Didcot Railway Centre

Saturday 15th June 10:30am - 5:00pm

The Didcot Railway Centre will be hosting the anniversary celebrations for Didcot. The special 175 bus service will stop outside the railway station which is only a short walk from the Didcot Railway Centre.

There will be:

• The naming of a GWR train in honour of the 175th anniversary at about 11am
• Engines in steam
• Refreshments
• Live music
• Children’s activities
• Locomotives which served on the Didcot to Oxford line
• A special display of photos and archive materials
• Railway timeline displays on hoardings
• A Victorian theme in the Transfer Shed
• A special display at the Oxford Road Station end of the site

This is a Steam Day, so you will be able to view our collections of locomotives, coaches, wagons and buildings as described in the Centre Guide and in our Guidebook (available for purchase from our shop or at the entrance) and enjoy the various facilities and exhibits.

Discover Brunel's Broad Gauge and the 1930s Engine Shed. Visit the GWT Museum and our restoration workshops. Watch the modern pasenger and freight trains from our Picnic Area.

You can walk around the only surviving steam age loco depot in its original condition, and get up close to our large collection of locomotives which are so much more impressive when seen from ground level. Why not explore the rest of the centre including the Archie Trail, the Science Learning & Railways interactive exhibition and visit our shop and refreshment room?

In addition, you will be able to:

• Ride in coaches from the 1930s behind some of our Great Western steam locomotives, or in our Steam Railmotor or Diesel Railcar. We have two running lines, 'The Main Line' and 'The Branch Line' with trains normally running on either or both of them. You may ride as many times as you like as there is no extra charge
• Watch the trains go past. There are frequent journeys on our running lines so you will have plenty of opportunity to take photos from vantage points alongside the tracks as well as ride on the trains

Exhibition

The Didcot and District Archaeological and Historical Society is running a special exhibition to celebrate the 175th anniversary of the Didcot to Oxford railway at the Cornerstone Arts Centre in Didcot from 28th May until 16th June. Find more details under the 'OTHER EVENTS' menu tab.