Whitehead Railway Museum

About

Are you looking for somewhere different for the kids this weekend? Or perhaps you have seen our steam trains out and about and want to see the engines close up? For a unique day out, why not make tracks to the award-winning Whitehead Railway Museum?

Located on the Causeway Coastal Route just 15 miles from Belfast, the Museum is the place to go if you want to rub shoulders with the giants of steam and learn how the railways changed society. The Museum is wrapped around the workshops of the Railway Preservation Society of Ireland so you can watch as restoration work takes place. You can step on board several historic carriages and locomotives from the Society’s collection.

Our five fascinating galleries are brought to life by video and interactive displays. Our children’s play area enables our younger visitors to fire their imaginations by dressing up in Edwardian-style clothes. They can make believe they are train drivers and passengers.

Your trip is not complete without a visit to the charming Edwardian Tea Room. It’s the perfect spot to refuel with family and friends, serving hot and cold drinks and a selection of lunches. There is also a small gift shop for souvenirs.

Whitehead Railway Museum is just 30 minutes’ drive from Belfast and 20 minutes from Larne. Or why not make it a “railly” complete day out and travel by train along the scenic coastal line to Whitehead NIR? The station is just 10 minutes’ walk from the Museum.

As a special attraction over the summer, a steam train will be offering rides up and down the siding within the Museum from 12:00 to 16:00 on Saturdays in July and August. The “Steam Saturday” train ride takes 10 minutes and operates on demand, no need to book. It is an ideal way to sample steam train travel, with all of its aroma, sound and atmosphere.