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Four engines in a row - Betty, Graham, Jean and Sir Thomas Royden.
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Discover the living ironstone museum in the heart of Rutland.

The Museum reopens on the 17th April 2025 and our events season starts on the 20 April, Easter Sunday. Keep up to date with what is happening at the Museum on our Facebook page


  • Visit by the Branch Line Society

    The Charity was extremely pleased to welcome a large and enthusiastic group from the Branch Line Society last Saturday 21st May to explore the Cottesmore Branch. The last visit to the Cottesmore Branch by a rail tour took place in the mid-1960’s when the line was a busy place, serving Exton Park, Burley and Cottesmore…

  • 2013 Development Blog – Day 17

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    Despite the weather, progress on construction of our locomotive servicing pit has been rapid with the arrival of our building team. Out have come the blocks, concrete mixer and Keith our ever hard-working expert, such that not only have we laid the three courses of double skin blocks that will form the walls of the…

  • Day 9 – Redevelopment

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    Last weekend saw more activity in the loco yard as the final clay material was removed from under the track beds and sub-base fill materials were brought in to replace them. The area was originally laid on a clay base with insufficient fill material suitable for storage and maintenance of locomotives. Following leading practice, we…

  • Day 8 – Redevelopment 2013

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    It seems barely credible but the day saw concrete poured to form the base of the inspection pit. In a well scripted series of operations, the initial site works included the crucial drainage pipes from the inspection pit to the main drains with provision for an oil interceptor. In addition the team were able to…

  • Day 5 – Redevelopment Day

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    Progress continues to be rapid as Day 5 saw the end of site stripping, ditch clearance and tree felling to allow the site excavations to start in earnest. The eastern boundary of the site includes an open drainage ditch and the original railway company fence but both had been overtaken by years of undergrowth. The…

  • Wickham–in-Rutland

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    The enthusiast following for the small railcars produced by the Wickham company who were based in Ware in Hertfordshire comprises a knowledgeable group who have started to document the whereabouts of those which have survived this far. Prompted by their research, our track teams have been assessing the practical need for rail cars and trolleys…

  • 2013 Development Blog – Day 1

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    Many thought that the major Rocks by Rail rebuild and relaunch in 2013 would have seen the end of heavy rebuilding at the Museum but this has just inspired the volunteers to press ahead with completing the remaining jobs. Attention has therefore turned to rebuilding the locomotive yard approaches and will see not only completion…

  • An Oriental Intrigue?

    One of the rewarding and unexpected bonuses of rebuilding an industrial Museum comes when the clearance process reveals an exhibit that appears in the collection records and archives but which has not been seen for many years. In recent weeks the curatorial team came across an interesting collection of cast iron sections which were understood…

  • All cleaned out!

    As part of the recent rebuilding of the Museum, the team of volunteers have taken great care to make sure that the storage of operational materials are handled away from those areas in which visitors want to focus on the heritage aspects of their tour. After a great deal of hard work, the team succeeded…

  • IRON AGE SPEAR HEADS???

    At first glance it might seem that the archaeologists and historians at Rocks by Rail have unearthed some very fine examples of prehistoric archaeology in the form of iron age spear heads! Fearsome stuff for those unweary travellers in these parts 3,000 years ago! In reality, our curatorial team have put on display some of…

  • Who put that there?

    To the average punter, the dumping of 20 tons of granite track ballast on a rail line would appear to be bad news – not so at Cottesmore! Volunteers were surprised and cheered to see that through the kind support of aggregate and haulage firm Dickersons, a further load of ballast arrived to assist the…

  • Dig For Victory!

    The redevelopment of the Museum includes a number of features which will make volunteering easier and more rewarding in the future. Until now, the hard work of coaling locos has been done by hand with coal loaded from ground level by our hard working crews. Although authentic and great in theory, the reality is often…

  • A Railway Emerges

    As the spring sunshine gives way to summer weather, our railway system starts to emerge for the months of building and heavy work. In the last month, the track under the concrete loading dock has been relayed including a staff and loader crossing, a catch point and the curve to connect with the passenger line…

  • Hitting The Buffers!

    Trains need to stop and ours are no exception! In advance of operational visitor trains from our new platform, we have installed a reclaimed buffer stop at the end of the line. While not quite rivalling those at Kings Cross or Euston, our new installation will still carry out the same vital function on our…

  • The Great Divide!

    Still bearing signs of its former installation at Ketton Cement, the new bullhead point is installed at the junction of the platform and quarry lines. The pointwork is a vital and complicated piece of the railway infrastructure and the Museum was extremely pleased that a local firm was able to donate an old but hardly…

  • Drains and Foundations

    The railway trackwork needs good drainage and the team made sure that the new platform track bed included a deep lateral drain running to the existing drainage system. Using protective matting under a layer of limestone hard core, the required substrata were gradually installed. Once in position and connected to the existing manhole, the limestone…

  • Let’s Get Started!

    After a great deal of planning and preparation, the track team started the central area rebuild today! The track was dismantled and the area cleared for the first time in 30 years as the planned redevelopment of the area became a reality. The fishplates, keys and rails were the first items to be removed, revealing…

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