The Tearoom is CLOSED from and including Mon 23rd Dec to Fri 3rd Jan. Reopens Sat 4th Jan
New Year Steam up and workshop museum guided tour – Saturday 25th January.
In 2025 we celebrate 50 years of operation and we should all celebrate 200 years of rail travel.
To explain the position of industrial steam locomotion in the history of the railways and the industrial revolution, we will be giving the visitors a guided tour of our collection. The talk will include the history of the eight steam locomotives and five diesels at Bredgar as well as the 1870 steam beam engine and water pump. Ongoing restoration and repairs will be explained. The talks are aimed at education and celebration of railway history. Visitors will be able to ride in carriages pulled by one of the steam locomotives – at least two will be operating along our short line.
Railway Ride 50/100KM 20th April to aid BWLR with the restoration of Garforth station footbridge
2025 is the 200th anniversary of the first passenger train, it also marks the 50th year of BWLR.
To mark this occasion on Easter Sunday 20th April we are organising a fundraising cycle ride from the railway. The proceeds of this ride will go to the refurbishment of the listed Victorian Footbridge Bridge originally located at Garforth Station near Leeds. It will be erected on the footpath over our line here at Bredgar.
We are expecting to have two road routes and one off road route starting and ending back at BWLR for tea and cake.
Entry fee £25 per rider
All riders will receive commemorative ride vest, bacon roll at start and on completion tea or coffee and a slice of cake .
For more information and get an Application form here – please email to events@bwlr.co.uk
2025 timetable
BWLR 2025 Calendar
The BWLR 2025 calendar is available from our online shop for £10 including P&P.
A recent Event Day
This is a brief video taken at one of our Event Days and gives an overview of what you can expect on a visit to the railway.
Press Release
Following the Just Giving appeal for funds set up in August, we are pleased to announce the appeal has so far raised just over £5000! This is a huge help considering the winter months are upon us and we’re unable to open for monthly event days as we do through the Summer. As such the £5000 is being used to purchase steam coal and diesel for the coming year, ensuring our engines are able to operate and stay in service.
Work goes ahead with Lawyers appointed to assist in the formation and approval of the Bredgar and Wormshill Light Railway Charity. We are hopeful charitable status will be achieved in the new year at which point the railway will be eligible for financial support.
In the mean time we continue with our Just Giving page, to necessitate the raising of much needed funds. The purpose of the funds going forward include helping towards setting up the charity as well as locomotive work. Limpopo needs extensive boiler works to see her through her ten year certification at an expected cost of around £50,000. Locomotives Helga and Zambezi are coming to completion of work for their 10 year certificates.
