Frimley Lodge Miniature Railway has been giving public train rides since 1990. The railway is staffed by volunteers from the Frimley and Ascot Locomotive Club who bring their own locomotives – most are miniature steam locomotives.
Steam railways have a certain smell about them. I’m too young to remember steam engines taking main line passenger trains, as by the time I was born (in the 1970′s) they had been decommissioned. However I always like to visit steam railways, maybe it is because in my childhood my parents read Thomas The Tank Engine books to me. At Frimley Lodge Miniature Railway you can watch as the steam locomotives are steamed up, whilst waiting for the public rides to start.
The railway is open typically the first Sunday of each month between March and November – see timetable for dates. Ticket prices are a very reasonable £1 per person (Standard Ride) and there is a special Family Card available for £10 which has 14 ride tokens.
They also put on special event days, such as the upcoming Teddy Bear Special this coming Wednesday, 4th August (11am-4pm). Children on this day travel for Free when they bring their teddy bear with them. Children must be accompanied by an adult – max of 3 children per adult.
The train carriages are of the open design, some have seats facing each other, others are long bench type which you straddle. See the FLMR website for pictures. Please use your judgement as to how your children will cope with this seating arrangement.
Later this month (Friday 13th, Saturday 14th August) they are holding a Visitor Weekend where other locomotive owners from other clubs can bring their locomotives to run on the Frimley Lodge track. Public rides on these days will be limited, so it is more a chance to see various locomotives than to have a lot of train rides.
Frimley Lodge Miniature Railway is located within Frimley Lodge Park. There is some car parking near the railway (when entering the park, follow the road to the right) however this can get very busy on railway running days. It is around a 5 minute walk from the main car park – follow the path past the playground, heading towards the top right of the site and the railway can be found near the canal. Alternatively if you fancy a walk along the canal, then there is parking at the Basingstoke Canal Centre in Mytchett.
