Society Visits Information

 

We organise visits to narrow gauge and miniature railways throughout the year for the benefit of Members. These are mostly private visits, by special arrangement with the owners or operators of the railway.

We often get to see behind the scenes of the railway, such as the sheds and the workshops – areas normally off-limits to the general public. For this reason, we restrict our visits to Members only. If you are not a member and would like to come along on one of our visits, please join the Society first before you book, see our Membership page. 

Wednesday 07 June 2023: kyre valley railway, worcestershire

A rare opportunity to visit this 7¼ inch gauge railway, which runs for 1.9 miles near to Tenbury Wells in Worcestershire. The railway hopes to have 2 engines in steam together, along with 2 small petrol engines.

There may be a visiting locomotive as well.

Cost:      £12 per person

Friday 16 June 2023: littledale light railway, lancashire

A visit has been arranged to the 7¼ inch gauge Littledale Light Railway, at Brookhouse near Lancaster, on Friday 16th June.

Cost:      £12 per person

Thursday 13 July 2023: cleethorpes coast light railway

We now have full details of the plans for our visit to Cleethorpes Coast Light Railway on 13th July, which is a couple of days prior to their 75th Anniversary Weekend; the visit will include escorted workshop visits, exclusive train rides and a buffet lunch.  

The visit is now fully open for bookings.

Cost:      £19.95 per person

Friday 14 July 2023: ropsley heath light railway

Following the successful visit in 2021, we have arranged another visit to Ropsley Heath, where the railway has been extended since our last visit.

This visit has been arranged on the day after the visit to Cleethorpes, to give members the option of a couple of days in Lincolnshire.

Cost:      £12 per person

Saturday 05 August 2023: barnwell hill railway, oxfordshire

Colin Hill has built this 10¼ inch gauge railway in his garden, near to Banbury in Oxfordshire. The railway follows a zig-zag route through the steeply sloping garden. Colin has agreed to a visiting party of 30 people, split into groups of 10, each of which will have about an hour’s slot in which to visit.

The visit will comprise a walking tour of the railway and rides will be available on a short section of the line only; there is a steep section of the line, on which rides will not be possible.

Please choose a time slot for your visit: (a) 1100-1215; (b) 1230-1345; (c) 1415-1530.

Cost:      £12 per person

Please note that due to limited space for circulation, and proximity to a busy road, the visit will be stewarded both by local volunteers and NGRS Officials.

Sunday 06 August 2023: wotton light railway, buckinghamshire

Sir Jeremy Sullivan has invited us to attend his private Wotton Light Railway, between Bicester and Aylesbury.

The visit will run for a full afternoon, with unlimited rides, and liquid refreshments being provided by Sir Jeremy and Lady Sullivan. (Please bring your own picnic).

Cost:      £12 per person, with proceeds being donated to The Barn Owl Trust.

Wednesday 23 August 2023: north gloucestershire railway – internal combustion day

We have now confirmed that our Internal Combustion Day at Toddington will take place on Wednesday 23rd August.

The detailed plan for the day is still to be worked out, but the railway intend to run a “typical” service, so that participants can perform duties associated with the railway, under the supervision of NGR volunteers, including driving.

The cost will be £20 per head, and we need to have at least 15 confirmed bookings to make this viable

Saturday 02 September 2023: great bush railway, east sussex

Another repeat visit, following a very enjoyable visit last year. Once again, the railway will be running as many locomotives as possible, and there will be opportunities for driving and cab rides, as well as the usual unlimited rides.

We are also enquiring as to whether it might be possible to run the 10¼ inch railway; watch this space.

Cost:      £12 per person

Sunday 03 September 2023: ewhurst railway, surrey

We have arranged a visit to the Ewhurst Railway, which is a 7¼ inch gauge line, situated in the village of Ewhurst (between Guildford and Horsham).

The railway will provide teas and coffees, and members are asked to bring their own picnics for this visit.

Cost:      £12 per person

Saturday 30 September 2023: heatherslaw light railway, northumberland

This visit is now open for booking.

Cost:      £12 per person

Sunday 01 October 2023: lakeshore railroad, south shields

We have arranged a visit to this 9 ½ inch gauge railway; as well as unlimited rides, we are also arranging a visit to the railway’s workshop (which is at a location a couple of miles away from South Shields).

The visit is now open for bookings.

Cost:      £12 per person

ONLINE BOOKING

Members who have registered their email address in Membermojo and wish to join us on a visit are able to book on line through our Membermojo Store which will take you straight to the Store Visits page,  Alongside "Store Purchase", click on "Visit Store".  In the Store, you will find a list of all Society Visits which are available for Online Booking.

In order to book a place on a visit, click the “Quantity” box for the specific visit, select the number of places that you would like to book, and then click on checkout.  You can pay by debit or credit card. On receipt of your booking and payment, you will receive an automated email acknowledgement.

If you are booking for more people than just yourself, you will be asked to contact the relevant Visits Officer, providing the names, addresses and membership numbers (if known) in your party.

Once you have booked your visit(s), the relevant Visits Officer will contact you shortly before the visit with further details (including times, directions, meeting points).

 

OFFLINE BOOKING

If you do not wish to book online, you can book a visit using a  Visits Form :-

  1. Use the booking form, which you will have received with your latest mailing, selecting which visit(s) you would like to book for. Note that we require the names and addresses of everyone in your party, and that (except where stated) everyone should be a member (family members can be Associate members).

    Note that we require the names and addresses of everyone in your party and that (except where stated) everyone should be a member (family members can be Associate members).

  2. Send the completed form to the Visits Officer.

  3. Payment should be made by cheque (made payable to Narrow Gauge Railway Society, writing your address on the reverse. Send to the address given on the booking form.

 

All visits are subject to a Risk Assessment, and also to the approval of the Society’s Directors; they will also require a minimum number of participants, in order to make them viable.

Please be aware that not all of the railways that NGRS members attend on visits arranged by NGRS (“Sponsored Visits”), carry insurance to protect visitors in the case of injury or death, nor do the officers and directors of NGRS warrant that insurance that may be held by such railways offer adequate protection for you and those attending with you. The officers and directors of NGRS assume no liability for injury or death occurring during a Sponsored Visit. Please be sure that you follow all safety precautions imposed or suggested by the railways during Sponsored Visits.  

To clarify the conditions for members and others making visits to railway sites or our library, you are advised to read our Visits Policy thoroughly. This is also available from the Downloads page.

There may be some visits where non-members or the general public may be present, the visits form will clarify if you can be accompanied by non-members

An application to become a Visits & e-NGN Member or to add an Associate to your membership can be made via this website's Membership page

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Society Visits Information - NGRS