About
The East Anglian Railway Museum occupies a site of exceptional historical character at Chappel & Wakes Colne station on the Stour Valley line in Essex, where one of the most spectacular pieces of Victorian railway engineering in England provides an unforgettable backdrop — the 32-arch Chappel Viaduct, built in 1849 from 7 million handmade bricks and still carrying trains today.
The museum was established in 1986 to preserve the railway heritage of East Anglia and in particular the rich traditions of the Great Eastern Railway and London & North Eastern Railway — the companies that dominated rail transport in the region from the Victorian era until nationalisation in 1948. The collection focuses on locomotives, rolling stock and infrastructure associated with these companies and with the wider East Anglian railway network.
The setting is extraordinary. The original 1849 station buildings at Chappel & Wakes Colne have been maintained in superb condition, with the timber-framed station house, goods shed, signal box and platform canopies creating one of the most authentic Victorian rural station environments in England. The great viaduct soars overhead, its 32 brick arches spanning the Colne valley at a height of 75 feet, forming a dramatic architectural backdrop to the museum site.
The collection includes a significant number of Great Eastern Railway and LNER locomotives in various states of preservation and restoration, passenger coaches spanning from Victorian teak-bodied examples to BR Mark 1 stock, and an extensive range of wagons, goods vehicles and specialist railway equipment. The goods shed, locomotive shed and carriage shed house much of the collection, while the platform displays include period signage, station furniture and equipment.
On steam gala weekends, visiting locomotives from across the heritage railway movement join the resident collection to create spectacular multi-locomotive events. The working signal box demonstrates traditional railway safety systems, and the museum's restoration workshops offer an insight into the painstaking work required to keep vintage railway equipment operational.
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Plan Your Visit
⏱️ Recommended Visit Duration
📅 Best Times to Visit
💡 Visitor Tips
- Arrive by train if at all possible — the Marks Tey to Sudbury branch deposits you directly on the museum platform for a uniquely authentic experience.
- Visit on a steam gala day for the best experience — multiple locomotives in steam under the viaduct arches create an atmosphere that non-steam days cannot match.
- The viaduct is most dramatic from the field to the south of the station — walk across the road to appreciate its full scale from a distance.
- Ask a volunteer to demonstrate the signal box — the mechanical levers and bell codes are fascinating and volunteers explain everything enthusiastically.
- The locomotive shed workshops are the most interesting part of the site for engineering enthusiasts — look for ongoing restoration projects.
- Photography is actively encouraged and the site offers outstanding opportunities; morning light illuminates the viaduct and locomotives particularly well.
- Bring a warm layer even in summer as the shed and outdoor areas can be cool, and wind can funnel through the Colne valley.
- Check the events calendar for special days including Thomas the Tank Engine events, 1940s weekends and autumn steam galas with visiting locomotives.
Highlights
Discover the unique exhibits and collections at this museum.
Collections
The collection comprises approximately 30+ locomotives and items of rolling stock, supplemented by an extensive archive of photographs, documents, uniforms and railway artefacts relating to the Great Eastern Railway, LNER and British Railways in the East Anglian region. The Victorian station buildings and infrastructure are themselves significant heritage assets.
Great Eastern Railway Heritage
Locomotives, rolling stock and artefacts from the Great Eastern Railway presented in the original Victorian station buildings and locomotive shed.
Signal Box Demonstration
The working mechanical signal box demonstrating Victorian and 20th-century railway safety systems and operating procedures.
Locomotive and Rolling Stock Collection
Steam and diesel locomotives, passenger coaches and goods wagons displayed throughout the site spanning the full history of East Anglian railways.
Themes
Time Periods
Current Exhibitions
No current exhibitions. Please check the museum website for updates.