Cholsey & Wallingford Railway

17/10/2026

Many thanks to Grundon for their help in getting George Mason on the way to looking its best. Peter Kent

11/10/2026

This Christmas, climb aboard the Santa Express at Cholsey & Wallingford Railway for a magical festive adventure the whole family will love. 🚂✨

Proudly featured in The Times and The Sunday Times 2025 list of the Best Christmas Train Rides, our magical festive event includes:

🎄 A ride on one of our beautifully restored heritage trains
🎅 A personal visit from Santa at your table
🤶 Mother Christmas and the elves joining you for the journey
🎁 A Christmas gift for every child
☕ A hot chocolate, mulled w**e or cold drink, plus a mince pie or festive snack

Our Santa Express trains are one of our most popular events and many departures sell out well in advance.

🎟️ Advance Booking essential

📅 28 & 29 November, and 5, 6, 12, 13, 19, 20, 21 & 22 December 2026

👉 For more details and to book your tickets now before your preferred train sells out visit our website at:

https://www.cholsey-wallingford-railway.com/events/santa-express/

Before departure adults will receive a free festive drink and mince pie, and children will receive a soft drink and a sweet treat from our kiosk.

09/10/2026

❄️🎅 SANTA'S READY FOR SOME FUN! 🎅❄️

This Christmas, climb aboard the Santa Express at Cholsey & Wallingford Railway for a magical festive adventure the whole family will love. 🚂✨

🎄 Meet Father Christmas, Mother Christmas and the mischievous Elves
🎁 Every child receives a present
🥧 Adults enjoy a FREE festive drink and mince pie
🍬 A sweet treat and soft drink for every child

With festive fun throughout your journey, it's a wonderful way to make Christmas memories together. ❤️

📅 28 & 29 November, and 5, 6, 12, 13, 19, 20, 21 & 22 December 2026

🎟️ Advance booking is essential!

👉 Book your tickets now before your preferred train sells out:
https://www.cholsey-wallingford-railway.com/events/santa-express/

03/10/2026

D-DAY IS HERE!

The weather is set fair ☀️
The Home Guard, Allied Forces and Special Operations have set up camp. 🪖
The vintage vehicles have rolled in 🚙
Churchill has his cigar lit 🚬
The homing pigeons have had their corn 
The barber’s chair is waiting 💈
The scones are baked and the kettle is on ☕️
The singers are warming up their voices. 🎶
and the trains are running 🚂💨

Everything is ready… are you?

Step back in time and join us for two days of 1940s nostalgia, wartime atmosphere, vintage vehicles, music, entertainment and heritage trains at Cholsey & Wallingford Railway.

BACK TO THE FORTIES – IT’S TIME TO GO!

🎟️ Walk-up tickets on the day are available, so why not come along and experience the action for yourself?

Saturday 3rd October: 10am–5pm
Sunday 4th October: 10am–4pm

👉 https://www.backtotheforties.co.uk/
👉 https://www.cholsey-wallingford-railway.com/events/wallingford-back-to-the-40s/

NOTE: The previously advertised Horsa Glider due to be on display will not now be present for reasons outside our control.

29/09/2026

It is a busy week this week at CWR as we are getting ready for one of the biggest weekends with our 'Back to the 40's' weekend, but other jobs have to continue. Ballast has been removed from the yard and loaded into the 'Grundon' ballast wagon, new sleepers moved to create space, plus more progress has been made on refitting the Waiting Room. Also major work has been done on the Sentinel locomotive, with the engine returning to the frames and the boiler coming out - but only after most of the bodywork and roof had been removed! It is always great to see visitors (and better still volunteers), why not pop in for a Coffee and a look round. The Coffee Stop is open Tuesday-Friday mornings and will be open longer this Saturday and Sunday for the 40's weekend.

24/09/2026

Wallingford - Back to the Forties

The sights, sounds and atmosphere of wartime Britain return to the Cholsey & Wallingford Railway on Saturday 3rd and Sunday 4th October.

Join us for a weekend of heritage trains, wartime history, music and living history, with something for all the family.

🚂 Unlimited train rides
✈️ A full-size Horsa Glider
🪖 Military vehicles, Home Guard, Allied Forces and Home Front displays
🎶 Live 1940s music and wartime entertainment
🚗 Classic cars, motorcycles and steam traction engines
🎖️ Wartime re-enactors and WWII memorabilia
💈 1940s-style hairdressing and barbering
☕ Cream teas, food, refreshments and local ales

Why not get into the spirit of the weekend? Dust off your 1940s outfit and join us for a journey back in time.

📅 Saturday 3 October: 10am–5pm
📅 Sunday 4 October: 10am–4pm

🎟️ Tickets are on sale now:
👉 www.backtotheforties.co.uk

📷Robin Coombes

21/09/2026

STEP BACK IN TIME… TO THE 1940s!

Join us at the Cholsey & Wallingford Railway on Saturday 3rd & Sunday 4th October 2026 for a spectacular weekend of wartime nostalgia, music, history and heritage trains!

