celebrating the legend of the Axminster to Lyme Regis Railway
It all started as a novel idea to temporarily fill an empty Axminster restaurant window with a live model of the famous old Axminster to Lyme Regis Railway line. From that came a group of volunteers with a wider mission to create a long term visitor centre to attract people to our town - and have some fun while doing it.
About
‘For the Love of a Railway’ is a community enterprise established by volunteers as a much needed new attraction for Axminster’s town centre. Some of us are model railway lovers but others contribute skills in crafts, engineering, electronics, woodworking, design and promotion. We even have a former fireman who shovelled coal into Lyme Billy! Most of us are retired and it’s not all men! We love what we are doing and recognise the value of this project to our mental health and sense of well being. We hope it can give that to others.
Take yourself down to the Depot
The Depot is our home and is a place that we hope will bring a lot of enjoyment to the community and visitors in the months ahead. We are incredibly lucky to have had the premises made available to us and have now decorated them to a high standard. We have also moved our much loved model of the Axminster to Lyme Regis Railway to become the centrepiece of a wider display. Viewable from the street as well as from within at published times, you will also be able to see another model in progress and view videos that bring the old line back to life. Prepare to be impressed!
The legend of Lyme Billy
The story of the famous old Axminster to Lyme Regis Railway Line is one of the most romantic of its era. It is built around three Victorian locos, known collectively as Lyme Billy, that were for many years the only ones that could cope with the steep gradients and sharp curves of a line that existed for just 62 years. The legend also includes the incredible Cannington Viaduct, which started to slip before the line ever opened, necessitating a 10mph speed limit and a watchman to check for further issues. Add in the isolated Combpyne Station, which had no power or running water plus a camping carriage where you could take holidays, and you have a rare tale that we tell via our Depot and via a growing fund of information that you will be able to access here and on our social media.
MemoriesVisit the Depot
We will open the Depot to the community for the first time on Saturday 26 October 2024 and will then open to a timetable, We can also arrange group visits at other times. Admission is free though we will always appreciate small donations to help us survive and further develop what we do.
Get involved
Once established, we are keen to give as many people as possible opportunities to get involved. Our plans include a model railway club for adults and modelling sessions for children. We would also like to run ‘memories’ sessions over a cuppa for those who simply want to share their own love for the old line. Please register your area of interest with a quick email to fortheloveofarailway@gmail.com.
Become a Friend
Sign up to receive our free email newsletter and you automatically become ‘A Friend of For the Love of a Railway’ and will be kept informed of our activities and invited to events and our AGM where you will be entitled to vote.
Sign up
Please support us
Our initiative is one that is fuelled by volunteers and by kindness. Its survival is, however, by no means guaranteed and depends upon our being able to continue raising the funds that are essential to pay for our operating costs and materials.
We will be doing all we can to help ourselves by seeking grants and sponsorship, and running events. But we also need YOU to help us please. If you feel able to give to our cause please donate at the Depot or via any of our other collecting boxes around Axminster. Alternatively, you can use this link to donate online.
Find us
We are right opposite the entrance to the George Hotel car park in the centre of Axminster. For those coming from further afield, Axminster is close to both the A35 and A303 main routes to the west and also has the benefit of a mainline railway station with direct trains to Waterloo and Exeter.
Our address
6 St George’s
Chard Street
Axminster
EX13 5DL
Opening hours
Saturday 26 October - Friday 1 November
Daily 10am - 1pm
From Saturday 2 November
Saturdays 10am - 1pm
Thursdays 10am - 1pm
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