Railway 200 Autumn Gala: ‘Narrow gauge, the wider story’

Autumn Gala 2025 part of Railway 200

Join us for our annual Autumn Gala  on the 27th & 28th of September. This year is a very special gala as we celebrate Railway 200. We will be recognising the unique role that narrow-gauge engines have played in two centuries of railway history around the globe.

 

Visiting Locomotives

Not just one but three visiting locomotives are confirmed to be joining our home fleet for the weekend. Scroll down to find out more about these locomotives and our home fleet engines.

- Kerr Stuart Wren Class  ‘Peter Pan’ courtesy of Graham Morris.

- De Winton ‘Chaloner’ courtesy of David Fisher and the Leighton Buzzard Railway.

- Planet locomotive ‘Boothby’ courtesy of the Westonzoyland Engine Trust /  Westonzoyland Pumping station.

- 0-4-2T 'Faith' courtesy of John Uphill and the Gartell Light Railway.

On Sunday there will be an international parade of all locomotives on site uniting nations, manufacturers and engine types illustrating their unique stories and contributions.

 

Other Event Highlights Include

Entertainment

  • Intense and varied timetable
  • Classic cars on display
  • Miniature traction engines at Woody Bay
  • 16mm Garden Railway
  • Miniature Railway
  • Live Music during the two days
  • Marquee attractions and stands
  • Kids garden games & bouncy castle (free once on site)

Great Food & Drinks

  • Real Ale & Cider Bar: Great selection of hand-picked Real ales and Ciders
  • Barbecue: Serving burgers, sausage and bacon baps.
  • Woody Bay Tearoom: Serving a selection of hot/cold drinks, hot pasties, sausage rolls, local sandwiches, cream teas and cakes.

 

Ticket Prices

We are offering a pre-booking discount to visitors who per-booked online via our website!

Please see below a list of prices for this year both in advance and on the day!

Ticket Type

Pre-booked (Online)

On the Day

Adult

£14.00

£16.00

Young Person (14-21 years

£8.50

£9.00

Child (Under 14 years)

Free

Free

Disabled Person

£8.50

£9.00

Carer

Free

Free

Family (2 adults & up to 3 young people)

£36.00

£38.00

 

Please be aware since this is a special event discounts like National Trust members, 50% off returning customer etc, are not valid either of these days.

Travel in comfort in our first class compartment!

First class upgrades will be available on the day at Woody Bay Station from 11:30 onwards. For £3.50 per person take part in a return journey from Woody Bay to Killington lane.

 

Car Parking

  • Free car parking will be available at Killington Lane.
  • Please make your way to Woody Bay Station and follow the signs for Killington Lane.
  • Disabled parking will available on a first come first served basis at Woody Bay Station (EX31 4RA).
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Dates & Times

Saturday 27th September Buy Tickets
Sunday 28th September Buy Tickets
The four visiting engines for the 2025 Autumn Gala

Meet the visiting locomotives

 

1. Kerr Stuart Wren Class ‘Peter Pan’ courtesy of Graham Morris and the Leighton Buzzard Railway. Built in 1922 Peter Pan worked in Essex until 1929 then moved to Wilminstone Quarry in Tavistock. It came to Beacon Down Quarry near Killington Lane at a later date, and has not visited Woody Bay since 2005.

 

2. De Winton ‘Chaloner’ courtesy of David Fisher and the Leighton Buzzard Railway. Chaloner, a vertical boiler engine was built in 1877 at De Winton’s works in Caernarfon and spent its life hard at work in the North Wales slate industry. This is Chaloner’s first visit to Exmoor.

 

3. Planet locomotive ‘Boothby’ courtesy of the Westonzoyland Engine Trust /  Westonzoyland Pumping station. Built in the 1930’s Boothby and its visiting knife board carriage represent rolling stock unique to the myriad of specialist industrial narrow-gauge railways across the UK. The trip to Woody Bay is a first for Boothby and its very special carriage from the Somerset levels.

 

4. North Dorset Locomotive Work 0-4-2T 'Faith' courtsey of John Uphill and the Gartell Light Railway. The diminutive Faith was built from scratch by John and is coming back to Woody Bay metals after a period of some years.

Meet The Home Fleet

Baldwin 762 ‘Lyn’ our new build locomotive completed in 2017, a replica of the original which was ordered by the railway and built by the Baldwin Locomotive Works, Philadelphia. Lyn represents narrow-gauge heritage from the USA and passenger narrow-gauge here in North Devon.

Bagnell 2819 ‘ Sir George Newnes’ built in 1942 for the Tongaat sugar company of South Africa and recently overhauled represents the role that narrow gauge engines played across the Commonwealth enabling food production.

Kerr Stuart 2451 ‘Axe’ which was built 1915 and saw service during WWI on the Western Front and represents the hundreds of locomotives and their dedicated crews that saw active service. Axe is currently out of boiler ticket awaiting a full overhaul and will be on display over the weekend and taking part in the international parade. 

Drewry diesel locomotive D2393 ‘Pilton’ which was built 1952 and operated at Victoria sugar mill in Queensland Australia this being its first public outing since a repaint into a striking new livery.

Hunslet diesel locomotives D6652 and D6660 Heddon Hall‘ both built in 1965 and operated at Dean Hill Royal Navy Armaments Depot (RNAD) representing the railways that served the military here and abroad.

Chelfham

Chelfham Station, EX32 4RP, will be open both Saturday and Sunday of the Gala weekend 10.00-17.00.

All visitors can enjoy visiting the award winning Chelfham Station, seeing the restored station building, working signals, and now both platforms completely cleared of sheds and clutter finally giving the station its authentic Southern Railway appearance.

A signposted trackbed walk north towards Bratton Bridge is also possible. As usual a limited range of refreshments of teas, coffees, savouries, cakes and biscuits will be available for cash or card donations. The second-hand bookshop with some L and B souvenirs will be open which now also includes a range of donated model railway items.

All monies received over the weekend will go towards further restoration at Chelfham.