Didcot Railway Centre
Explore the unique collection of Great Western Railway steam locomotives, carriages, agons, buildings and small artefacts at the 21 acre living museum set around the original 1932 Engine Shed.
Next Discovery Days – October 1, 8, 14/15, 26/27
Next Steam Days – October 21/22, 25, 28/29
Next Event: Steam into Christmas – December 2/3, 9/10, 16/17. 21-23
The Railway Centre is currently closed on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays (except for 25-27 October). We are also closed on Saturday October 7.
Steam into Christmas and help Santa find his missing reindeer!
Kids, there’s been a disaster, Santa’s reindeer have all escaped and are lost – you know that he needs them to deliver all the presents on Christmas Eve.
We need your help!
Can you help him find them? Explore the unique collection of Great Western Railway steam locomotives, carriages, wagons, buildings and small artefacts at our 21 acre museum set around the original 1932 engine shed whilst you locate all of the reindeer stations.
You’ll all receive a special passport and a stocking as you enter and as a reward, at each reindeer station, you’ll receive a small gift. Your visit will culminate with a visit to Santa in our giant toy workshop where he’ll hear what you want to get for Christmas and you’ll get to choose your own gift from the selection on offer. Your entry ticket will also include unlimited train rides on our main demonstration line.
A Christmas Carol – performed by Gerald Dickens
Join us on 14th December for an exclusive performance of ‘A Christmas Carol’ performed by Gerald Dickens.
Gerald is an actor, author director and producer and is the great great grandson of the author Charles Dickens.
In 1993 he created his first one-man show, a theatrical performance of A Christmas Carol inspired by Charles Dickens’ own energetic readings of the 1860s.
A fascination with the life and works of Charles led him to write and direct further one-man shows including Mr Dickens is Coming!, Nicholas Nickleby and Sketches by Boz. I regularly perform in major theatres and arts centres as well as at hotels and stately homes.
He regularly appears at several arts and literary festivals in the UK and has been entertaining cruise ship passengers worldwide since 2007.
You’ll be able to arrive from 4pm onwards and explore over 200 years of Great Western Railway history before joining us in our patio area for transportation down to the transfer shed for the performance. Please note that our gift shop, signalling centre and archive will not be open.
We’ll provide you with warming mulled wine and mince pies during the break, while Gerald will be available to talk to you about his experiences and finally we’ll transport you back to the patio area for you to make your way home.