Apedale Valley Light Railway — Attraction in Newcastle-under-Lyme

A charming and delightful experience. The rebuilt Silverdale station, ex North Staffordshire Railway, is the starting point, with an excellent bookstore and souvenir shop, from where one catches a train, steam hauled on Saturdays, down the valley to Apedale Road, the starting point of a nice hike into the country park. The train trip passes the engine shed and sidings where many locomotives and rolling stock reside, and a tour can be arranged by request. Continuing on into the valley, the line skirts a wooded hillside before the landscape opens out and Apedale Road is reached. A picnic area here is a peaceful place to eat and watch the trains. The locomotive runs round the train, connecting to the other end, before we commence the journey back to Silverdale. On certain days there is an industrial field railway in operation, with freight trains going off in another direction, giving the railway an extremely busy feel. The staff are extremely friendly, and all are volunteers. As well as the railway, a mining museum, cafe, and the multitude of footpaths leading off into the country park, a huge attraction to anyone who loves walking, wildlife and the tranquility of nature, are enough to give a quality day out for all the family. The railway plans to extend into the valley, to Burley Shales, doubling the journey, in the near future, which will improve an already enchanting experience. The hills, pools, woodland, and the echo of the locomotives steaming by with their clattering trains, is like a holiday from the stresses of everyday life.

(My own photographs...

I took my infant son to Apedale Valley Light Railway for the first time and he absolutely loves it! I think we will definitely be returning and possibly tomorrow! Whilst the ride itself is very, very short, it's the whole experience of being around a Steam Train that is so wonderful. We wandered around for a couple of hours quite happily, after the return journey to Apedale Road Station, and my boy was happy to watch the train coming and going from the Play Area. We also visited the café for a bite to eat and the prices in there are very reasonable. Additionally, there is a mine and a museum of mining on the same site. We will be taking the Tour of the mine when my son is old enough to be allowed in. All in all, a delightful experience!

One slight criticism from me. I understand, volunteers, that there are a lot of idiots around and that you give your time freely. However, please stop being so fussy with your Visitors. It might put them off from returning to your...

What an absolutely fantastic day my daughter my great-grandson had today. Easter egg hunt on the train..A lovely lunch in the cafe that was so well priced A great time around the museum..then to round our day off a trip around the coal mine. Charlie our guide was fantastic.thank you Charlie....would highly recommend this place for a great family day out. Everyone who works there does it as a volunteer..so lovely to see people give up their time to run such a great place. Thank you to everyone involved from the train journey the museum the lady that did our bookings for the coal mine.. and the ladies that cooked our very reasonable priced lunch today...also the 2 ladies that did a stall selling bits and bo s my great-grandson loved you both.Infact a big big thank you to you all .....what a fantastic day....definitely and highly...