Public Ride Days at Rainsbrook
Our next Public Ride Day is....
Family Summer Gala
16th August 2026
Celebrate the height of summer at Rainsbrook Valley Railway’s Summer Gala on 16th August — a joyful day packed with miniature steam and diesel trains, friendly volunteers, and beautiful surroundings.
It’s the perfect chance for families to enjoy relaxed rides, bring a picnic, and soak up the sunshine all afternoon. Whether you’re a regular visitor or discovering us for the first time, our Summer Gala promises a feel‑good day out for all ages, full of charm, whistles, and railway fun.
Book now to secure your seats for this special event
All aboard for fun at the railway!
Join us on our Rainsbrook Valley Railway Public Ride Days that run on selected Sunday afternoons from Easter until Halloween.
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We typically have two bookable 1.5 hour sessions every Public Ride Day and you can choose to come to either - or stay for the whole afternoon!
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We use TryBooking.com to manage all our Public Ride Day bookings. You can visit them using the buttons below or by clicking here.
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Please note that trains typically run from 1:00pm to 2:30pm and 2.30pm to 4:00pm, but the site is open from 12:30pm to 4:30pm. Visitors are encouraged to arrive early for their booked sessions and can enjoy the cafeteria and picnic area.
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Our locos will be steamed-up and ready for you in the station when your session begins, and will run continuously throughout, allowing you to ride as much as you wish with your ticket.
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Children under 3 ride for free, but will need a paying adult with them, whilst babes-in-arms not yet able to sit upright must be carried in a suitable and secure papoose.
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Our cafe will be open and serves a selection of drinks, snacks and ice-creams all afternoon, plus there is ample seating indoors and outdoors - with our picnic areas offering great views of the locos as they arrive and depart from the stations.
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There are no steps on-site, allowing access for all, and if it rains - the trains love it even more! So bring suitable clothes and you'll have fun come rain or shine!
We advise booking early as we have a limited number of tickets for each session and we may sell out! We look forward to welcoming you to our next Public Ride Day.
Our 2026 Public Ride Day Calendar
Trains typically run from 1:00pm to 2:30pm and 2.30pm to 4:00pm, but the site is open from 12:30pm to 4:30pm. Visitors are encouraged to arrive early for their booked sessions and can enjoy the cafeteria and picnic area.
Depending on visitor numbers, session start and end times may vary by 5 minutes to enable station staff to manage queues.
Add these dates to your diaries and remember to book early to avoid disappointment on the day!
Please note: Due to this summer's extreme dry conditions, we continually monitor fire risk and may reduce or suspend live steam operations at public events, moving to replacement diesel locos instead.