History

Work on the Barton House Railway began in 1960 when the 3 ½" gauge track was laid and the loco ‘251’ run after its rebuilding. The loco had been in the Bower family for generations.

In 1963 the railway was opened to the public and, with the help of the volunteer staff, has since raised thousands of pounds for many local charities.

In 1967 the Midland & Great Northern Joint Railway Honing East Signalbox was rebuilt at Barton House Railway having been carefully dismantled from its original home at Honing Station where it had stood since 1901.

In 1979 work began on the 7 ¼" gauge Riverside Railway, with ‘Sparky’ the electric loco initially working this line, followed, in 1998 by our steam loco ‘Midge’.

In 2003 we opened the BHR Museum, re-launched the friends of BHR, and welcomed our second 7 ¼" gauge steam loco ‘Edward Thomas’.

In 2005 the Friends of BHR helped us raise money towards a new Vulcan design electric loco for the Riverside Railway. Look out for it in action this season!

If you want to find out more about the BHR and its history then you can purchase one of our full colour Guide Books for £3.50