Name: East Anglian Railway Museum
Rating: 5.0

East Anglian Railway Museum

Chappel & Wakes Colne (CWC), Wakes Colne, Colchester, UK

1-99 Years

Paid

Description

The East Anglian Railway Museum is a museum located at Chappel and Wakes Colne railway station in Essex, England, which is situated on the former Great Eastern Railway branch line from Marks Tey to Sudbury. Services on the Sudbury Branch Line are operated by Greater Anglia.

The Museum, apart from being a fun place to visit, is also an educational resource where ‘hands on’ experience can reinforce classroom learning illustrating not only the history of railways but also how they affected the social history of the country and changed the way many peoples lives.

Prices starts from £8.50 for adults and £4.50 for Child for museum viewing. If you are looking for Best place for day out with kids and families then this is the perfect destination offering fun, adventure, and unforgettable memories for everyone.

Features

Paid
Host birthday parties: No

Features

Miniature Railway: Since our original line was closed and dismantled in 2019, our volunteers have been working hard to bring our new Miniature Railway and have built a New Station, Signal Box and Engine Shed. It’s been a lot of hard work for them but the first phase is now open and all our train crews are trained to operate the new line. You will find this new station adjacent to the children’s playground. Two special locomotives, steam engine ‘Frederick’ and electric loco ‘Ricardo Lampwick’ have been retained from the old railway and new coaches are now running. We hope if funds and donations allow to expand the line around the site and also add new locomotives as the Miniature Railway expands.
Braintree and Halstead Model Railway Club: Since 2015 the East Anglian Railway Museum has been home to the Braintree and Halstead Model Railway Club. This Club was formed in 1990 by the amalgamation of two clubs that had previously served each Town. Originally dating back to the early 1970s, Braintree MRC had an enviable record of building layouts in OO gauge and of exhibiting these around the South East. In addition, for many years, an Exhibition of Model Railways was held at Braintree Town Hall, providing a great opportunity for young and old alike to both admire the models and to get involved in a creative pastime that develops new skills and fellowship with many thousands of people around the world.
Explore the Museum: The East Anglian Railway Museum is an open air site based at Chappel and Wakes Colne Railway station. The entire site covering over 10 acres forms the Museum, which is made up of Station Buildings, Signal Boxes, Goods Shed and Restoration Shed and much more.

Facilities

Parking: There is free parking at the front of the Museum for customers that visit the Museum, please be aware the large front field car park is open during Museum open hours only.

What to see

Station Buildings – See our preserved station building, ticket office and waiting room and WH Smiths Stand, the place where many would have started their journey.
Chappel Main Signal Box – Located at the end of Platform 1, why not have a go at pulling the levers, and read all about the signalman’s job.
Curio Coach and Bookends Compartment, Platform 2 – A grounded coach – many of these would have been used as Waiting Rooms at rural stations, also have a look through the stock in our self-service book compartment.
Goods Shed – the centre piece of our Museum site, have a look around this building and see how the wagonload freight was essential to the rural area.
Exhibition Hall – opened at our Rail 200 event in the summner of 2025 the hall has mant wagons and Carriages for you to look around and our restored Pooley Van.
Restoration Shed – Have a look at the various engines, carriages, wagons under restorarion by our volunteers. See how the volunteers are getting on with the restoration of Lamport.
Thompson Building – 2 automated Model Railway displays, also home of the Braintree and Halstead Model Railway Club (The club volunteers open their display room and layouts on Wednesdays throughout the year, please press Bell on the Clubs door and they will give you a warm welcome and show you around).
Outdoor Train-themed playground for children under 12.
Picnic area, and Picnic Bus.
Heritage Centre – Our Volunteers are currently building a new Heritage Center, We have moved what we can to a new Museum Display room in the Thompson Building- This includes displays and Small Exhibits about local railways, signalling, plus more

Website

Contact

Video

Price

Price: Paid

Price Details

Event Day: £11.50 for Adult & £8.50 for Child.
Museum Viewing: £8.50 for Adult & £4.50 for Child.
Special Events: £13.50 for Adult & £9.50 for Child.

For more information please visit: https://earm.co.uk/visitor-information/

Pricing URL: https://earm.co.uk/visitor-information/

Birthday Parties

Offer Birthday Parties: No

April to October: 10:00 - 17:00
November to March: 10:00 - 16:00
Open Weekends and Wednesdays (plus Bank Holidays)

For more information please check here: https://earm.co.uk/visitor-information/

Address: Chappel & Wakes Colne (CWC), Wakes Colne, Colchester, UK

Post Code: CO6 2DS

Council: Colchester

County: Essex

Arriving by Car: We are located in the villages of Chappel and Wakes Colne, around 8 miles outside Colchester on the A1124, you can follow the brown Tourst Attraction signs for Railway Museum. From the A12, use Junction 24 and follow the A1124 towards Halstead, We’re in Station Road, which can be found at the Crossroads near to the large Chappel Viaduct.
Arriving by Train: We are located within the National Rail Station of Chappel and Wakes Colne, direct trains from Sudbury and Marks Tey, with connections at Marks Tey from London, Chelmsford, Colchester, Clacton and Ipswich. National Rail services are provided by Greater Anglia and are not part of Museum admission, please be aware this service operates seven days per week, and care should therefore be taken when on Platform 1.
Arriving by Bus: We are located just off Route 88 operated by First Essex Bus and Hedingham. This operates between Colchester Town Centre, Eight Ash Green, Wakes Colne, Earls Colne and Halstead. Buses stop by the Chappel Viaduct, which is a 10 minute walk up Station Road to the Museum.
Parking: There is free parking at the front of the Museum for customers that visit the Museum, please be aware the large front field car park is open during Museum open hours only.