Half Term at London Museum of Water and Steam

Début Festival of Trains of all sizes for all ages

Commencing Saturday 26th May until Sunday 3rd June, London Museum of Water & Steam will be open every day of the half term from 10:00 am until 4:00 pm for a week celebrating trains.

Highlights of the Trains, Trains, Trains! festival include Sierra Leone National Railway Museum’s ‘pop up’ museum exhibiting a narrow gauge railway which operated in the former West African British colony and the importance of the railway in the development of the country. The installation will feature several engaging pursuits for the whole family, including Sierra Leone badge and flag making and a ‘Language of Freedom’ activity.

The Hampton Court Model Railway Society (hamptoncourtmrs.com), a prestigious hobbyist club which meets weekly in Southwest London, will exhibit their Bradley Park 16.5 mm gauge model railway layout which depicts a set of rail served industries throughout the bank holiday weekend 26th – 28th May in the Museum’s Bouton & Watt room. Fellow specialist enthusiasts, the Association of 16mm Narrow Gauge Modellers (16mm.org.uk), whose membership is more than 4,500 strong across the UK and further afield, will also be joining in the festival fun. They will be in residence operating a model railway layout featuring 16mm live steam engines appropriately set in our main Steam Hall for the duration of the week-long festival.

LMWS’s very own steam train, Thomas Wicksteed, will be offering free unlimited rides on the Museum’s narrow gauge railway daily from 11:00 am – 4:00 pm and Alistair, its resident diesel locomotive, will also make a rare appearance out on demonstration wagons at various times as part of the event. 

The festival would not be complete without a proper ‘steam up’ and the weekends will see our historic rotative steam water pumping engines in full steam as well as the Bull Cornish beam engine in action on May 26th & 27th. These magnificent steam engines, five original to our site and others collected from pumping stations across the country, are the heart of the Museum and an impressive spectacle for everyone of all ages to behold when in action.

Children and families will additionally be able to enjoy an educational museum trail uncovering interesting facts about railways from around the world. LMWS lobby and gift shop will also feature a large interactive trains display and a wide selection of themed gifts will be available for purchase.

Trains, Trains, Trains takes place Saturday 26th May – Sunday 3rd June from 10:00 am until 4:00 pm daily with last entry at 3:30 pm.

The Museum is open 10:00 to 16:00 Wednesday to Sunday during school holidays.

Entry to the Museum is £12.50 for adults, £11.00 for Students/Concessions and £5.50 for Children 5-15. Under 5s are admitted for free. 10% discount is available for online advance booking from www.waterandsteam.org.uk

The London Museum of Water & Steam is located on Green Dragon Lane, Brentford, London TW8 0EN. The closest underground station is Gunnersbury on the District Line and Kew Bridge on the overground East London Line.

May 16, 2018