In 2018 the MSLR will be open every Summer Sunday and Bank Holiday until August 27. Additionally there are some operating days outside the main season (see below).

Trains on operating days will be steam hauled unless stated otherwise. Our museum, shop, refreshment room, model railway and our real ale bar, the Kitchener Arms will all be open on train operating days.

Entry prices: adult £10.00, child (under 16) £4.00, concession £8.00, family (2+2) £24.00.

Opening times are 11am – 5pm*. Trains typically run every 20 minutes on operating days, though this may vary for some special events.

*Last return train times may vary between 3.30 and 4.30 to allow for Driver Experiences.

Find Us

You can find us at;
Brockford Station, Wetheringsett, Stowmarket, Suffolk, IP14 5PW. The MSLR Museum and Station is just off the A140 Ipswich (14 miles) to Norwich (28 miles) Road. Look for the Mendlesham TV mast and then follow the brown signs.

Accessibility, parking and wheelchair access

We do our best to accommodate you and your needs and if you have any queries do not hesitate to contact us.

Parking is normally in a field adjacent to the site but disabled parking is available on the station forecourt providing a short and easy level access to the museum buildings and trains.

Wheelchair access is available to all the museum buildings and toilets and wheelchairs can normally be carried on the trains. A wheelchair is also available on site. Note that some parts of the site are not accessible for a wheelchair due to uneven terrain. The site is subject to a periodic disabled access survey.

What’s On

‘Dennis Day’

19 Aug 2018

We are pleased to announce that our Dennis Mace lorry has now been completely refurbished, fitted with a Dennis engine and once again operational.

The Dennis unveiling ceremony will be at 12.30 on the 19th August. The guest of honour will be Mr. Roger Heard OBE, a Director of Dennis Vehicles before his retirement. Also in attendance will be Mr. Alan Russell who leads the Dennis Bus restoration for the Ipswich Transport Museum

Much of the work was carried out by father and son volunteers Julian and Andrew Coy with carpentry by Brian Scott at the MSLR Carriage & Wagon Works.

The Dennis makes a very welcome addition to the Middy collection, albeit an example of the competition that finally put paid to the railway.

The illustration shows the Dennis in early stages of restoration with Andrew (left) and Julian Coy

We will also visited by the Norwich Vintage Motorcycle Club on the same day and a fascinating display of makes and models and their owners will be on site from around lunchtime.

Bar Open

A Celebration of Middy Progress

26 Aug 2018 - 27 Aug 2018

This weekend may be the last of our normal summer opening programme, but visitors will also be able to see the progress the Middy has been making this season and the remarkable results our happy band of volunteers have achieved. It’s a real testament to the skills and dedication of the team.

In addition to the two locos in steam running the passenger services on both days, there will be demonstrations of progress on our own locomotive, Hudswell Clarke 0-6-0ST no. 1604 which will be run up and down the line to show the newly completed piston and coupling rods in action. Just the boiler to complete!

Visitors can also see the beginnings of the clearance work on the extension to Aspall Halt.

SONY DSC

The latest addition to the Middy Collection, courtesy of member/driver Lawrie Rose is the small Ruston 48 previously owned by Sir William McAlpine. Lawrie was able to buy this loco from Sir William just weeks before he died (illustrated). No.294266 will be running during the weekend after its complete repaint and overhaul. The importance of this loco to Middy fans is that a classmate was the only known diesel ever to run on MSLR metals and that was during the lifting of the line. We intend to use Lawrie’s 48 in the relaying of the extension in due course.

During 2018 several important vehicles have been restored including the TOAD brake van, which was used by Hornby as the basis of their soon to be released new model and the Dennis Mace lorry. Both will be in operation during the weekend.

During both days there will also be entertainment from local musicians to help the weekend go with a swing

On a more thoughtful note on Sunday 27th we also hope to have a small ceremony of dedication for our new memorial to those members of Middy staff who were lost in World War 1. Eventually the memorial will also list names of volunteers who have passed away since the rebirth of the Middy in 1991.

Bar Open

Country Railway Gala & Beer Festival

8 Sep 2018 - 9 Sep 2018

A grand end of season celebration of the Middy with three locomotives in steam, steam road vehicles and farm machinery.

There will also be a festival of the best of local ales from our real ale bar coach – The Kitchener Arms. (CAMRA members coming for the Beer Festival only will qualify for half price entry on production of their CAMRA membership card.)

For full details of the event coming soon – watch this space! Pictured right is the loco line up from 2017 Gala.

Also see right for the special bus service timetable from Stowmarket Station to Brockford station and return.

Real Ale Event

While the MSLR endeavours to provide the advertised service and motive power where possible, sometimes this may not be possible. Preserved locomotives and rolling stock can be temperamental, meaning late changes may occasionally be necessary. The MSLR and/or MTC cannot be held responsible for any disappointment or inconvenience caused by any amendments or cancellations to services made at short notice.

1 Comment. Leave new

Oak - air dried for Toad B brake van restoration - Sutton Timber News

June 4, 2017 1:49 am

[…] and restored by the Mid Suffolk Light Railway in 1995 and in continuous service as a passenger and demonstration goods train the Toad B LNER […]

Visit Us & What’s on