West Cumberland Railway Museum

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West Cumberland Railway Museum Oh and we generally have free cake to give away as well ! A collection of local Cumbrian railway artifacts and social history from the 1840s to the present day.

A collection of railwayana from West Cumberland railways from 1850 to the present day, comprising of tickets, clocks, posters, carriage prints, bridgeplates, shedcodes, nameplates and much more. Its a diverse group of items that should have something to interest everyone - totems,nameplates,posters,lamps,carriage prints,signalling equipment;maps,enamel & cast iron signs and much more. Its generally open one week per month or by appointment for special interest groups - contact [email protected]. And its free !

04/10/2026

OCTOBER OPENING AND LOCAL ART EXHIBITION
So, here we are coming to the end of the 11th season and, in line with other years, the final opening of the season combines local railway artifacts with local artist's works. I do this by removing half the railway artifacts - whilst still leaving sufficient of interest - and use the freed-up space to display the works of local artists. So for instance, if some of your group were into railways whilst others were interested in works of art, both groups can have a grand time without having to feign interest !

"Art" is a very broad church which in previous years has included photos, jewellery, wood turning, collages, driftwood, and greetings cards as well as paintings. The artists decide if they want to try to sell their work or if its just for display - and I don't take any commission on sales. So if you would like to take part please email me at [email protected] - I can even come and pick up items in the local area.

The event itself will be from Wednesday 28th October to and including Sunday 1st November - 10 till 4 each day except Sunday when its 10 till 2, with the artists coming to retrieve their masterpieces after that. And like all the best museums, entry is free. You can even vote for your favourite piece - "Best in Show" ! - with the winning artist receiving a bottle of w**e. Whilst free, like other years we will be happy to receive donations that will be sent off to help support Ukrainian children at Christmas

16/09/2026

SEPTEMBER GENERAL OPENING SESSION
So here I am just back from a rail holiday around Italy, finishing at my nephew's wedding. That's the first time I've used an Interrail card for a number of years, and I can definitely recommend it as a cheaper way to see a country - you do need to plan things well mind, and the express services need a seat reservation as well, which costs money. As luck would have it there was a train strike on for 1 day whilst I was there, which made life interesting for a good number of people, including me. The temperature was a bit hot but the seafood was amazing !

So like previous years, the October session will be the last for the season, and will double up as a local artists exhibition as well - but more of that later. The September session is therefore the last full railway event, and will be held on Friday 25th & Saturday 26th September, 10 till 4. there is a special display of Cleator & Workington Junction Railway items on right now, including the unique train describer board from their Harrington Junction Control Room - as well as loads of other stuff. As ever, its free entry and free cake !

17/08/2026

AUGUST OPENING SESSION
So, apologies for having to cancel the July session - but I had a reasonable excuse. The leg is improving gradually so I will be able to open in August, but I'm going to go for just 2 days, Friday 28th & Saturday 29th August. I've got the new displays focussing on the Cleator & Workington Junction Railway, as well as some of the usual signs, totems, lamps, tickets, whistles, posters, carriage prints, etc, etc - and as usual its free entry and there of course be free cake.

21/07/2026

CANCELATION OF JULY OPENING
Apologies to people who were looking to visit this weekend, however I went out on a long walk on Monday, fell nastily, and I've damaged the Medial Collateral Ligament (MCL) in my right knee such that I'm on crutches for a while and as such can't get to the museum. This could take a few weeks to repair but I'll endeavour to open again sometime in August. The good news is I can eat all the cake myself !

12/07/2026

JULY GENERAL OPENING SESSION
And the heat goes on ! Last month, I even had some folk coming in just to cool down - which makes a change from people coming in to dry off ! This month's opening will be Friday 24th & Saturday 25th July. Now the sharp eyed ones amongst you will have noticed that's shorter than usual - to be fair, with the weather as it is there just aren't a lot of people going out so I'm going to abridge the opening hours, and that way I can get more gardening done. So I've had a bit of a change-round of exhibits and this month I'll be focussing on the Cleator & Workington Junction Railway - plus many of the usual exhibits. As ever its free entry, and of course free cake !

25/06/2026

AT LAST, A STEAMER - EVEN IF IT IS ONLY IN THE SOUTH OF THE COUNTY !
So, there's a Cumbrian Coast Express venturing up our way on Saturday 27th June. Obviously the Whitehaven tunnel is still out of action so its setting off from London behind an electric but putting a steamer on at Carnforth for a return run up to Ravenglass and back. The loco is going to be 34067 Southern Railway's Pacific Tangmere, and its probably going to go up the line tender first and return nose first - but at least its a steamer coming our way ! Lets hope there aren't any suggestions of line-side fires being set.

11/06/2026

JUNE GENERAL OPENING SESSION
So here we are in the middle of flaming June and its hosing it down outside - but on the plus side I won't be watering the vegetables for a while ! The June opening of the museum is also on the horizon(if you can see the horizon !) - Wednesday 24th June to and including Saturday 27th June, 10am till 4pm each day. New items are arriving at the museum each month and this month will see a new display of British Rail posters, mainly from Cumbria but with a few others as well. This will also be the last month for seeing the display on Whitehaven's three stations before the Cleator & Workington Junction Railway has a display. Free entry, and yes we still have free cake !

18/05/2026

MAY GENERAL OPENING SESSION
Well, after a wonderful long holiday riding the rails through Canada I need to get back to reality. Part of that is to get back to museum curating and to that end the museum will be opening its doors again from Wednesday 27th May to and including Saturday 30th May, 10 till 4. A few years ago, I travelled from Vancouver to Toronto on the train and I've been wanting to do the other half for some time. So with a big birthday looming, I decided to organise going from Toronto to Ottawa, then Montreal, Quebec and Halifax before flying home. I also went off-piste by hiring a car specifically to get to Sept-Iles (Quebec Province) in order to ride the wonderful Tshiuetin Railway for over 300 miles North to Schefferville - a railway run by the local First Nation people. If anyone is thinking of a Canadian railway holiday I may be able to assist. Anyway, the museum will have its usual array of local railway artifacts on display, is free to enter, as well as the usual free cake - anyone know another museum that gives away free cake ? Maybe see you then.

16/04/2026

TODAY- THURSDAY
Just in case you were wanting to come today, the museum is open but will need to close for an hour from 11.30 to 12.30 , after which it will be open again.

Address

24 Main Street, St Bees
Saint Bees
CA270AA

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