STRADBALLY WOODLAND RAILWAY
2025 Dates
16th March
20th & 21st April
4th & 5th May
1st & 2nd June
22nd June
13th July
3rd & 4th August
17th August Heritage Week
24th August Heritage Week
November & December 2025 – The Santa Train Experience – dates to be confirmed.
The railway is open to the public for its main running season every bank holiday Sunday and Monday as well as selected other weekend dates between March and August.
Our railway runs for 1km through a beautiful forest, taking to you back in time for a taste of the glory days of steam power. Each trip lasts about 10 minutes but tickets are valid all day for unlimited journeys, uniquely powered by Arigna Fuels’ carbon-neutral biocoal.
Tickets are available online until the midnight before the selected date or can be purchased from the shop next to the platform on the day of your visit.
Get a snack or drink, including tea and coffee, from our Steamin’ Brews café, relax at our seating area next to the tracks and watch the trains come and go. Ideal for a family picnic on a summer’s day!
Our friendly volunteers will be happy to answer any questions you have about what we do.
The train is wheelchair accessible. Card and cash accepted. Private bookings available, inquire via the email listed below.
See our social media pages on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for the most up to date information on running days
No walk-ins will be accepted for the Santa Train Experience dates.
Steamin’ Brews shop
A shop selling hot and cold drinks, snacks, merchandise and second-hand books and magazines will be open on running days, subject to volunteer availability. We have a seating area next to the platform, ideal for a picnic.
Contact
Email: stradballyrailway@gmail.com
Facebook: facebook.com/stradballywoodlandrailway
Twitter: @StradballyRail
Instagram: @irish.steam
TikTok: @irishsteam
The Stradbally Woodland Railway opened in 1969 as the first volunteer-run heritage railway on the island of Ireland
Situated in the grounds of the Stradbally Hall estate, the railway stemmed from an earlier idea which saw an original Guinness Brewery steam locomotive steamed while mounted on blocks for the August 1967 National Steam Rally. A short section of 1ft 10½in track was laid for the 1968 event and the engine pulled several small passenger carriages.
In 1969, the line was relaid to 3ft gauge following the arrival of our steam locomotive, the pride of the fleet, 1949-built Andrew Barclay 0-4-0WT No 2/LM44 Róisín. Róisín spent her working life on the bog railways of counties Laois and Offaly for Bord na Móna alongside her sister steam engines, Nos 1 and 3. Róisín has called Stradbally her home for over 50 years and she’s been lovingly cared for by our small but dedicated Irish Steam Preservation Society volunteers since the day she arrived.
The Railway’s aim is to preserve rare examples of Ireland’s industrial heritage, in particular local examples such as our steam and diesel locomotives, and to educate visitors on an often-overlooked part of Irish history. Our volunteers are always happy to answer any questions our visitors may have.
Private group bookings for the railway are available and can be arranged once sufficient notice is given, preferably before the start of our running season. The cost of such bookings is dependent on how the group wishes to spend their time during the visit and its size. Inquiries should be sent to stradballyrailway@gmail.com.
