Bishop's Castle Railway Society

  • Home
  • Bishop's Castle Railway Society

Bishop's Castle Railway Society Members seek to preserve the history of the Bishop’s Castle Railway.

RAILWAY BOOKS ALWAYS WANTED.Don't forget BCR fans, we always welcome donations of railway books to our shelves. They'll ...
28/04/2026

RAILWAY BOOKS ALWAYS WANTED.
Don't forget BCR fans, we always welcome donations of railway books to our shelves. They'll readily find new owners, and the income from the sales goes to further the story of one of Britain's quirkiest railways 😁🤓 See you in the shop very soon! 👍

It's a grey day at the weighbridge, but it's a busy time moving Bishop's Castle 1932 to its new home from home, the ex-L...
28/04/2026

It's a grey day at the weighbridge, but it's a busy time moving Bishop's Castle 1932 to its new home from home, the ex-LNWR van. Here's all the fun as it happened, while in the book van more donations and sales led to another successful day 😀

27/04/2026

Yes folks, we're open again tomorrow (Tuesday) from 11 - 3 with all the usual fun and frolics you get on an open day. The big event will be moving the layout to its new home in the LNWR van to give more space for its expansion to include a new section featuring Lydham Heath 🤓. Come along and see us sll heaving large bits of miniature railway real estate in an effort to rival the building work going on next door. An absorbing time is guaranteed for.. well, some at least! 😁

Horderley circa 1930s. In the 1990s the BCR Society reconstructed the remains of the platform with the permission of the...
22/04/2026

Horderley circa 1930s. In the 1990s the BCR Society reconstructed the remains of the platform with the permission of the site owners. Alas it's gone back to being a little ramshackle since they moved on

(Original photographer: unknown; colourisation courtesy of Rob Gunstone, with thanks)

[ps. Caption updated. We originally thought the photo was earlier (1906), but according to a clothing specialist, the man's outfit places it in the 1920s/30s. Elsewhere it is identified as being taken after closure (1935) although with the railway being habitually overgrown, how would one tell?!]

Castle Sunday.The GWR turned down approaches from the BCR to buy it or help complete the line. Can't think whyPhotograph...
19/04/2026

Castle Sunday.

The GWR turned down approaches from the BCR to buy it or help complete the line. Can't think why

Photographer unknown

The validity of colourisation of historical images is a debate that still divides opinion, but they can provide a new sl...
17/04/2026

The validity of colourisation of historical images is a debate that still divides opinion, but they can provide a new slant on a well-known image.

The BCR is well provided with monochrome photographs, but other than a couple of early, thought to be hand-tinted, images, the railway avoided being the subject of early ventures in colour photography. It died the year Kodak Kodachrome was released.

A handful colourised images came to our notice a couple of days ago and we'll share a few of them with you over the next few weeks. (We don't plan to make any AI animations of photographs, you'll be pleased to know, as they are the very works of the devil.)

The first is Horderley station circa 1906, taken from in front of the goods siding. It shows the signal that we recently obtained from the NRM/Railway Museum and intend to re-erect at the museum. The colourisation has given it arguably the hand-tinted feel of an early postcard.

The signal is unusual in that it was not interlocked with the crossing, something that the railway inspector had criticised the railway over (to little effect). It is an early Stevens signal, with the spectacle plate separate from the arm. It looks to me that the lamp has not been raised - it is at the base of the signal above what I think is the balance weight/operating lever. There was no ladder to the signal and the lamp was raised by a windlass chain.

(Original photographer: unknown; colourisation courtesy of Rob Gunstone, with thanks)

Two new residents in the BCR book van today. As you can see, they're refugees from the Watercress Line and the West Some...
14/04/2026

Two new residents in the BCR book van today. As you can see, they're refugees from the Watercress Line and the West Somerset Railway. Never fear, we welcome all railway teddies and can guarantee that they'll have a better time with us! 🧸☺️😁

A slightly soggy day at the weighbridge, but work continues as usual. The van is nearly ready to accommodate the layout ...
14/04/2026

A slightly soggy day at the weighbridge, but work continues as usual. The van is nearly ready to accommodate the layout of BC circa 1932, and in line with the present recession we've reduced the price if most of our books to £2. Ideal for,anyone on a budget (do you know anyone who isn't? 🤔) and with lots of other bargains for even less of your hard earned dosh. Meanwhile, next door the roof of the new Co-op is on and building work is proceeding at a lively pace. Come along and see us in a fortnight to see all the latest developments, and grab a bargain or three at your favourite railway museum. See you there! 😎😊

Don't forget that we're open again this Tuesday 14th with all the usual features and bargains galore. Come up and see us...
12/04/2026

Don't forget that we're open again this Tuesday 14th with all the usual features and bargains galore. Come up and see us from 11-3, for scintillating chat and much more! 😁

Yes, Bishops Castle Railway Museum needs YOU! 😊Are you a DIY fan, railway modeller, history aficionado, or general diamo...
07/04/2026

Yes, Bishops Castle Railway Museum needs YOU! 😊
Are you a DIY fan, railway modeller, history aficionado, or general diamond geezer or geezette? 🤔 If so, come and join the dedicated group of enthusiasts in preserving a unique part of railway history in Bishops Castle. We have a delightful museum, with a layout showing the station as it was in 1932, genuine railway artifacts, a working weighbridge, and a spiffing secondhand railway bookshop. Come and meet fellow railway fans, build things, exchange hints and tips and above all, HAVE FUN!
Come and see us every 2nd and 4th Tuesday of the month. Scintillating banter and tea and biccies to taste on every open day. You know it makes sense! 👍😎😁

Address

The Old Weighbridge

SY9 5AQ

Opening Hours

11:00 - 15:00

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Bishop's Castle Railway Society posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Organization

Send a message to Bishop's Castle Railway Society:

Shortcuts

  • Want your organization to be the top-listed Non Profit Organization?

Share