Easter Steam Up – Cancelled

12 Apr 2020 - 13 Apr 2020

Steaming into Spring at The Mid Suffolk Light Railway

The first big weekend of the 2020 season at The Middy, Suffolk’s only standard gauge preserved railway is the Easter Steam-Up Sunday April 12th and Monday 13th April.

Together with steam train rides in genuine Victorian 4-wheeled coaches, all the railway and museum facilities including the museum, shop, café and Restoration Shed and the Middy’s real ale bar coach, The Kitchener Arms, will be open for business. PLUS there will be Easter Bunny hunts for younger visitors – a great day out for families and railfans alike.

Normal entry prices: adult £10.00, child (under 16) £5.00, concession £8.00, family (2+2) £25.00

Bar Open

VE Day Celebration – Postponed

8 May 2020 - 8 May 2020

We hope to reschedule this event and ‘Middy in the War Years’ weekend (see below) in time for VJ Day celebrations August 15th and, subject to coronavirus restrictions, we are working to this date until further notice.

In common with rest of the United Kingdom, The Middy will be staging celebrations to commemorate the 75th Anniversary of VE Day. We will be bringing together local groups, including children from Wetheringsett School, the Laxfield Community Choir and many other re-enactors  to recreate the day peace was declared after nearly six years of war.

The Middy will be decked out in full street party mode and all the facilities will be in operation, including steam trains and two locomotives in steam.

Details will be added to this page as they are confirmed but we will be following the national template as far as possible including a piper playing ‘The Battle’s O’er at 3.00p.m.

Opening time: 10.30 – 17.00

VE Day only prices: adult £12.00, child (under 16) £ 6.00, concessions (over 65) £10.00, families (2+2) £30.00

Two days: VE Day + one Middy in the War Years Day: adult £20.00, child 10.00, concession 316.00, family £50.00

Three days: VE Day + both Middy in the War Years Days: adult £25.00, child £15.00, concession £20, family £60.00

Bar Open

Middy in the War Years – Postponed

9 May 2020 - 10 May 2020

 How it was in the 1940s Steam trains, military vehicles, displays, visiting re-enacting soldiers, sailors and airmen, perhaps even a famous face or two.

And on Sunday 10th May we will also have two 45 minute sets from the accomplished singer Lisa Day singing vintage hits from the big band swing era.

Again we hope to have a fly past from the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight (weather permitting).

Thanks to the nearby USAF bases, the Middy was never busier than in the war years and it was then that the track was upgraded to take the additional traffic thus effectively becoming no longer a light railway.

One day ticket price: adult £12.00, child (under 16) £6.00, concession £10.00, family £30.00

Two day ticket price: adult £20.00, child £10.00, concession £16.00, family £50.00

Three day ticket including VE Day: adult £25.00, child £15.00, concession £20.00, family 60.00.

Bar Open

Everything Goes – to be confirmed

24 May 2020 - 25 May 2020

This year the Middy is privileged to host three resident steam locomotives, North Eastern Railway designed Y7 0-4-0T LNER no. 985 of 1923, 1936 Bagnall 0-4-0ST no. 2565 now named ‘Nick’ after it late owner and, thirdly, the vertical boilered Cockerill 1906 Belgian tram loco no.2525.

Although no diesel ever ran on the Middy in a revenue earning capacity, one was recorded as a contractor’s engine when the line was lifted 1953. This was a Ruston & Hornsby 48 DS and now we have one.

Previously owned by the late Sir William McAlpine and now called ‘Sir William’, this little Ruston has joined our bigger Ruston 165 DS which has been the Middy’s long stop loco for many years now.

The third diesel new to the Middy is the pretty Shredded Wheat Fowler shunter. Restored for its owner by two Middy volunteers, the Fowler has now been based at Brockford since last year.

As a treat for visitors, especially rail fans, this weekend will see all six locos in action.

Plus on Monday 25th May the East Suffolk Morris Men will again be performing for us – everything really does go!

Normal open day prices

Bar Open

Steam Railway Day – to be confirmed

31 May 2020 - 31 May 2020

Steam Railway Day at the Middy, open from 10.30. Regular trains will be running from 11.00 and once you have your ticket you can ride as often as you like.

All the Middy attractions will be open, but don’t miss a visit to the Restoration Shed to see progress on our own loco, Hudswell Clarke no. 1604 and the plans for the extension, which will eventually more than double the length of the line.

Normal Middy prices

Bar Open

Steam Railway Day – to be confirmed

7 Jun 2020 - 7 Jun 2020

All the Middy facilities will be open from 10.30 and steam trains running from 11.00.

Normal Middy prices

Bar Open

Steam Railway Day – to be confirmed

14 Jun 2020 - 14 Jun 2020

All the Middy facilities will be open from 10.30 with steam trains running from 11.00.

Normal Middy prices

Bar Open

Steam Railway & Fathers Day – to be confirmed

21 Jun 2020 - 21 Jun 2020

Fathers Day is also Suffolk Day and there are few better places in the County to really get the feel of old Suffolk and its slower pace of rural life

A great day for enjoying all the Middy has to offer with steam trains, Museum, cafe and real ale bar.

There will also be extra action on the line with demonstrations of how goods was moved in the first half of the 20th century.

Normal Middy prices

Real Ale Event