Ravenglass Railway Museum
Free railway museum at Ravenglass station telling the story of the Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway, with historic locomotives, artefacts, interactive displays and the Passenger 150 exhibition in 2026.
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About Ravenglass Railway Museum
The museum is central to the railway's 150th passenger anniversary in 2026. Passenger services on the Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway began on 22 August 1876. The Passenger 150 exhibition runs from March to the end of August 2026 and explores how passenger travel shaped the line, the communities it served and generations of Lake District visitors.
On Saturday 22 August 2026, exactly 150 years after the first passenger journeys, the museum hosts A Grand Victorian Day Out. Victorian activities begin from 10am and a specially reserved anniversary train leaves Ravenglass at 1.10pm, accompanied on departure by Whitehaven Brass Band. Special-train tickets are offered on a donation basis, with proceeds supporting the museum.
The museum normally opens on railway operating days. Admission is free, with donations welcomed. Check current opening information before making a special journey.
Our local note
An essential part of a Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway visit, especially during the 2026 Passenger 150 anniversary. Free admission makes it easy to combine with a train journey.
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It is a small museum but there is so much to see and interact with. A must visit if you are in the area with children or your family.
What better way is there to spend a rainy Sunday morning, than with a visit to the Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway Museum? Having visited the museum a long time before the lottery funded refurbishment, it was time we visited again. The original was small and outdated. This is not the case anymore! The refurbished museum is bigger, lighter and even more interactive for younger visitors. Whilst I had a great time looking at all of the old photographs and memorabilia from the history of the La’al Ratty, mini Guru (six years old) loved interacting with the hands on elements. From sitting in a train to building bridges, the museum has something for all ages. As we live locally we didn’t need to use the facilities but as the museum is located at the Ravenglass station there was the possibility of grabbing a bite to eat at the station cafe or the local pub (which we have experienced on a previous visit and boy was it tasty!). Entry to the museum is free but donations are welcome. To use the car park you must pay and display. If you are taking a trip on the Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway I would highly recommend visiting this museum. It will top off your visit to Ravenglass and will help you learn more about how the railway shaped the area.
