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Visit to the Statfold Barn Railway’s Spectacle of SteamSunday 9th March, 2025
The Statfold Barn Railway began as a 2ft gauge railway around the lake in Graham and Carol Lee’s landscaped garden near Tamworth and it just grew and grew.…
The railway and its museum has between 40 and 50 steam locomotives on 11 different gauges, about 40 diesel and petrol locomotives, some battery electric locomotives and a tram from the Burton and Ashby Light Railway. The Roundhouse Museum is home to over 20 historic steam and diesel engines and is built on two levels where you will find a selection of locomotives from different manufacturers from around the world. Locomotives are displayed around the turntable and there are interactive videos and information boards that explain the story behind this fantastic collection.
The main railway is 2-foot gauge and consists of 4 stations starting at Statfold Junction, then moving on to Strawberry Park Platform, Oak Tree Halt and Cogan Halt before circling the Balloon Loop back to Oak Tree Halt. In 2022 the team at Statfold Country Park began working on a new line to add to Statfold Barn Railway known as Mease Valley Light Railway. This light railway runs on 12¼ inch gauge track and consists of 4 further stations in addition to the 2-foot gauge railway including Mease Valley Light Railway, Mallard Halt, Oak Tree Halt and finally Warren Hill. Both railways are used during open days and both steam and diesel locomotives will be operating.
Add to this the engineering workshops overhauling railway locomotives and traction engines, and a large collection of cast iron signs, nameplates and works plates and visitors are guaranteed a most enjoyable day out. There are plenty of catering outlets around the site, some of which are licensed to sell alcohol.
This event is targeted at the “enthusiast” rather than the “family” visitor and you will see more working steam railway locomotives in one hour than anywhere else in the UK. You can spend the day riding the trains, explore the railway from the lineside, see locomotives on 3 different gauges of railway and more. This is not just a great day out for the railway enthusiast. It’s a great day out for all vintage transport enthusiasts.
The railway have offered us a discounted party rate and the cost, including return coachfare, admission to the railway and unlimited train rides, is £30 per person.
More information about the event can be found on the railway’s website: https://www.statfold.com/spectacle-of-steam/
KB Coaches are providing a coach, departing Cainscross at 8am, starting opposite Tricorn House so that participants can use the free car park at Cainscross, postcode GL5 4JW.
We will also be picking up from the bus stop in Stonehouse opposite The Globe public house at 8:15am and participants can use the High Street car park, postcode GL10 2NG. You can park all day free of charge in the High Street car park, but you MUST park in the long term parking area if you want to avoid a parking fine. The long term parking area is at the top of the car park on the right.
Departure from Statfold Barn will be at 5:30pm.
Unfortunately the railway does not sell tickets at the entrance. You cannot just turn up and expect to be allowed in. This means that we have to pay for the tickets in advance, so please contact me by Sunday 23rd February if you want to join us. This unfortunately means we shall have to collect the £30 fare in advance, too.
I will be collecting names and money at the SVTEC February meeting but if you are unable to attend the meeting, please send me an e-mail on [email protected] or phone me on 01453 757995 or 079 895 49419 (land line preferred).
Mike Smith
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Event Venue & Nearby Stays
Tricorn House, Cainscross, Stroud, United Kingdom
