Didcot Railway Centre

Ranked #3,864 in Travel & Places, #118,670 overall

Recreating the Golden Age of the Great Western Railway

Didcot Railway Centre occupies the original steam locomotive depot at the junction on the Great Western Railway is on an island where the lines separate for Birmingham and the North, and the main line West for Bristol and Wales. The Centre focuses almost entirely on the old GWR. Visitors can enjoy (on steam Days) two working lines with modern trains rushing by on the main lines. The Railway Centre is one of my favorite places to go as there even on non-steam days there is sure to something going on plus working repair sheds with locomotives and wagons in every stage of rebuilding.
(photo WikiCommons) The entrance to Didcot Railway Centre is rather hidden away and is accessed via the subterranean passage under Didcot Parkway Station.

The Story of Didcot Railway Centre

(text from Wikipedia see link below)

Didcot Railway Centre, located in the town of Didcot in the English county of Oxfordshire , is based around the site of an old engine shed which became redundant due to the rationalisation of the UK railways, as well as the gradual switch from steam to diesel power.

The Great Western Society was offered the use of the site and took it over in 1967. The society has a comprehensive collection of Great Western Railway locomotives and rolling stock. There are two short lengths of running track, each with a station at both ends. The shorter of the two lengths - the 'branch line' - has a wayside halt-type station named Didcot Halt at one end while at the other end is the transhipment shed dating from Broad Gauge days, when it was used for transferring goods from broad to narrow gauge rolling stock and vice versa; it has been carefully reconstructed from its original site nearby. This is where the Firefly replica, completed in 2005, can be found. The other length of track has a prefabricated concrete station platform at one end next to the entrance, and a newly built platform at the other end. Long term plans include the reconstruction of the Brunel station building from Upper Heyford on this platform.

The site retains many original GWR features including the engine shed, turntable pit and coal stage from the 1932 rebuilding. The turntable itself is a Southern Railway (UK) item from the Southampton Docks.

The centre regularly holds events such as steam and diesel railcar days. Members of the Great Western Society are active in the preservation of locomotives and rolling stock and as of 2005 several locomotives such as King Edward II are being restored, in addition to the restoration of rolling stock such as coaches.

The railway centre is accessed through Didcot Parkway railway station , which links the centre by rail to London and much of the south and central England.

Dicot Railway Centre Photos 2008

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Didcot Railway Centre Links

Didcot Railway Centre
Didcot Railway Centre Official Website
Didcot Railway Centre
Didcot Railway Centre on Wikipedia
Great Western Society Main Line Steam
GWS MAINLINE STEAM
GWS Bristol Group
The Great Western Society, Bristol Group, Website.
3650 Great Western Pannier Tank
A photographic record of the on-going restoration of Great Western Pannier Tank 3650 at Didcot Railway Centre
GWR 7202 and 3822 home
GWR steam locomotives 7202 and 3822
The GWR Steam Rail Motor and Trailer Project
The GWR Steam Railmotor and Trailer Project
Great Western Railway King Edward
Home Page of the history of the restoration project of Great Western Railway King Edward 2nd - 6023.
First Great Western
First Great Western - Plan & book tickets online
Didcot - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Didcot From Wikipedia
Didcot Railway Centre from the Air
Didcot Parkway railway station Aerial Photo Maps
Armistice Day Didcot Railway Centre 2008
ROD 5332 in Wartime Livery

Thomas The Tank Days at Didcot

Thomas The Tank are the most popular weekends at DRC. The Railway Centre is at it's busiest with lots of extra events including magic shows, Punch & Judy shows, circus workshops, balloon model makers, colouring competitions and 'spot the character' competitions. At Xmas there is also Father Christmas.

Railway Books on Amazon

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Didcot Railway Centre Tips

The cost of entry for a day for a family is not much cheaper than Annual Membership so please consider buying the latter. In any case keep your tickets because I think you can put them towards your membership (may be only if you apply in the same day).

There are many places to Picnic, but also an authentic railway cafe.

The Museum is small but packed with Railwayana

When you arrive at Didcot you actually have to enter the First Great Western mainline station , then go through the underpass until you see the "modest" entrance to DRC at the far end. One of the attactions of DRC is to be able to see both modern and old railway activity.

The Broad Gauge train is stored in the Transfer shed at the far end. This has very limited Steaming Days

Immediately when you enter DRC you will the "main" DRC Station on steaming days this will take you a few hundred yards to the "Oxford Rd" Station , leave your train there walk to the transfer shed and take an even shorter train ride (secondary line), this takes you to the centre of DRC where you'll find Engine Sheds, the cafe and the Museum.

Railway Stuff on eBay

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Didcot Railway Centre Photos

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Didcot Railway Centre a Real Working Railway Centre

There are always 4 or 5 locomotives and half-dozen or so carriages being renovated at Didcot. This means that even on non-steam days there often plenty of train movements as they juggle one or more trains out of the engine sheds.


  • Museum/Relics Display
  • Refreshment Room
  • Science, Learning and Railways Centre
  • Coaling Stage
  • Travelling Post Office
  • Engine Shed & Display
  • Locomotive Works
  • Welford Park Ticket Office
  • Didcot Halt (Steam Days)
  • Turntable
  • Traverser
  • Carriage & Wagon Workshop & Display
  • Radstock Signal Box & Level Crossing
  • Brunel's Atmospheric Caper
  • Frome Mineral Junction Signal Box
  • Transfer Shed Burlescombe
  • Oxford Road Station

Didcot Railway Centre Videos

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Didcot Railway Centre Photo Gallery

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