Midland Railway - Butterley

The Midland Railway-Butterley is one the UK's leading heritage railways and will be celebrating its 40th anniversary in 2009 following the initial project launch way back in 1969.  Since its formation the railway has expanded and is now firmly established both as a working railway and a registered museum and certainly deserves the title of "more than just a railway"

The Midland Railway Trust now operates and manages the railway which is devoted to the history and development of the former Midland and LMS Railways. Apart from the working length of line of nearly 4 miles the highlight is the main museum complex at Swanwick which comprises a major museum complex with a comprehensive display of locomotives and rolling stock, varous model railways, a railwaymans church, demonstration signalbox, the Princess Royal Class Locomotive Trust which houses major exhibits, the Golden Valley Light Railway, Midland Road Transport Gallery, Fork Lift Truck Museum, the Historical Model Railway Society, model and miniature railways and workshops.

Adjacent to the railway is a natural area of woodland designated as a country park and nearby is a small animal farm.

The railway operates a timetabled passenger service during the year with many special events of which details are contained in the railways publicity literature and on the website

www.midlandrailwaycentre.co.uk