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!
WELCOME TO OUR RAILWAY !
Where we are
We are at Station Road, Hesketh Bank, about 10 miles south of Preston, in the county of Lancashire, UK. Access to the car park and entrance is via Thornton Drive.
The postcode for your sat-nav is PR4 6SP.
Our 'what3words' address is: ///visits.rugs.dusters
Turn into Tarleton village at the traffic lights where the A59 Liverpool to Preston road meets the A565 to Southport. Turn right at the mini-roundabout (Church Rd) then left into Hesketh Lane. After 1.5 miles turn right at the mini-roundabout (signed Thornton Drive) immediately after Booth's supermarket.
Stagecoach Bus No.2 runs past the site, every hour on Sundays and Bank Holidays. Alight at Booth's.
What we do
We operate narrow-gauge passenger steam trains on a short run of about 400m from Becconsall station through woodland between the village and the Douglas river, to Delph station. We normally have one engine in steam. On special event days two or sometimes three locos take turns to pull the train .
At Becconsall we have a tea room and a shop selling railway-themed gifts, also a plant stall and Barry's Bookstall.
We offer a family-friendly venue for visitors interested in live-steam railways and the preservation of our industrial heritage. As well as five steam engines, we have more than twenty small diesel, petrol and battery locomotives rescued from defunct industrial undertakings.
The Railway is a registered charity operated entirely by volunteers.
Opening times
We run trains every Sunday and Bank Holiday from Easter to early November, also every Wednesday in August and on Wednesdays during the May and October half-term holidays.
We also operate steam specials at Halloween and Santa Specials in December.
The 2024 season starts on Sunday 24th March. Download our 2024 leaflet here.
The site is free to enter - we charge for train rides and on event days for some attractions provided by third parties. Parking is free. Trains run frequently from 11.30 to 4.30 (4pm on Wednesdays). You can ride as many times as you like on your ticket!
Or you are welcome to just have some tea in the tearoom, watch the trains come and go, and have a browse in the shop and on the plant trolley and the bookstall.
Tickets
Normal running days
Buy standard-fare tickets on the day at our Station Shop:
Adults £4, children (3 yrs+) £3, infants free, Family (2 + 3) £13, Senior/armed forces concession £3.50.
Or buy online in advance using our Advance Anyday tickets, valid without time limit. Buy them here for yourself or as a gift for friends and family.
Santa Specials and Halloween trains
Booking is essential. Online booking opens a few weeks before each event.
Other special events
Different fares apply - see the special event page for details. You can buy tickets on the day or book here for our Advance Gala and Event Day tickets.
Holders of HRA Privilege passes are entitled to free travel on normal running AND special event days, apart from Santa Specials and Halloween trains.
We are dog-friendly, and there is no charge for canine travel.