| Re: Inspiration train, winter of 2026 - first South West venue announced Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 07:22, 8th April 2026 |     |
From the BBC:
Museum train showing 200 years of rail pulls into Cornwall
The Inspiration train at Newquay Station
A special train with hands-on interactive exhibits has pulled into Newquay Station to celebrate 200 years of public rail travel in the UK.
Inspiration is a mobile exhibition which toured the country last year as part of national celebrations and its tour has now been extended due to its popularity. It arrived in the north Cornwall town on Monday as part of its 60-stop tour which Network Rail said had already attracted 80,000 visitors.
Emma Roberts, programme manager for Railway 200, said: "Railways are one of history's most important inventions and inside this train you can explore the story of rail in a fun and family-friendly environment."
Mike Lamport who is involved in Railway 200 and is also a railway heritage advisor said the focus of the tour was to show people the history of the modern railway but to also look forward in a bid to "attract the rail workers of the future".
Lamport added: "There is so much to do on the train; from building bridges, to pulling levers. You can have a go on a model railway and just learn a huge amount - it's great."
Lee Goodson, GWR station manager for West Cornwall, said: "We're excited to be hosting the Railway 200 Inspiration train." He added that it has already "really captured the imagination since the beginning of the tour".
The Railway 200 tour focuses on the past and the future
The exhibition train is in Newquay until Saturday. Tickets are free but those wishing to go along are advised to book in advance.
The Inspiration train at Newquay Station
A special train with hands-on interactive exhibits has pulled into Newquay Station to celebrate 200 years of public rail travel in the UK.
Inspiration is a mobile exhibition which toured the country last year as part of national celebrations and its tour has now been extended due to its popularity. It arrived in the north Cornwall town on Monday as part of its 60-stop tour which Network Rail said had already attracted 80,000 visitors.
Emma Roberts, programme manager for Railway 200, said: "Railways are one of history's most important inventions and inside this train you can explore the story of rail in a fun and family-friendly environment."
Mike Lamport who is involved in Railway 200 and is also a railway heritage advisor said the focus of the tour was to show people the history of the modern railway but to also look forward in a bid to "attract the rail workers of the future".
Lamport added: "There is so much to do on the train; from building bridges, to pulling levers. You can have a go on a model railway and just learn a huge amount - it's great."
Lee Goodson, GWR station manager for West Cornwall, said: "We're excited to be hosting the Railway 200 Inspiration train." He added that it has already "really captured the imagination since the beginning of the tour".
The Railway 200 tour focuses on the past and the future
The exhibition train is in Newquay until Saturday. Tickets are free but those wishing to go along are advised to book in advance.
| Re: Inspiration train, winter of 2026 - first South West venue announced Posted by grahame at 06:08, 23rd March 2026 | |
Anyone headed to Bristol today?
| Re: Inspiration train, winter of 2026 - first South West venue announced Posted by grahame at 09:32, 20th February 2026 | |
I'm headed for the 14:30, tomorrow (21st), family health issues permitting. Wondering as to whether to do Romsey in the morning.
| Re: Inspiration train, winter of 2026 - first South West venue announced Posted by grahame at 13:08, 30th January 2026 | |
Thinking of where in the Coffeeshop area people would like to send (in a positive way) the Inspiration Train. Not sure what it needs by way of length of platform face and of course it needs not to bring the network to a halt... Parkend?
Mark
Mark
Not sure where it will be is Salisbury - probably in platform 5. And Temple Meads can probably manage it in Platform 13. Newquay before the enhanced service is introduced is logical, and the west-facing bay in the downside at Taunton too. I suspect the London-facing empty carriage bay at Plymouth might be possible - and if they'd known it was to be closed for so long, it could have visited the Looe line platform at Liskeard this month.
| Re: Inspiration train, winter of 2026 - first South West venue announced Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 22:17, 29th January 2026 | |
The remains of the Minehead branch line stub at Taunton?
Sorry - did I say that out loud ??
| Re: Inspiration train, winter of 2026 - first South West venue announced Posted by Mark A at 17:48, 29th January 2026 | |
Thinking of where in the Coffeeshop area people would like to send (in a positive way) the Inspiration Train. Not sure what it needs by way of length of platform face and of course it needs not to bring the network to a halt... Parkend?
Mark
| Re: Inspiration train, winter of 2026 - first South West venue announced Posted by Kernow Otter at 08:00, 29th January 2026 | |
Thanks Grahame. My 10 y/o just found it for me....
Booked for Newquay.
| Re: Inspiration train, winter of 2026 - first South West venue announced Posted by grahame at 07:15, 29th January 2026 | |
Unclear from the website as t how to acquire tickets for the Newquay visit. Any pointers please?
https://railway200.digitickets.co.uk/event-tickets/74469?catID=66018
| Re: Inspiration train, winter of 2026 - first South West venue announced Posted by Kernow Otter at 07:06, 29th January 2026 | |
Unclear from the website as t how to acquire tickets for the Newquay visit. Any pointers please?
| Re: Inspiration train, winter of 2026 - first South West venue announced Posted by Mark A at 12:53, 28th January 2026 | |
Ah, another good reason to re-equip bare-bones infrastructure provision at terminii. Newquay now on the destination list.
Mark
https://railway200.co.uk/Inspiration/
| Re: Inspiration train, winter of 2026 - first South West venue announced Posted by bobm at 13:39, 15th January 2026 | |
Not at all - the announcement which I saw this week, and presumably the one you saw, made it sound like it was being promoted for the first time.
| Re: Inspiration train, winter of 2026 - first South West venue announced Posted by grahame at 08:43, 15th January 2026 | |
Bit strange this announcement. Places have been available to book on the official website since before Christmas. Also the Swanage and Mid Hants heritage lines.
Possibly "strange" because I have only just picked it up ... as a results of a message that alerted me towards dates later in the year and planning for 2026.
| Re: Inspiration train, winter of 2026 - first South West venue announced Posted by bobm at 20:56, 14th January 2026 | |
Bit strange this announcement. Places have been available to book on the official website since before Christmas. Also the Swanage and Mid Hants heritage lines.
| Inspiration train, winter of 2026 - first South West venue announced Posted by grahame at 21:43, 13th January 2026 | |
Inspiration train - touring again ... at at Salisbury from 21st to 23rd February. Book via:
https://railway200.co.uk/inspiration/
Sporting an eye-catching livery, visitors young and old will go on a journey of discovery exploring the railway’s 200-year story of innovation, brought to life by interactive exhibitions and hands-on activities
