WE ARE RE-OPENING ON EASTER SUNDAY WITH AN EASTER EGG HUNT. PUBLIC RIDES WILL THEN BE AVAILABLE ON THE 1ST AND 3RD SUNDAY OF THE MONTH. PLEASE SEE OUR SOCIAL MEDIA PAGES FOR MORE DETAILS.

Plymouth Miniature Steam is primarily a membership organisation for model engineering enthusiasts, however it is better known as Plymouth’s best kept secret. Nestled in a nature reserve in the Southway valley area is a ‘Live-Steam’ miniature railway. The railway is open to the public for train rides on the first and third Sundays of each month from April to October. 

The railway travels through woods, over bridges and through tunnels, arriving back at the station in time to grab some refreshments from our on-site cafe, serving hot and cold drinks, snacks and home-baked cakes. 

Delighting the young, not so young and the slightly more seasoned, Plymouth Miniature Steam is a perfect way to spend a Sunday afternoon with fun for all the family. Real steam trains evoke memories of yesteryear or make small eyes light up with amazement; those with a greater interest in model engineering will find plenty to keep them curious. Keep your eyes peeled away from the tracks too as Plymouth Miniature steam is located in a nature reserve, and you never know what, or who you might see. 

Come visit us on one of our running days, rides cost just £1 per person (under 3’s free). See our Events for more details. We would ask that all visitors be considerate of our neighbours, refrain from making excessive noise or parking carelessly. 

Membership

Membership is open to all. Model engineers, steam enthusiasts and railway nuts make up the dedicated team of volunteers who build the bridges, maintain the railway and have built the steam engines, diesel electrics and rolling stock enabling us to provide public rides. Their hard work and dedication has helped to maintain and grow the surrounding woodland. There is also an apprenticeship programme where aspiring model engineers can learn practical skills alongside club members at the local Tor Bridge High School workshops. These workshop days are exclusively open to all members to make use of the facilities. 

To find out more about membership, joining fees and the benefits click here

History

We are quite often asked “How long have you been here in the valley?” When we reply “over thirty years” we often have exclamations of disbelief, even from locals who live less than half a kilometre away.

The railway was opened in 1990 by the then Lord Mayor Councillor Dennis Dicker with our first Locomotive named “Hernia” as most of the workers who built and carried the engine claimed they had one!

The current site is named after the chairman, Sandy Goodwin, who led the building of the railway on an old council tip used to deposit rubble from bomb damaged city centre after world war two. A miracle of change has taken place over the ensuing 35 years and the current railway is unrecognisable to those who saw it in its formative years.

Find out more about Our Story and how we ended up in this beautiful nature reserve.