AD | We were kindly invited along to take a Steam train ride with Aln Valley Railway. In fact this is our rebooked visit as we were supposed to have been going along to the Mince Pie event after Christmas but we had to cancel last minute due to a sick child. I am so happy that we finally made a visit today.
All three boys have loved Steam Trains since they were little, Adam & Toby are not as enthusiastic as they once were, but Elliot loves them. He just finds everything about a Steam engine fascinating and then the carriages always spark a conversation, trying to guess how old they are and imagining who might have travelled in them.
A little about Aln Valley Railway...
(Opening in 2012 it is fairly new to the Steam game, constructed and ran by volunteers. They have done a wonderful job. (If you are looking for a volunteering opportunity, they are desperate for more help)
The end aim here is to have the line running all the way to Alnmouth Station, creating another tourist attraction in the area and linking the area with more transport options. I think it is a great idea and fingers crossed it can be achieved soon.
Upon arrival the attraction is well sign posted and easy to find, there's a large car park which is free to use.
We were greeted by a volunteer who was lovely and had a chat with the boys.
We headed into the café and were greeted by the lovely Gemma and her daughter who was so helpful. So thank you Gemma.
We got some photos of the Engine before we found our compartment. The compartment was lovely, clean and the seats were a vibrant Blue which tied in well with the wooden décor. After a short wait we headed off on our little journey through the countryside, which offered some fabulous views and when it gets to the Cawlegde Viaduct, look down and see if you can spot the river. The journey takes around 10 minutes each way and then around 5/10 minutes to get the engine to the other end of the carriages. You can get off at Greenrigg Halt, there's not lots there but you can find stepping stones at the river and a Footbridge along with a walk. We plan on going back with a picnic and exploring more over this end once the weather warms up.
The main Platform is Lionheart, this is where you will come to when you arrive by car. Here you can expect to find
Footbridge - Great for photography
Waiting room which has a few things for the kids to play with
Water Crane
Signals/Signal boxes
Playground
Café with Patio
Engine Shed
Small Museum
Shop
Mini Railway
Good To Know
Tickets can either be booked online or purchased at Lionheart ticket office, although spaces are not guaranteed if purchasing on the day.
Prices are as follows...
Kids 5 and under ride for free
Kids aged 5-15 Single £3 Return £4
Adults Single £6 Return £9
Dogs are welcome and ride for free
Free Parking
Season tickets are also available to purchase
Accessible for all, however the surface is uneven in some places
If a Pacer is running the cost is cheaper. You can find out what is running HERE
Special events throughout the year including the Santa special and Fathers day special with vintage cars.
Toilets
Leaflet available upon entry which has a timetable and map.
Location
Lionheart Enterprise Park, Alnwick
NE66 2HT
MINIATURE RAILWAY - BY GO LOCO
An added bonus is the mini Railway by Go Loco, which you can find located next to the Café, today it was a pacer but the boys still had a laugh whilst they took a ride. This costs £3 and you swap your ticket for a stamp on your hand, which allows you to ride all day. I would say this is best suited to younger kids, Elliot enjoyed it (10 years old) the other two felt a bit silly (Toby's face was one not be missed) Look out for them at other events too. Find out more HERE
EVENTS AT ALN VALLEY RAILWAY
Santa Specials, you can find out dates on the timetable for December. The Santa Specials are very popular and sell out quite quickly. Booking online is essentials. You can purchase tickets from October.
Little Lionhearts is aimed at kids aged 3-15. It is a special club where kids are invited to a day at the railway to take part in fun activities and a picnic. Find out more in the shop which is located in the café.
As a heritage railway, Aln Valley rely on donations. There are a number of ways you can help support them.
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