Alice and Joseph at the On Track exhibition

'Final call' to see museum exhibition as railway theme delights visitors

A museum is building on an award nomination by delighting visitors with a railway-themed month fit for all ages.

Clitheroe Castle Museum is running railway-themed events throughout January to kickstart the new year.

This comes off the back of a Tourism & Leisure Community Rail award nomination after working in partnership with Community Rail Lancashire to promote travelling by train to the castle and museum.

County Councillor Peter Buckley, cabinet member for Community and Cultural Services, said: "We are incredibly proud of our teams' achievements in 2023, a superb year at Lancashire's museums. We are now looking forward to meeting that again in 2024, beginning in Clitheroe with a celebration of our railways."

A free drop-in event, 'All Aboard with Ribble Valley Live Steamers', will see Clitheroe's model engineering club visit the museum. See a fantastic selection of steam, diesel, and electric model trains plus live, static steaming outside. Visit on January 20, from 12.00pm to 3.30pm.

On January 30, join railway enthusiast and photographer Peter Fitton for an entertaining hour of images featuring the Ribble Valley, Lancashire and beyond. Peter's lifetime fascination with the railways started as a child in St. Annes and progressed to a passion for photography. Tickets can be booked online and cost £3.00 with tea, coffee and biscuits.

Meanwhile, the museum is issuing a final call to get on board the hugely successful 'On Track' exhibition before departure.

The exhibition, open in the Steward's Gallery from 12.00-4.00pm Friday to Tuesday, will leave on January 30. See toys, artefacts, photographs and film and explore the joys of the railways as you discover more about Lancashire's lost and lasting lines.

Curated in partnership with Community Rail, the exhibition forms part of a successful programme of activities shortlisted for a Community Rail Tourism & Leisure Award in 2024.

And it's 'all change' in January for the museum's children's competition hunt. How many runaway trains can little museum explorers spot hiding in the galleries? All kids go free, with the option to pay extra for fantastic craft sessions.

For more information on events, including times and admission, see the Castle's events page here.

Notes to editors

From November to February half term, the museum is open five days a week from 12.00pm to 4.00pm – closed Wednesday and Thursday – before reopening 7 days a week for the rest of the year.

Clitheroe Castle is managed by Lancashire County Council’s Museum service on behalf of Ribble Valley Borough Council.