Living Museum of the

Opening Times & Special Events 2020

DidcotRailwayCentre.org.uk 01235 817200

Operated by the Great Western Society Calendar 2020 Steam Days Discovery Days Spring Exhibition Days Special Events ™ The Centre is open on days with a coloured background – Steam Into Christmas match the colour to the information panels in this booklet to plan your visit.

January February March April Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa Su 1 2 3 4 5 1 2 1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 24 25 26 27 28 29 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 27 28 29 30 30 31

May June July August Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa Su 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 1 2 3 4 5 1 2 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 29 30 27 28 29 30 31 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31

September October November December Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa Su 1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3 4 1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 26 27 28 29 30 31 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 28 29 30 31 1 30

2 3 Discovery Days Explore this 21-acre living museum and unearth almost two centuries of railway history. Stroll through the original 1932 engine shed and see magnifi cent preserved – you can even climb onto the footplates of some! See surviving track from Brunel’s broad gauge railway, discover painstakingly restored buildings, coaches and wagons and learn more about the development of railways and how they changed lives.

There’s a chance to get hands-on in the Science of Railways carriages and the signalling centre where you can fi nd out how have been controlled through the ages. Descend into a shelter built to keep ’s enginemen safe in World War Two and experience an air raid, or immerse yourself in the varied collection of fascinating, smaller artefacts in the museum.

Children can let off steam in the outdoor play area, make tracks to the indoor toy sets or dress up as a station master. You can relax over lunch or enjoy a snack in the refreshment rooms and don’t forget to pick up a souvenir in the gift shop. The modern trains running past the Centre complete the picture and mean you can experience 180 years of railway progress in just one day!

Open 10.30am – 4.00pm, last admission 3.30pm

Spring Exhibition Days There’s plenty to see undercover in the shed, historic carriage display, signalling centre and Science of Railways carriages plus hot drinks and lunches in the cosy refreshment rooms.

Open 10.30am – 4.00pm, last admission 3.30pm

4 5 Steam Days

Travel back in time to the golden age of the Great Western In addition, all the attractions of a Discovery Day are open and Railway and savour the sights, sounds and smells of steam as there’s also a chance to get hands-on and control trains using you explore this 21-acre living museum with trains dating from the 1960s technology of the Panel. The equipment, Victorian times to the 1960s. once at the heart of Swindon signalbox has been saved and restored so, guided by one of our experts, you can keep trains Steam trains will be operating on at least one of the Centre’s running safely and to time on a virtual Great Western mainline! two demonstration lines, allowing you to take unlimited rides. On many days, the second line will be running too and may Open 10.30am – 5.00pm*, last admission 3.30pm feature our unique steam railmotor, a pioneering diesel *4.00pm in Jan, Feb and Oct , a heritage diesel locomotive or a small branchline steam engine. Book tickets online for a 10% discount.

6 7 Group Visits The Centre is an ideal location for a group outing. Members of your party can explore under their own steam or book a tour with one of our knowledgeable guides.

A range of snacks, light lunches and hot or cold drinks are available from the refreshment rooms and can be booked in advance for the group or purchased individually on the day – you can even arrange cream tea aboard one of the Centre’s historic steam trains.

8 9 Sat 20 & Sun 21 Jun Special Events Midsummer Festival of Family Fun Our varied line-up of special events has something to suit all A host of activities including a tastes, from enthusiasts to children and from social historians Teddy Bears’ picnic, children’s to railway modellers! See our website for full details and the entertainment, 80th birthday latest information. Book tickets online for a 10% discount. celebrations for Railcar No 22 and special events for Dads on Father’s Day. Sat 15 & Sun 16 Feb | Delivering the Goods Sat 11 & Sun 12 Jul | Railway Modellers’ Weekend Special demonstration freight trains recall the days when goods Demonstrations and masterclasses from modelling experts, traffi c was more important to the railways than passengers. model railways on display and the chance for modellers to Two steam and two diesel locomotives in action. measure and photograph our buildings and vehicles. Sat 7 & Sun 8 Mar | Day Out With Thomas™ Sat 25 & Sun 26 Jul | Sixties Weekend Peep peep! Join Thomas & Friends for Relive the fi nal days of steam and the introduction of “modern” a day of family fun. Make tracks diesels, come dressed in the distinctive fashions of the era and to a Day Out With Thomas™, dance to a live band playing new-fangled “pop” music. the ultimate Thomas & Friends experience, for a special 75th Sat 29, Sun 30 & Mon 31 Aug | Bank Holiday Steam-Up anniversary party with Three or more steam engines. Passenger and goods trains, Thomas the Tank Engine. double-heading, turntable demonstrations and more.

