam plus our Hudswell-Clarke mines diesel, and lots of teddy bears!
Children bring a bear and travel free!
Attractions include model railways, children's fairground ride, traditional games, and our famous tearoom and burger van.
Strawberries & Steam
Sunday 14th June
Come and meet our own Mr Strawbs, and celebrate our famous Hesketh Bank strawberries!
As well as strawberries, cakes and cream, attractions include bar with bottled beer and strawberry prosecco, the South Ribble Concert Band, Mr Strawbs, children's fairground ride and traditional games.
Princess & Pirates Day
Sunday 12th July
A fun day with a pirate galleon, beautiful princesses & horrid pirates. Event opened by the Hesketh Bank Rose Queen at midday. FREE train travel for children in costume.
Piratical magician, live steam pirate model railway, vintage buses, 'Fireman's Shovel' food wagon & tearoom.
Summer gala
Saturday 1st & Sunday 2nd August
The big event of the year, our two-day summer steam gala! We bring all your favourite attractions into one weekend!
Three engines in steam, model railway display, traditional games. Free vintage bus rides. Tearoom with children's picnic boxes, hot food on Sunday. Real ale and wine bar.
Working engines gala
Sunday 20th September
The big parade of our little engines!
Full passenger steam train timetable, and our Hudswell mines diesel.
Demonstration diesel freight trains, drive-a-diesel, live steam model railways, Meccano display, traditional games, tearoom.
Pumpkin Sunday
Sunday 11th October
Ride the trains & choose your pumpkin!
Free pumpkin with every child ticket.
Steam engine plus our Hudswell mines diesel, catering van & tearoom.
Halloween Special
Saturday October 31st
Come with us on Halloween evening for a scary adventure - if you dare!
Choose from four fear-filled trains and enjoy a frightful event!
Booking is essential - details to follow.
Children in Need/
Macmillan Coffee Morning
Sunday 1st November
Pudsey Bear visits the Railway!
All the train rides are free! Just put a donation in one of our collection buckets and support the BBC's Children in Need charity!
All our tearoom income will go to Macmillan Cancer Support.
Santa Specials
6th/12th/13th/19th/20th
December
Take a short ride on a Santa Special steam train to Toyland, & meet Father Christmas!
Children receive a present from Santa, and adults can enjoy a glass of mulled wine or fruit punch, and a mince pie.
Hot food & drinks will be available.
Booking is essential - details to follow.