Days Out NI
Museum Derry

Foyle Valley Railway Museum

Derry's narrow-gauge railway, shown to you by the guides who run it

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OpenReported as two days a week (Tuesday and…
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1 hourHow long
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Foyle Valley Railway Museum — Derry's narrow-gauge railway, shown to you by the guides who run it.

  • Getting in: By guided tour; book ahead. A charge of around £10 adult / £5 child has been reported; older free/donation entry pre-dates the 2023 reopening, so confirm when booking.
  • Opening: Reported as two days a week (Tuesday and Wednesday, 10am to 2pm). Check before you go as times vary.
  • Family: Yes, suitable for families and children.
  • Tours: All visits are guided, roughly one hour, led by trained Destined members; bookable up to 24 hours in advance.
  • Food: No café confirmed on site; cafés are nearby in the city centre.
  • Parking: On-site and street parking near Foyle Road; check current arrangements.
Plan your visit

See real narrow-gauge rolling stock up close

The collection sits around a recreated station platform, so you walk among the locomotives and carriages rather than viewing them behind a rope. On show are early-1900s steam engines, diesel railcars, period carriages and goods vans, plus a hand-worked crane from the Lough Swilly line. Most of the stock comes from the County Donegal Railways, saved when the lines closed in 1960. Your guide explains what each piece did and how the cross-border lines once worked.

Guided tour (~1 hour) County Donegal narrow-gauge stock Steam & diesel locomotives Mock station platform Booking advised Family-friendly
Good to know before you go:

The museum hosts group visits, school tours and occasional community and heritage events through its operator. Booking is the norm, and special openings are announced on its Facebook page, so check before planning a trip.

Before you set off

What to bring

  • 📷Camera or phoneMost galleries are photo-friendly — just check for any no-photos rooms.
  • 👟Comfy shoesPlenty to take in on foot, room to room.
  • 💷A few poundsFor the café, the shop, or a donation where entry is free.
  • 🕰️A bit of timeThe stories reward a slow look rather than a dash round.
Good to know

Everything before you go

Getting in
By guided tour; book ahead. A charge of around £10 adult / £5 child has been reported; older free/donation entry pre-dates the 2023 reopening, so confirm when booking.
Opening
Reported as two days a week (Tuesday and Wednesday, 10am to 2pm). Check before you go as times vary.
Tours
All visits are guided, roughly one hour, led by trained Destined members; bookable up to 24 hours in advance.
Age limits
None; children welcome.
Food
No café confirmed on site; cafés are nearby in the city centre.
Family-friendly
Yes, suitable for families and children.
Parking
On-site and street parking near Foyle Road; check current arrangements.
Accessibility
Purpose-built interpretive centre on the level; contact ahead about specific needs.
How long to allow
About 1 hour.
Address
30 Foyle Road, Derry / Londonderry, BT48 6SQ.
Questions

Before you go

How much is it to get in?
By guided tour; book ahead. A charge of around £10 adult / £5 child has been reported; older free/donation entry pre-dates the 2023 reopening, so confirm when booking.
What are the opening times?
Reported as two days a week (Tuesday and Wednesday, 10am to 2pm). Check before you go as times vary.
Is it good for kids?
Yes, suitable for families and children.
Are there guided tours?
All visits are guided, roughly one hour, led by trained Destined members; bookable up to 24 hours in advance.
Is there parking?
On-site and street parking near Foyle Road; check current arrangements.
Getting there

Foyle Valley Railway Museum is at 30 Foyle Road, Derry / Londonderry, BT48 6SQ.. On-site and street parking near Foyle Road; check current arrangements. Tap below for directions.

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The story

About Foyle Valley Railway Museum

When the County Donegal Railways Joint Committee closed in 1960, much of its narrow-gauge rolling stock was bought by an American, Dr Ralph Cox, but high shipping costs kept the collection in Ireland. Local enthusiasts preserved it, and Derry City Council built a purpose-built museum on a former Great Northern Railway goods yard in 1986. A heritage railway later ran along about two miles of the old trackbed until operations stopped in 2000 on safety grounds.

Since 2016 the building has been on a 50-year lease to Destined, a Derry charity supporting people with learning disabilities. After refurbishment of its interpretive centre, the museum reopened in 2023, with Destined members trained as the tour guides who now welcome visitors and tell the story of the line.