Miniature Railway - Moss Bank Park

21/06/2026

As we all celebrate Father's Day today, it feels only fitting that we honour the father of our railway, it's founder the late Albert Stones.

Albert Stones was born in 1933 and lived in Great Lever with his parents Jim and Bertha Stones and sister Margaret. 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦

A former pupil of St Simon and St Jude's CE Primary School, he attended The County Grammar School in Great Moor Street before leaving at the age of 14 and got a job with Bolton building firm Wm Townson & Son.

In 1958 he met Elizabeth, who joined the company as a shorthand typist, later declaring it as 'love at first sight'. 🥰

The romance blossomed, and they eventually married at St George's Road Congregation Church in 1962.💍

The couple moved into a Townson's house in Bradshaw to raise their four children Margaret, Peter, Andres and Judith.

A life-long passion for railways saw Albert build a model railway at home before his expertise was called on by the then chairman of Bolton's Leisure Services Department, Cllr Bill Robinson, to help construct a passenger hauling small railway in Moss Bank Park, Bolton, and that is where our story began 40 years ago. 🚂

Albert Stones passed away in March 2016 following a long spell of illness, but he will be remembered fondly by generations of families in his drivers hat at the head of the model train.

We were honoured to be joined by Elizabeth, children, grand-children and wider family at our recent 40th anniversary event as our VIP guests. Elizabeth cut the cake and the family enjoyed riding the train. Thank-you for attending, it made the day so special, to bring things back to their origins.

🚂🦺 Miniature Railway - Moss Bank Park

*Apologises there are not more photos of the wider Stones family or the ribbon cutting, our official photographer has yet to hand over any photos.

19/06/2026

Our 40th anniversary event last weekend was a steaming success, thanks to the wonderful visiting steam engines from Leyland Society of Model Engineers. 🚂

Their support at our event not only added to the magic of the day with fabulous steamie rides but also allowed our own drivers to enjoy the days celebrations on the station, for which they were very grateful. 🥰

If you ever fancy an 'away day' train fix then the Leyland team also operate on Sundays, at Worden Park, Leyland.

🚂🦺 Miniature Railway - Moss Bank Park

17/06/2026

We were very pleased to be visited by original member, William (Bill) Greenhalgh, at our 40th anniversary event last Sunday and did he bring us some real treats to add to the Moss Bank Model Engineering Societies archives! Here are just some of the highlights:

📷 A photo from the 1980s of Bill with the societies founder Albert Stones.
🎟 Bill's original members card from 1989. Bill was member #8 and inside the card also shows the previous membership fee rates.
📜 Bill was the architect who supported the design of the track, and still had some of the original technical drawings.
👷‍♀️🏗 Photos of the raised tracks being constructed.
🛖 Before the club house was built the team operated out of a small porta-cabin on the site.
🚂 A photo from the original open day of the track showing that Fred Dibnah attended with his famous traction engine.

A huge thank you to Bill for sharing these fabulous photos and documents with us.
🚂🦺 Miniature Railway - Moss Bank Park

15/06/2026

🚂🎉🎈 Wowwie! What a fabulous day!

A huge thank you to EVERYONE who came down to celebrate our 40th anniversary year with us and make it a day to remember 🥰

There is SO MUCH to share that we will be posting on here throughout the week, and lots added to our website.

👏 Thank yous...
🚂 The guys from Leyland Society of Model Engineers who brought over their stunning steam engines for the day.
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 VIP guest Elizabeth Stones and family. It was an absolute pleasure to meet the widow, children and grandchilden of the founder of our railway, the late Albert Stones.
🥰 Our other VIP guests including; Heather Berry Smithills Community Alliance, Councillor Sue Priest, Councillor Roger Hayes, Joan Blunson Friends of Moss Bank Park.
📷 Original member William Greenhalgh, who brought down some amazing photos and technical drawings from when the railway was first built!
🎂 Nicola Pearson for the fabulous cake - it tasted amazing!
📰 Bolton News, Bolton FM and That's TV Manchester, for coverage of our story and support in advertising the event.
🦺and of course, the team at Miniature Railway - Moss Bank Park who give their time and skills, all year long to maintain, operate and develop the railway to ensure it is here for generations to come...
Stuart (chairman), Keith (treasurer), Dave (secretary), Alf (operations), Andy (events), Amanda (publicity), Paul, Ray, Neil, Callum, Sheree, Laura B, Laura C, Tom, Victoria, and Alan.

11/06/2026

Thank you to the Bolton News for another fabulous article about our railway in its 40th year! This time including some cracking pictures from the recent visit of Phil Brickell MP who came to preview our history display ahead of our anniversary event.

Don't forget members of the general public are invited to join us THIS SUNDAY (14th) at Moss Bank Park, Bolton, to celebrate the railway. Our trains, plus guest steam trains will be giving rides, there will be a history display and photo archive to view and a prize of 12 FREE rides for every 40th rider on the trains throughtout the day. See our facebook for full details.

🚂🦺 Miniature Railway - Moss Bank Park

It’s full steam ahead as one of Bolton’s best loved attractions marked 40 years on track and looked ahead to a bright future.

08/06/2026

A lovely message from Phil Brickell MP following his visit yesterday...

08/06/2026

📰News: MP visits miniature railway

On Sunday 7th June we were pleased to welcome Phil Brickell MP (Member of Parliament for Bolton West) for a VIP visit to our railway at Moss Bank Park, Bolton.

​Phil was given an early preview of the history and photo displays the club has prepared for our upcoming 40th anniversary event, and was talked through the history of the Moss Bank Park Model Engineering Society by the clubs chairman, Stuart Rothwell, before embarking on a tour of the club facilities.

Following this Phil took to the track with our Operations Manager, Alfred Molyneux, for a lesson in driving model trains. Phil was a natural and was soon enjoying driving trains around our track!
​
Phil Brickell MP for Bolton West said, "It's been an honour to visit the Model Engineering Society and the railway! I have very fond memories myself, visiting as a child in the 1990s. Thank you to all the volunteers for keeping the local loco passion alive."

You can read the full write up of Phil's visit on our website: https://www.mossbankparkrailway.co.uk/40thanniversaryyear

The railways history display and photo archive will be available for the general public to view at our special 40th Anniversary event on Sunday 14th June, 11.30am - 2.30pm, along with train rides from our trains, plus guest steam trains.
Event details: https://fb.me/e/7GRJclIHn

🚂🦺Miniature Railway - Moss Bank Park

21/05/2026

Did someone order some sun? 🌞😎
Mini heatwave, 22c - 24c predicted for the bank holiday weekend!
Come down and join us, running Sunday and Bank Holiday Monday, 11.30am - 2.30pm.
Moss Bank Park, Bolton.
Prices held, just £1 per ride.

🚂🦺 Miniature Railway - Moss Bank Park

06/05/2026

📣 📰 PRESS COVERAGE:

A lovely write up in the Bolton News about our 40th anniversary...

🚂🦺 Thank you from all the volunteers at Miniature Railway - Moss Bank Park for sharing our story.

Bolton’s Moss Bank Park miniature railway celebrates 40 years with community events and train rides