The Old Kiln Light Railway

In a nutshell

Gauge:        2'

Length:      ½ mile (0.8km)

Opened:     1982 (at present site) 1971 (as Wey Valley Light Railway)

Location:   Old Kiln Light Railway
                    Rural Life Living Museum
                    Reeds Road
                    Tilford
                    Farnham
                    GU10 2DL

Web:          https://oklr.org/

Email:         info@oklr.org

Date of visit:     21 June 2026

Key Facts

• Located at the Rural Life Living Museum in Tilford, near Farnham in Surrey.
• It was originally founded in the early 1970s as the 150 yard long Wey Valley Light Railway which ran around the grounds of the Moor Park Venture Scout Unit.
• The track and equipment were moved to the Old Kiln Museum, now known as the Rural Life Centre in 1982 when the land at the original site was sold for housing.
• The line has since lengthened around the centre
• A small stretch of track serves the museum's heritage timber yard demonstration area
• The railway has two steam locomotives and currently a third is on loan from the Moors Valley Railway
• It also has sixteen internal combustion powered locomotives and an other on loan
• It has six coaches and around a dozen wagons, mostly former RNAD or RAF stock.
• It is run by a team of dedicated volunteers and received the "Surrey Industrial History Group Conservation" award in 1994
• It has four stations: Reeds Road, Old Kiln Halt, Oatlands and Mills Wood 

Route

My Impressions

The 21 June 2026 was one of the hottest days of the year and so when we arrived, we made immediately for the café and sat with a soft drink under the trees.

Source: Simon Burchell

 After a brief tour of the museum we settled down to watch the Berkshire Bedlam Morris Dancers who were staging a performance for visitors. The railway had suspended the running of trains while the morris dancers were performing. The quality of the morris dancing was superb - a series of Fieldtown dances some of which were very complex.

 While the dancers were resting, I was able to grab a quick train ride, down and back up the line. I was the only passenger.

 The dancing resumed and then a few more train rides were organised, one of which was a special train for the morris side and their families.

The line travels around three sides of the site, mostly through woodland ......

........ and then between a campsite and the edge of the museum grounds. 

There are extensive workshops and sheds housing most of the railway's collection of stock which can be glimpsed through the open doorways as the train passes by.

 The two through stations are request stops, but most of the passengers were content to travel from one end of the line to the other.

The staff were very friendly and informative, willing to answer questions and demonstrate their knowledge of the railway and its stock.

 Unfortunately, there were only sandwiches and cakes available in the café during our visit as the cook was on holiday, but I understand there is usually a fairly comprehensive menu of hot meals available in addition to hot beverages and cold drinks.

 The exhibits around the site are interesting and well laid out. Often there are demonstrations of, for example, blacksmithing. It would be advisable to check what events are planned before making a visit.

Source: https://www.visitsoutheastengland.com

 There are play areas for children and plenty of places undercover and outside for picnics.

Video