Thomas and The Fat Controller are Sat 19 & Sun 20 Sep | Victorian Weekend coming all the way from the Island of Sodor for a day of family Ride in genuine Victorian carriages, see fun as we celebrate 75 years of discovery, adventure and Brunel’s surviving broad-gauge track friendship with Thomas & Friends. and replicas of Iron Duke and Fire Fly Day Out With Thomas™ © 2019 Gullane (Thomas) Limited. © 2019 Mattel. All rights reserved. – the high speed trains of their era – and meet award-winning re-enactors Fri 10, Sat 11, Sun 12 & Mon 13 Apr the Ragged Victorians portraying life Railcar Rendezvous as it was for the lower classes. Come and witness the extraordinary Sat 3 & Sun 4 Oct spectacle of four in action Day Out With Thomas™ side-by-side as our unique steam Thomas and The Fat Controller return – see 7 & 8 March railmotor and pioneering diesel for details. railcar are joined by a splendid Edwardian petrol-electric railcar and a Sat 31 Oct & Sun 1 Nov | Hallowe’en Fun distinctive German-built diesel railbus. Enjoy a range of spooky activities plus dramatic lighting, special effects and plenty of steam creating the perfect Hallowe’en Fri 8, Sat 9 & Sun 10 May | Bank Holiday Steam-Up atmosphere. Three or more steam engines. Coal stage demonstrations, double-headed trains and more. Sat 5, Sun 6, Sat 12, Sun 13, Sat 19, Sun 20, Tue 22 & Sat 23, Sun 24 & Mon 25 May | Bank Holiday Steam-Up Wed 23 Dec Three or more steam engines. Engine shed loco line up, Steam Into Christmas turntable demonstrations and more. Take a steam train ride Sun 31 May | Historic Transport Rally to meet Father Christmas in a wonderfully decorated Vintage omnibuses, charabancs, cars, trucks and vans will festive station. descend on Didcot to create a colourful spectacle.

10 11 For Kids Schools The Centre is an amazing place for kids to explore and spark A visit offers pupils an exciting and unique opportunity to visit their curiosity and imagination. There’s a special children’s trail a living museum, where they can learn, and gain hands-on highlighting things to do on site including interactive displays experience, related to a variety of topics in Key Stages 1, 2 and in the Science of Railways carriages and the signalling centre. 3 of the National Curriculum. There’s also the chance to see giant locomotives close up in the engine shed, let off steam in the play area, dress up as a Specially developed educational packages are brought to life by station master or guard in the booking offi ce, use the traditional the Centre’s expert guides and include the chance to see and platform ticket machine in the Museum or take cover in the handle artefacts. Popular topics include: air raid shelter and hear the warning sirens and the sound of bombs falling all around. • The Victorians & Early Railways featuring how navvies built the railways, a chance to climb aboard a replica 1840s Don’t miss the extra entertainment on many special events broad-gauge train, travel in vintage carriages and how the days or the Summer of S.T.E.A.M. from 25 July to 31 August railways changed everyday Victorian life. featuring Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Maths themed activities across fi ve weeks including The Mechanicals • World War Two including being evacuated to safety aboard a – an interactive exhibition demonstrating pulleys, levers, gears, steam train, surviving an attack in our original air raid shelter ratchets and more, alongside fascinating and beautifully- and rationing and wartime life. crafted automata that utilise the basic mechanisms. • A Trip to The Seaside for pre-school pupils. • Engineering and Technology for older students.

12 13 Experiences Pull on your overalls and climb into the cab of one of our full-size steam locomotives under the expert guidance of our experienced footplate supervisors. Whether you want to realise a childhood ambition, fi nd a memorable birthday treat, celebrate a special anniversary, entertain corporate guests or undertake an unusual team building activity, we have a Railway Experience that’s just the ticket!

Railway Experience Day On this unforgettable day, you will take the controls of a full-size locomotive at the head of a private passenger train on the Centre’s main demonstration line. Whether it’s shovelling coal to feed the fi re, giving a short blast on the whistle, applying steam power or braking gently, our expert footplate crew will show you the art of fi ring and driving and you’ll have plenty of practice during your time on the footplate.

VIP Day - behind the scenes & footplate taster Join us for a very special look behind the scenes on one of our Steam Days. You will have access to areas that are not normally on public view, including a ride on the footplate of the locomotives in action on the day of your visit.

Contact Us Didcot Railway Centre, Didcot, , OX11 7NJ 01235 817200 | [email protected] DidcotRailwayCentre.org.uk

Didcot Railway Centre is operated by the Great Western Society Limited, Registered Charity number 272616

The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service The MBE for volunteer groups

14 15 Living Museum of the Great Western Railway

How to find us Didcot is 53 miles west of , 10 miles south of and almost halfway between London and Bristol on Brunel’s original Great Western Railway.

By Train There are regular services to Didcot Parkway from London, the southwest, the Midlands and the North – see nationalrail.co.uk By Bus Local buses stop at Didcot Parkway station – see travelinesoutheast.org.uk By Car The Centre is signposted from the M4 (junction 13) and the A34, follow the white on brown signs to Didcot Railway Centre. There is ample car parking at the main station car park accessed via Foxhall Road and Basil Hill Road. The car park entrance can be located using turkey.newlywed.audio on the What3Words.com website – please see their website for more details and to download the app. On Arrival The entrance to the Railway Centre is through the ticket hall and original steam age subway of Didcot Parkway railway station. Please advise the GWR ticket barrier staff at the mainline station that you are visiting Didcot Railway Centre and they will open the barriers to allow you access. (You will need to show your Railway Centre tickets when you exit the main station after your visit). Accessibility The old-style flight of stairs from the subway leads to the Railway Centre entrance and ticket office. Visitors with limited mobility and wheelchair users should consult the Accessibility Page on our website when planning a visit or call 01235 817200 for further information.

DIDCOT RAILWAY CENTRE

DIDCOT PARKWAY CAR PARK STATION ENTRANCE

Disabled Parking B4493 Station Road A4130 Wallingford A34 / M4 & Henley Prince of Wales Note: All car parks are pay & display Public House

Didcot Railway Centre, Didcot, Oxfordshire, OX11 7NJ