Churnet Valley Railway Experiences

You'll find the Churnet Valley Railway in the Staffordshire moorlands, south of Leek and midway between Stoke-on-Trent and Ashbourne. The line follows the River Churnet, running from Kinglsey and Froghall Station to Leekbrook Junction, with plans to extend into Leek. 

Before it was reborn as a preserved heritage line, the Churnet Valley Railway was a vital industrial and passenger artery line, which opened in 1849 by the North Staffordshire Railway. For well over a century, the railway served as the economic backbone of the Staffordshire Moorlands, hauling massive quantities of limestone from Cauldon Lowe, copper from Froghall and industrial sand from Oakamoor, alongside daily agricultural "milk trains", until freight finally ceased in 1988.

No. Although originally built primarily for cargo, the line actively pioneered early British leisure travel, running popular excursion trains to the scenic shores of Rudyard Lake and the Earl of Shrewsbury’s private gardens at Alton Towers. This is when the pretty wooded valley earned its nickname "Staffordshire's Little Switzerland." Victim of the Beeching cuts, regular passenger traffic stopped in January 1965.

The railway operates a fantastic roster of both steam and diesel trains. Steam services are regularly hauled by two impressive American-built S160 locomotives: No 5197 and No 6046. On designated heritage diesel days, you can expect to see classic locomotives in action, including Class 33s (such as "Sophie" and "Eastleigh") and the Class 47 (No. D1994).

There are many locos and carriages in storage, under restoration or listed as long-term projects. At the time of writing, the likes of the S160 steam loco No 3278 'Franklin D. Roosevelt' is under restoration, with others in long term storage.

The main departure point for the Churnet Valley Railway is the Kingsley & Froghall station, which is the southern terminus, just 20 minutes from Alton Towers. 

There's a large, free car park (which includes a drop off zone and limited disabled parking bays) at Kingsley & Froghall Station that is open at the same times as the railway.

If you have a Day Rover ticket (either on its own or as part of a package) this is exactly what you can do! It means you can stop off along the way to explore places like Consall station (only accessible by train) and Cheddleton too.

It certainly does! Whether you fancy a lighter cream tea on the move, a traditional luncheon or even a curry night, Churnet Valley boasts many steam train dining options, along with themes days throughout the year.

The main facilities at Kingsley & Froghall Station—including the traditional Signals Tea Room and souvenir shop—are fully wheelchair accessible. However, due to the historic, heritage design of the vintage carriages and steam engines,   wheelchairs or walking frames cannot be accommodated on board the trains, unfortunately.

Yes, the Cauldon Lowe Line! It's a nine-mile round trip, branching off at Leekbrook. This one of the steepest railway inclines in the country, climbing out of the wooded valley up into the windswept, dramatic landscapes of the high moorlands, terminating at the Ipstones Loop . Look out for special events such as scenic tours ad heavy steam demos along the Cauldon Lowe branch line.

Yes! The dining car carriages feature a fully-licensed bar, with a selection of wine, spirits, craft beers, soft drinks and hot drinks too. 

The main operating season for Churnet Valley is February to October, with services on weekends and some midweeks days too (especially in the main summer holidays). The festive season kicks off in November, running through to the end of December. Winter maintenance is usually the whole of January, before services start up again in February.