Visitor Information

SITE PLAN

This site plan shows you the facilities available to you during your visit.

WE ARE DOG FRIENDLY!

Bring your furry friend too! Dogs are not permitted in the model railways and indoor play areas but can ride on the trains!

NARROW GAUGE RAILWAY

Our 2ft gauge railway takes you on a delightful ride alongside the River Exe and around the centre. Rebecca, our steam loco, along with Ivor and Fred (both diesels) will regularly take you for unlimited rides.

Children (and adults) are encouraged to volunteer to wave the flag to start the train which takes visitors to our riverside picnic area. Enjoy watching the wildlife whilst the children work off energy on the climbing frame located in this picturesque spot.

MEET THE LOCOS

REBECCA

Built in 1912 in Germany. She spent her working life in Argentina. Arrived derelict in 2005 and was restored to full working order by 2013.

IVOR

Built in 1944 for the Ministry of Defence. Rebuilt in 1995. By Alan Keef for Pembrey Country Park. Arrived in 1999.

FRED

Built in 1949 by Motor Rail. Used extensively in peat works in Cumbria and rebuilt many times. Arrived in 2019 and overhauled and repainted. Fred was one of the last locos used in industry above ground.

SIR TOM

Built in 1966 by Motor Rail. Worked at Stoke Place Railway. Before arriving in 2001. Used primarily for special events at the Railway Centre.

HORATIO

Built in 1942 by Ruston & Hornsby. Worked at Knebworth House before arriving in 2001. Used primarily for special events at the Railway Centre.

RUSTON

Built in 1957 by Ruston & Hornsby. Worked at Lochaber before arriving in 1997. Under restoration and not operating at present.

MODEL RAILWAY

Take a journey through our superb model railway exhibition, all housed in full sized railway coaches. Experience the delights of a miniature world with 14 layouts and 40 trains in motion. Our layouts have been built by some of Britain’s top modellers. Great attention has been paid to detail and capturing the atmosphere of the period. Come and see for yourselves!

POLCHESTER

This is our largest layout depicting scenes of the 1950s & 1960s. Press the buttons to bring this layout to life!

EXTON

This layout depicts modern day living. The trains on view can be seen on the network today.

THOMAS

Our younger visitors can enjoy pressing buttons to make the popular characters move along the track!

CHILTERN GREEN

This layout depicts a countryside setting in the 1960s. Complete the I spy to find all the hidden details!

MINIATURE RAILWAY

Our 71/4’’ gauge railway will take you on a journey to our riverside picnic area and then along to Magic Wood. Enjoy the characters who live there and delight in there quirky, colourful homes! There’s always something different to spot on every journey.

MEET THE TRAINS ARTHUR

Built by Cromar White in 1969. Originally worked in Twycross Zoo before arriving in 1999. Rebuilt in 2001 to run on batteries and is seen in regular operation.

MILLIE

Built in 1993 by Pfeiffarbahn. Originally worked in Malvern Bird Garden and then was owned privately before arriving in 2003. Runs on a Honda petrol engine and is used regularly.

RIO GRANDE

Built by Bimpson in 1982. Originally worked at Lowther Miniature Railway in Cumbria. Arrived in 2013 and runs on a Honda petrol engine. It is primarily used for special events.

NEW LOCO

Built in 2024 by Abbots Model Engineering for the Devon Railway Centre. Runs on batteries and will run regularly. As yet, unnamed.

INDOOR PLAY AREAS

Our indoor play areas offer great entertainment whatever the weather! The play coaches are designed for children from 18 months up to 7 years old. The Play Shed which houses our soft play area caters for children up to 148cm tall. Adults are also permitted to explore the Play Shed

THE PLAY SHED

The Play Shed is housed in the former Goods Shed which has been extensively refurbished for our fantastic railway themed soft play area. Built on three levels and specifically designed for the Devon Railway Centre, the Play Shed offers plenty of opportunities for children to climb, slide, twist and turn and more importantly, have great fun! Suitable for children up to 148cm tall.

BALL POOL

The ball pool provides a great area to burn off energy. Playing with friends or making new ones in this fantastic space housed in a full sized railway coach.

BUILD ‘N’ PLAY

This area allows children to explore a wealth of imaginative play. Lots of different wooden buildings, vehicles to build and wooden figures to create a range of different scenes.

WOODEN RAILWAYS

Our large wooden railway layout allows lots of children to play together or alongside each other to enjoy taking the wooden trains on journey after journey!

SAND PIT

Our sand pit is very popular! Children love to play with our toys and enjoy digging, making sandcastles and simply having lots of fun!

MODEL VILLAGE & FUNFAIR

Experience the delights of a world in miniature in the Edwardian era. Our model village was designed and built by our skilled team of model builders here at the Railway Centre. It gives visitors a chance to go back in time to view horse and carts, caravans, detailed shop scenes and hundreds of folks going about their daily business. We have built a townscape, a village, a tin mine and a funfair all of which are operated with a series of push buttons. Play a game of I spy and challenge yourself to find all the answers to clues created by the Devon Railway Centre. This is truly a gemfor you to enjoy time and time again during your visit.

EXE VALE

EXELEIGH & TIN MINE

FUNFAIR & CIRCUS PARADE

OUTDOOR PLAY AREAS

There are 3 different play areas to suit all ages and abilities at the Devon railway Centre. The castle themed play area which will delight our younger visitors is situated alongside our café. Our Twister play area provides a challenge for all children and our picnic site play area is particularly suited to pre school age children.

Adults can enjoy a cup of tea and snacks from the café or enjoy a picnic alongside the river whilst the children burn off energy!

Our castle themed play area is suitable for children between 3 -12 years of age.

Our Twister play area is suitable for children between 3 – 12 years of age.

Our picnic site play area is suitable for children between 2 – 6 years of age.

HERITAGE

Devon Railway Centre lies on the site of the former Exe Valley Railway which was closed in 1963 by Dr Beeching. It lay empty and was owned by the council until the Railway Centre opened in 1998. There is a museum in one of our coaches dedicated to the history of the station site we now occupy and the history of the narrow gauge railway equipment we now own. Devon Railway Centre has a large narrow gauge collection.