Heritage Diesel Days

Take unlimited rides behind historic Diesel Locomotives or in our GWR Diesel Railcar (subject to availability) and see many steam locomotives in the original GWR Engine Shed and around the Centre. There's also a chance to explore the spacious undercover areas of the Carriage Display and Victorian Broad Gauge Exhibition.

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Diesel Locomotives will be operating on at least one of the Centre's two demonstration lines, allowing you to take unlimited rides. Check our Locomotive Roster to see what we expect to be running on the date of your visit.

Pick up our colourful Centre Guide, explore this 21-acre living museum and unearth almost two centuries of railway history. Visitors will also have the chance to get up close to the locomotives in the spacious Engine Shed which has remained largely-unchanged since it was built in 1932. See the magnificent preserved locomotives and follow the one-way system that allows you to climb onto the footplate! 

The large, well-ventilated carriage shed will also be open with coaches dating from Victorian times to the 1940s that evoke bygone eras. See the VIP Saloon reputed to have been used by General Eisenhower during the preparations for D-Day and later used in the GWR Royal Train!

A leisurely stroll will take you to a beautifully recreated 1930s branch line station and to a rare section of surviving track from Brunel's Broad Gauge railway, complete with replica Victorian locomotives.

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There's a chance to get hands-on in The Signalling Centre where you can find out how trains have been controlled through the ages. Descend into a shelter built to keep Didcot's enginemen safe in WWII and experience an air raid or immerse yourself in the varied collection of fascinating, smaller artefacts in the museum. Don't miss the carriage display with coaches dating from Victorian times to the 1940s that evoke bygone eras. See the VIP Saloon reputed to have been used by General Eisenhower during the preparations for D-Day and later used in the GWR Royal Train!

Children can also make tracks to the outdoor play area or dress up as a station master. You can relax over lunch or enjoy a snack in the refreshment rooms and don't forget to pick up a souvenir in the gift shop. The modern trains running past the centre complete the picture and mean you can experience over 180 years of railway progress in just one day!

Please note that we do reserve to right to substitute running of our diesels with steam if demand dictates, so please do check our locomotive rota to see what's running to avoid disappointment.