Sunday 2nd June
Railway Gala Open Day
11am – 4pm
Outside – Our Industrial Railway will be in operation
Ex-industrial petrol, diesel and battery electric locomotives will be running on both our short lines – at least two locos on the quarry line and up to 5 locos on the kiln line above the site. Other locos will be on display.
Newsflash: visiting narrow gauge diesel locomotive this year is one of the very last still used in actual industrial service in the UK. Motor Rail 8614 of 1941 is owned by Alaska Environmental Contracting Ltd of East Stoke, Wareham, Dorset, and can be found very occasionally working on contracts. It will be operation throughout the day, with the Waterworks providing a great opportunity to see and photograph a genuine industrial locomotive at work in an authentic industrial setting.
See how materials used to be moved by narrow gauge railways
Please note: we do not give rides on the industrial railways.
Inside – Model Railways, displays and trade stands
Comprehensive selection of books from the Industrial Railway Society and Mainline & Maritime
Plus: our own bric-a brac stall and book stall – always plenty to buy.
Explore the Waterworks Everything open – watch and listen to a Ruston diesel pumping engine, our Crossley gas engine and the water driven engines in the Lime Buildings. Model boats on display and in operation on the pool.
Enjoy an informative stroll around our Waterworks with everything fully open, restored machinery in operation and our volunteers on hand to explain how it all used to work.
Learn all about the progress we are making to restore our boilers and steam pumping engine!
Discover the lime kilns up above the main works, where you can also watch the industrial narrow gauge railway at work. Follow our nature trail around the three acre site and see what you can spot!
Relax in our renowned Tea Room, offering a wide range of hot & cold drinks, sandwiches, toasties, snacks, cakes & ice creams and an outdoor BBQ with locally sourced burgers and sausages, all at a reasonable price. Please feel free to make use of the picnic tables around the site too.
See you there!