Take a step back in time and embark on a journey that will help you escape from the hustle and bustle of modern life. Climb onboard a stunning heritage carriage, based on traditional designs from the 1950s and 60s on the Churnet Valley Railway. Prepare to be transported through the breath-taking countryside, along the Cauldon Canal, while enjoying the views behind a beautifully restored heritage steam or diesel locomotive.
Why Join Us?
The picturesque landscape of the Churnet Valley can be enjoyed best on train and by foot. Each ticket on our railway allows you to travel the 22-mile round trip to Ipstones and back, where you can hop on and hop off at Froghall, Consall or Cheddleton along the way.
This means that you can hop off and walk part of the way, enjoying the scenery or visiting the local country pubs for lunch and drinks before jumping on the train and stopping further down the line to continue your journey – fun for all the family with lots to explore.
We recommend disembarking at Consall, located in the heart of the local nature reserve, to discover the informative visitor centre, or join one of the many walking routes in the region. Find out more here.
For an extra £8.50 (On Adult Tickets) you can get a breakfast on the first train (10:30) if you follow this link and book in advance - Breakfast Train. Looking for a more substantial meal? Enjoy a luxury experience with our on-board Dining Train and Staffordshire Cream Teas that run often throughout the year.
For a sit down dinner, consider our Moorlander Dining Train, which combines our unique journey with a delicious meal created by our on-board chefs.
Let’s take a look at the journey, where you can stop and facilities you will discover at each station:
Froghall Station
Depart from Froghall Station daily at 10:30am or 1:30pm to start your journey through the magical English countryside. The journey lasts just over 2 hours if you start and finish at Froghall.
But your journey can begin before you set foot on board in our traditional Signals Tea Room, where you can enjoy freshly brewed coffee, tea, cakes, or homemade lunches – treats not to be missed. The tearoom proudly welcomes all guests and is both wheelchair accessible and child-friendly. On a summer’s day, rehydrate and enjoy a freshly baked scone, or stay warm by the open fire while drinking hot chocolate as the months get colder. Next door to the Tea Room is the souvenir shop, where you can purchase an item to remember your special day or to gift your friends and family.
The station building is a replica of the old North Staffordshire Railway station and is located within the stunning Staffordshire Moorlands, close to the peaceful Froghall Wharf, and should be the start of your locomotive journey.
It has limited disabled parking, a drop-off zone, and car park and also includes both toilets and baby changing facilities.
Consall Station
Consall station is a great place to stop to experience the gorgeous English countryside, with the area only being accessible by rail, making it even more special and secluded. There are many country walks in the region, including one that connects Consall to Cheddleton via the Cauldon Canal and River Churnet. There truly is nothing better on a summer’s day than setting up for a picnic in the beautiful countryside before taking a stroll through nature.
Cheddleton Station
Hop off at Cheddleton Station the only original station along the Churnet Valley Railway.
The station itself is located at the banks of the River Churnet and is a Grade II listed building dating back to the Victorian times. This stop contains toilets and baby changing facilities and also the locomotive sheds for you to visit.
The sheds are still used to this day and are where our expert volunteers combine their efforts to keep the trains running for you to enjoy. Our volunteers are on hand to answer any questions you may have and show you how they upkeep the engines. The sheds may not be available, however, when welding work is taking place to ensure the safety of our guests.
Wander through the country paths beside the canal to stumble across St Edward's Church and Cheddleton Flint Mill for some more exploring.
Leekbrook Station
The most recently refurbished station on our route, Leekbrook Station opened to the public in 2018, on the traditional vintage site of the original building. Here you will find a small building nestled within the countryside, as well as toilet facilities. Public access only on selected dates
Ipstones Station
The final station on the route is Ipstones Station, where you cannot get off the train, but you will be able to see the steam engine moving to the other end of your carriages to guide you through the return journey.
Additional Information
All our services are powered by steam locomotives, unless stated otherwise. On the occasions we are unable to provide a steam locomotive due to circumstances outside of our control, we will operate one of our heritage diesel locomotives.
For more information on the Churnet Valley Railway, take a look at our Frequently Asked Questions Page.