Northampton & Lamport Railway facts for kids

The Northampton & Lamport Railway is a special kind of railway in Northamptonshire, England. It's a "heritage railway," which means it keeps old trains and railway lines working for people to enjoy today. It's based at Pitsford and Brampton station, close to the villages of Pitsford and Chapel Brampton. This spot is about 5 miles (8.0 km) north of Northampton.

Northampton & Lamport Railway
Peckett 0-4-0ST Works No. 2104 with a train
Locale	England
Terminus	Pitsford and Brampton
Commercial operations
Name	Northampton to Market Harborough line ("Harborough Line")
Built by	London and North Western Railway
Original gauge	4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Preserved operations
Operated by	Northampton & Lamport Railway Preservation Society
Stations	1
Length	1+1⁄2 miles (2.4 km)
Preserved gauge	4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Commercial history
Opened	1858
Closed	1981
Preservation history
1984	Work started at (and around) Pitsford and Brampton station site
1995	Light Railway Order, Granted with First public passenger train operated
1996	Grand Re-opening (NLR re-opened, officially)
Headquarters	Pitsford and Brampton

What is a Heritage Railway?

A heritage railway is like a living museum for trains. It uses old railway lines and stations. Volunteers often help to restore and run old trains. This lets visitors experience what train travel was like in the past.

History of the Railway

The railway line was first built in 1858 by the London and North Western Railway. It was part of a bigger line called the "Harborough Line." This line connected Northampton to Market Harborough. For many years, it carried both passengers and goods.

Closing and Reopening

The original railway line closed in 1981. But a group of people really wanted to save it. They formed the Northampton & Lamport Railway Preservation Society. In 1984, they started working to bring the railway back to life.

It took many years of hard work. In 1995, they got a special permission called a Light Railway Order. This meant they could run public passenger trains again! The railway officially reopened in 1996.

What Can You See and Do?

The Northampton & Lamport Railway is about 1+1⁄2 miles (2.4 km) long. You can ride on old trains, often pulled by steam or diesel locomotives. The main station is Pitsford and Brampton. Here, you can see the old booking office and platform.

The Station and Signal Boxes

At Pitsford and Brampton, you can explore the station area. There's a signal box, which is where railway workers used to control the train signals. You might also see the Pitsford Sidings signal box. These boxes are important parts of railway history.

Trains You Might See

The railway has different types of trains. You might see steam locomotives like the Peckett 0-4-0ST Works No. 2104. Another steam engine is Hunslet 0-6-0ST 'Ring Haw'. They also have diesel trains, like the Class 117. These trains are carefully looked after by volunteers.

Special Events

The railway often holds special events. For example, they have "Santa Specials" around Christmas. You might even see unique visitors, like a Stanley Steamer car, at some events. These events make visiting the railway even more fun.

Brampton Valley Way

The railway runs alongside the Brampton Valley Way. This is a path for walking and cycling. It follows the route of the old railway line. You can enjoy a walk or bike ride next to the heritage railway.

Images for kids

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  The booking office and platform at Pitsford and Brampton

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  The platform at Pitsford and Brampton Station

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  Pitsford and Brampton signal box

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  Pitsford Sidings signal box

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  Steam locomotive 7646 "Northampton" officially named by the Mayor of Northampton

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  Peckett 0-4-0ST Works No. 2104 in the yard, preparing for a day's use on passenger trains

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  The first passenger train to cross Bridge 13, with headboard from 1981 (Class 117 51402 has since moved to the Strathspey Railway)

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  Boughton — end of the Brampton Valley Way which runs alongside the railway

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  JCB excavator used in the railway's construction

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  Stanley Steamer visiting an event at the railway

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  Hunslet 0-6-0ST 'Ring Haw' and a short goods train

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  Santa Special hauled by № 7646