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.
Summer Specials
special school holiday hours and attractions
Enjoy our latest model
Our talented team has proudly delivered and installed a new layout that is now running at the Community Waffle House in Axminster. Known as ‘Axminster’s Railway’ it started as a simple ‘refresh’ of Waffle’s previous layout, but soon grew into a total rebuild with new features. The model celebrates Axminster’s 165-year history as a mainline railway town but also includes the first stage of the famous Lyme Regis Line, which opened in 1903. We are marking the launch of the new model by also launching a new ‘Layouts’ page here on our website with information about each of our layouts to date.
Layouts
Lyme Billy on Tour
You can find us at a series of events in the coming months:
- 21 and 22 June: Axe Vale Show - hobbies and crafts marquee. Our portable Axminster Station model will be live.
- 18 July: the launch of our Sentimental Journey film at the Railway Kitchen 7pm
- 19 July: Cake cutting at Axminster Station to celebrate the 165th anniversary of the main line through the town - 1.30
- 27 July: Axminster Model Railway Exhibition at Axminster Station 10am - 3pm
- November 2025 - 60th anniversary of the closure of the Axminster to Lyme Regis Line - watch this space!
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.
Memories
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.
Our address
6 St George’s
Chard Street
Axminster
EX13 5DL
Registered charity no: 1213097
Opening hours
Saturdays 10am - 12.30pm
Thursdays 10am - 3pm
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.
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