The Railways

What better way to explore the beautiful gardens, woodlands and countryside of Bressingham than by climbing aboard a magnificent steam engine!

With over three miles of narrow-gauge steam lines and four journeys to choose from, it's the perfect way to relax and enjoy the scenery!

Below is a brief description and videos of our 4 operational railways.

Please check the timetable or call us to find out our operating programme to see what is running on the day of your visit.

The Fen Railway (Formerly the Nursery Railway)

The Fen Railway is approximately 1 ½ mile journey passing through countryside and Fenland. The journey takes about 15 minutes. All railway journeys at the museum depart and arrive on the main site there are no stops or stations on route. 

The Fen Railway was previously named 'The Nursery Railway'. The Railway was built in the 1960s and travelled through the large working horticultural Nursery. The commercial nurseries ceased trading in 2011. As the views from our train ride are no longer of growing Nursery plants we decided to rename the railway to 'The Fen Railway'. The land owners are turning some of the land back to 'managed' nature, with help from Bressingham Volunteers who have removed many derelict poly tunnels and planted new shrubs, trees and hedgerows. 

 

 

The Garden Railway

The Garden Railway Station is next to the main entrance. This 10 ¼" gauge railway is the smallest gauge railway at the museum. Designed and built by Bressingham's own engineering team, the line's locomotive was named Alan Bloom (After the museum founder) and pulls up to three carriages. With modifications to suit the Garden Railway, the locomotive was modelled on the Hunslet Engine Company's Quarry design.

 

 

The Waveney Valley Railway

Trains on the Waveney Valley Railway (15" gauge) leave the Lakeside station travelling east and through the waveney valley.  It s a popular railway with visitors as the journey starts running adjacent to the Fen railway where in the middle of the journey the railways cross over and passengers wave to each other as they then head off in different directions. The line runs through banks of mature rhododendrons towards the end of the journey just before it meets the the standard gauge railway. And on days when the Standard Gauge Railway is running, both railways race each other back to the station. 

 

 

 

The Standard Gauge Railway

The Standard Gauge Railway operates on Special Occasions. This is a demonstration line at a length of around 1/4 mile. For some of its length the line runs parallel with the Waveney Valley Railway.