Wallingford – Back to the Forties brings the sights and sounds of the 1940s to life, with something for all the family:

* Unlimited heritage train rides along our scenic 2½-mile railway
* Home Guard, Allied Forces, Special Operations & Home Front displays
* Military vehicles, classic cars, motorbikes & steam traction engines
* Full size Horsa Glider on display at the station
* Live 1940s music, singers and wartime entertainment
*️ Meet our fantastic wartime re-enactors – and who knows who you might meet on the train!
* 1940s-style hairdressing and barbering
* WWII memorabilia and stories from life on the Home Front
* Cream teas, food, refreshments and local ales

And why not really get into the spirit of the weekend? Dust off your 1940s outfit, put on your glad rags and join us for a journey back in time!

📅 Saturday 3rd October — 10am–5pm
📅 Sunday 4th October — 10am–4pm

🎟️ Tickets are on sale NOW!

👉 Find out more and book your tickets:
www.backtotheforties.co.uk
www.cholsey-wallingford-railway.com/events/wallingford-back-to-the-40s/

📍Cholsey & Wallingford Railway, Wallingford, Oxfordshire

Will you be joining us?

Experience the 1940s and the Second World War with authentic re-enactors, Home Guard, Allied Forces, Special Operations and Home Front displays along with 1940s singers and vintage vehicles. Be sure to help our Policeman by keeping an eye out for any illicit black market deals happening at the stati...

18/09/2026

Last chance to book one of the few remaining tables for the Murder Mystery Evening Train — This Saturday Evening 19th September

An evening of mystery, murder, a lot of laughs and a meal while travelling on board our heritage train.

Join us for an evening of 1930s & 1940s themed intrigue, as our characters introduce you to a case that will keep you guessing right through to the dramatic conclusion!

Arrive by 7pm and enjoy a welcome glass of Prosecco while our actors set the scene. You will then be shown to your allocated seat on the train where your meal will be served and you will have the chance to interrogate the suspects as we travel through the beautiful South Oxfordshire countryside. Gather the clues, then make your accusations before discovering the truth in our dramatic reveal back on the platform.

Will you unmask the killer and emerge victorious?

Your ticket includes:
• Welcome glass of Prosecco or soft drink
• Allocated table on our heritage train
• Two return trips through the countryside
• Choice of Fish & Chips, Sausage & Chips or Cheese & Veg Bake
• Ice cream tub
• A bar on the train, with w**e and b**r available to pre-order or purchase on the night

1930s & 1940s dress is encouraged but optional — so why not dress the part and make a night of it?

🕖 Arrive by: 7pm
🌙 Expected finish: Around 10pm

Tickets are selling out so book your table for two, three or four people and see if you have what it takes to solve the crime!

Check out also our separate family friendly Spycatcher event in the afternoon.

Tickets & booking: https://www.cholsey-wallingford-railway.com/events/murder-mystery-spycatcher/
Production & Actors: https://deadherring.co.uk/

15/09/2026

Murder Mystery Evening Train — This Saturday Evening 19th September

Last few tickets remaining for our evening of mystery, murder, a lot of laughs and a meal while travelling on board our heritage train?

Join us for an evening of 1930s & 1940s themed intrigue, as our characters introduce you to a case that will keep you guessing right through to the dramatic conclusion!

Arrive by 7pm and enjoy a welcome glass of Prosecco while our actors set the scene. You will then be shown to your allocated seat on the train where your meal will be served and you will have the chance to interrogate the suspects as we travel through the beautiful South Oxfordshire countryside. Gather the clues, then make your accusations before discovering the truth in our dramatic reveal back on the platform.

Will you unmask the killer and emerge victorious?

Your ticket includes:
• Welcome glass of Prosecco or soft drink
• Allocated table on our heritage train
• Two return trips through the countryside
• Choice of Fish & Chips, Sausage & Chips or Cheese & Veg Bake
• Ice cream tub
• A bar on the train, with w**e and b**r available to pre-order or purchase on the night

1930s & 1940s dress is encouraged but optional — so why not dress the part and make a night of it?

🕖 Arrive by: 7pm
🌙 Expected finish: Around 10pm

Tickets need to be bought in advance and are selling out fast, so book your table for two, three or four people and see if you have what it takes to solve the crime!

Check out also our separate family friendly Spycatcher event in the afternoon.

Tickets for both events: https://www.cholsey-wallingford-railway.com/events/murder-mystery-spycatcher/

Production & Actors: https://deadherring.co.uk/

10/09/2026

Saturday Afternoon 19th September: Mystery Spycatchers Family Event

Join us in the afternoon for an exciting family adventure on the railway! Two special mystery trains will depart at 2pm and 3:30pm.

Arrive at least 30 minutes before departure to discover clues to help you find out the identity of a deadly spy! Families and children will team up to tackle the mystery; actors from local group Dead Herring will be on hand to help find the crucial clues but be warned; you will have to work for them! This event is perfect for families.

To Book Tickets please visit https://www.cholsey-wallingford-railway.com/events/murder-mystery-spycatcher/