Great Cockcrow Railway - Days out in Surrey
If you have a small child who is fascinated by railways, especially old steam trains then an afternoon visit to The Great Cockcrow Railway well worth considering. The Great Cockcrow Railway is a 7 1/4" gauge railway in Lyne (near Chertsey), Surrey. The railways opens every Sunday afternoon between the end of April and the end of October. It also opens on Wednesday afternoons during August.
The railway is a little off the beaten track, so car is the method of transport. It is not far from junctions 11 and 12 of the M25.
This is a lot bigger than a typical small railway with almost two miles of track and well over 20 engines. The majority of the engines are steam driven. There are two basic routes you can take, both are very scenic. Trips take between 15 and 25 minutes so you get a fair ride for your money. There are plenty of trains with only short breaks in between rides. This helps to keep any waiting times to a minimum for eager children.
The maximum speed of the trains is 10 miles per hour. There are many sections where the trains travel at a more sedate pace. There is also a tunnel on route to add variety to the ride.
Each train holds around 12 people and you site astride the small carriages. On a Sunday the first train runs shortly after 2pm with the last ride at 5.15pm. On a Wednesday proceedings get underway at around 1.30pm before an earlier close at 4.30pm.
Although the Great Cockcrow Railway is run by a large army of volunteers the railway is run to a very high standard. In fact one of the reasons for the small waits between trains is due to the number of trains that can run on the track at the same time owing to the quality of the signaling system.
Refreshments are available on site, but you can also bring a picnic. You are also welcome to take photographs, although you are not permitted to walk around the track for safety reasons.
The origins of the Great Cockcrow Railway date back over 60 years. Originally the railway was opened in 1946 at Greywood House in Walton-on-Thames. This venue closed in 1965. Three years later the railway opened its doors at the present site. Currently the oldest engine was built getting on for one hundred years ago in 1913.
All in all a visit to the Great Cockcrow Railway is a pleasant and relaxing way to spend a summer's afternoon. Although such an open, outdoor attraction is not seen at its best in wet weather it is worth noting the railway does not shut if it starts to rain.
The line also offers birthday parties. There is no Santa Special at Christmas time, but there is a spooky Halloween service that runs in the dark!
The Great Cockcrow Railway is recommended for children under the age of nine who have an interest in railways. It is difficult to give a suggested visit time. Two to three hours is about right if your children are interested in looking at the engines as well as jumping on a ride. If you children are only interested in riding on the trains then I would suggest around an hour to an hour and a half.
Parenting.co.uk tip: It is worth checking opening times before travelling.
Further information can be found at: www.cockcrow.co.uk.
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