Audley End Railway
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Audley End Enchanted Railway | |
|---|---|
 Rolling stock and old station sign | |
| Locale | Saffron Walden, Essex |
| Terminus | Audley End |
| Coordinates | 52°01′09″N 0°13′03″E / 52.0193°N 0.2176°E |
| Commercial operations | |
| Name | Audley End Enchanted Railway |
| Built by | Lord Braybrooke |
| Original gauge | 10+1⁄4 in (260 mm) |
| Preserved operations | |
| Stations | 1 |
| Length | 1+1⁄2 miles (2.4 km) |
| Preserved gauge | 10+1⁄4 in (260 mm) |
| Commercial history | |
| Opened | 1964 |
| Preservation history | |
| 1963 | Building commences |
| 1964 | Line opens |
| 1979 | Line extended to its present length. |
| 2010 | Amanda Murray took over the railway from her father. |
| 2012 | The Fairy Walk opened. |
| 2023 | New welcome centre and shop opened. |
| 2024 | Celebrated 60 years. |
| Website | |
| Audley End Railway | |
Audley End Enchanted Railway[1] (trading name for Audley End Miniature Railway Ltd. as of February 2026[2]) is a woodland family attraction park and railway[3] established in 1964 and located near Saffron Walden in Essex, England. Set opposite Audley End House and inside Audley End parkland designed by Capability Brown, the railway operates through ancient woodland alongside the River Cam and attracts more than 130,000 visitors annually.
The railway runs along a 1+1⁄2-mile (2.4 km) custom-built track, built by the late Lord Braybrooke, through the Fulfen Forest, a private woodland with shaded glades, clearings and river crossings. A bridge over the River Cam and a tunnel are among the route's engineering features.
The station area includes a ticket office & shop, Station Snack café and restroom facilities.
The attraction also hosts educational and recreational school visits and a regular forest school programme during the summer term.
Sustainability and Rolling Stock
History
The miniature railway was built by Lord Braybrooke,[6] who had a lifelong interest in steam trains.[7] The site itself officially opened to the public on 16 May 1964, with racing driver Sir Stirling Moss performing the opening ceremony. Originally a 10+1⁄4 inches (260 mm) gauge railway woodland loop with teddy bears and picnic areas, it has since grown into one of the most popular family attractions in Essex.
The line has two tunnels and crosses the River Cam and River Fulfen. The bridge across the Cam retains the original World War II pillbox.
Since 2011, the site has been run by Lord Braybrooke's daughter, Amanda Murray,[8] who has overseen its development into a modern visitor destination with immersive events and expanded infrastructure.
