Churnet Valley Railway

The Churnet Valley Railway takes you on a journey back to the classic days of railway travel on a rural line that passes through beautiful countryside known as Staffordshire's "Little Switzerland".

Our picturesque stations offer lots of interest with a complete range of visitor facilities, and there's plenty more to see and enjoy along the way.

Cheddleton, the home of the railway with its impressive Grade II Listed Victorian Station, small museum and locomotive sheds. St Edward's Church and Cheddleton Flint Mill are both within walking distance along the Caldon Canal towpath.

In addition to the 10½ mile return journey along the valley, there's a taste of contrasting moorland scenery on the 16-mile round trip along the Cauldon branch.

Journey time: 1hr 20 mins approx

Rail Route: Cheddleton, Consall, Froghall, Consall, Cheddleton

​The Churnet Valley Railway is a Visit England Quality Assured Visitor Attraction.

Educational Days

A school visit to the Churnet Valley Railway provides a valuable educational experience that can be linked to the needs of the curriculum. 

Suitable for Key Stages 2 & 3 studying World War II :

• Decide: What to pack in your suitcase using artefacts from the period.
• Dress up: As an evacuee.
• Experience: An evacuee auction.
• Experience: 10 ½ mile journey pulled by a heritage steam locomotive.
• Listen to: the story of the family who lived in the station all through the war.
• Shop: Using Ration Books.
• Talk to: World War II veterans.
• Taste: World War II recipes.
• Train: To be a member of the Royal Observer Corps.
• Hear first hand from Vera who was evacuated three times from South London during World War II.
• Learn the wartime songs and sing them on the train journey.
• Experience the tunnel,  the air raid siren and the blackout as in wartime train travel.
• Receive a copy of the ‘ Daily Rail’  - your issue will have news, activities, questions to answer and family discounts for travel on the CVR Railway
• Schools will receive packs  in advance containing ID Cards, Ration Books  (please get the children to complete these in advance)  Gas Mask Box templates,  Song sheets,  Labels and itinerary sheets.

Activities spread between the Railway's stations

The Explorer Experience

Suitable for Reception and all Key Stage 1 children
Discover the railway and journey along the beautiful Churnet Valley in the heritage scenic cruiser train. 

Based at Kingsley & Froghall Station:

• Collect your tickets for the journey 
• Learn about nature activities around the station and picnic area involving plants and trees
• Meet the owls
• Play 'I Spy' activities based on a country railway station

Based at Cheddleton Station:

• Learn about the Station Master and his family who lives at the station
• Meet the blacksmith at his forge
• Handle objects from the railway and decide what they were used for
• Check what letters from the alphabet are used around the station

On all these experiences a return journey along the unique Churnet Valley is included, as will be relevant work materials. In addition Wednesdays in July are other possible dates in the summer term when parties can be accommodated. It would also be possible to tailor-make a day visit for a school or group of schools at other times of the year.

All Education Days will start from Kingsley and Froghall Station at 10am and finish there at 2.30pm.