Battlefield line

[HOOVER29]

Decided to take advantage of the 33201 running day today
4 round trips totalling 40 miles for £15
Only did two on account of having a sleep in as I work nights.

Bacon butty at the cafe at Shacky went down well before enjoying 33201.
For a flat gradient line there was a surprising amount of full on bursts of thrash to be enjoyed
Wasn’t too hot either.

33201 & steamer Fred are both in action on Sunday at the transport gala at Market Bosworth with 7 services running, basically an hourly service.

Tomorrow at the GCR two steam, DMU 55019 & 37714 are running
Timetable says diesel running

Meanwhile at Peak Rail they’re running their class 108 DMU in place of the advertised steam

 

[railfan99]

How busy were the trains?

While I've travelled on many UK preserved railways, thus far not this one, though it's on the list.

 

[xotGD]

I've only been to the Battlefield Line once, back in 1996 for a diesel day.

I might have to pop down for the 33 later in the summer.

 

[HOOVER29]

How busy were the trains?

While I've travelled on many UK preserved railways, thus far not this one, though it's on the list.

Unfortunately not very busy which is a shame as I really like the Battlefield line.
A preserved line that, no disrespect, doesn’t try too hard
Staff are very pleasant & everything is relaxed
Got a great station buffet too which opens on a Saturday,Sunday & Wednesday

Can’t get much for £15 nowadays
Also very handy for me as only a 20 minute drive away

Off the M42/A42 at the A444
Follow signs for Nuneaton
After around 3 miles at the village of Twycross turn left at mini island & after passing the tractor place turn right towards Little Twycross
Follow road for around 3 miles where the signs appear for the railway

Don’t put the sat nav address in that’s on the website.
A couple did that & they ended up parking at Shackerstone village & walking in, a distance of about 1.5 miles

 

[The exile]

Unfortunately not very busy which is a shame as I really like the Battlefield line.
A preserved line that, no disrespect, doesn’t try too hard.

Exactly - felt “real” in a way that a lot of it’s bigger relations don’t.

 

[duffield]

If you want to get there and back by public transport and/or foot, it's quite feasible; buses run from Market Bosworth to Leicester, or there's a pleasant stroll from Hinckley, firstly along the canal and then along the former railway route to Shenton, the southernmost station on the line.

 

[Magdalia]

If you want to get there and back by public transport and/or foot, it's quite feasible; buses run from Market Bosworth to Leicester, or there's a pleasant stroll from Hinckley, firstly along the canal and then along the former railway route to Shenton, the southernmost station on the line.

It is also feasible to take a bike on the train and cycle to Shenton from Nuneaton. Hinckley or Atherstone.

 

[465fan]

There are some excellent events coming up.

The Rails and Ales is always popular, and there's usually an intensive diesel day on the Saturday, with buses from Hinckley.

There's a strong possibility of buses for the Sausage & Cider festival in October, which will potentially also have some high diesel mileage.

Lots of lovely things going on there, and a great little line. The cafes at Shackerstone and Shenton are equally charming, and it's very friendly.

 

[xotGD]

Thanks to the gen up thread I paid a visit to the Battlefield Line today with my red pen and had a couple of round trips with the 33.

First service was very quiet, but numbers picked up after that. A bit of a contrast in the coaching stock - the first class compos and the Griddle Car were in excellent condition, while the standard class compos in the semi-BG were rather threadbare.

The decaying remains of the Peak make a sorry sight, and there are several other locos that look a long way from serviceable, including 37906.

Some interesting shopping options, quaint tearoom and a nice little museum. And a bit of thrash from the Crompton.

You can't go wrong for £15.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 18 Aug 2025 ==

A couple of phots of the Type 3s from yesterday:





The 37 has been there since 2019.

 

[HOOVER29]

Went there last year when the DMU was running & 33201 was parked up in front of 33053, the 33/0 seems to have disappeared
Would’ve like a blast behind that.

Turn up, nice bacon butty & a brew, a bit of Slim Jim thrash & all for 15 notes.
Not a bad days entertainment eh.

 

[50002Superb]

@xotGD and @HOOVER29 i understand that there are also a lot of shunters stored there at the moment, were they visible / photographable?

If so i will definitely pay a visit as its closer to me than i realised.

 

[Loadhaul60059]

Went there last year when the DMU was running & 33201 was parked up in front of 33053, the 33/0 seems to have disappeared
Would’ve like a blast behind that.

Turn up, nice bacon butty & a brew, a bit of Slim Jim thrash & all for 15 notes.
Not a bad days entertainment eh.

33053 is down at Swanage at the moment.

 

[DannyMich2018]

We visited Market Bosworth Sunday 10th Aug for their Model event in the goods shed and in the big tent. Very good. Lots of good buys. Bought 2 items, my nephew did too. The 33 was running plus Fred. Wasn't really busy sadly, hope the Saturday was better. Didn't see much publicity beforehand which could have helped more. A miniature railway is under construction at Market Bosworth Station too. Sadly didn't get time to ride on the line.

 

[Forty29]

Unless they advertise people won't know, just some signs locally would help. Must be a website or Facebook page they could do also.
I intend to visit once the Class 40 is ready if that's the line they tend to run it on.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 19 Aug 2025 ==

Intend

 

[xotGD]

@xotGD and @HOOVER29 i understand that there are also a lot of shunters stored there at the moment, were they visible / photographable?

If so i will definitely pay a visit as its closer to me than i realised.

08701 is photable at Shenstone. There was another 08(?) lurking behind - I could just see part of the front. See photo below.

Class 11 12083 is in a bit of a state in a siding near Market Bosworth station, sandwiched between other stock and not great for photos.

 

[50002Superb]

08701 is photable at Shenstone. There was another 08(?) lurking behind - I could just see part of the front. See photo below.

Class 11 12083 is in a bit of a state in a siding near Market Bosworth station, sandwiched between other stock and not great for photos.

View attachment 186665

According to my records 08765 / 798 / 804 / 682 / 701/ 905 and 502 are all there.

There’s supposed to be a long line of them?

 

[xotGD]

According to my records 08765 / 798 / 804 / 682 / 701/ 905 and 502 are all there.

There’s supposed to be a long line of them?

If there are any more there, they must be inside.

 

[HOOVER29]

Or down behind the "tent"

There’s a multi coloured one there too but I’ve not managed a photo of it yet despite 3 visits

 

[Sheldonian]

Would make a wonderful shunter gala if they were operational. A real crowd puller.
Unfortunately i would think all privately owned and not available.

 

[xotGD]

Another view from Sunday, showing a bit more of the Gronk that was behind 701 in the previous shot (with an electric loco in front of it), together with a green device on the right that I had not previously noticed.

 

[Mogz]

I absolutely love this line, as do my family.

It’s got a real “labour of love” feel to it.

Very “Titfield Thunderbolt”.

The tea room with its open fire, cosy atmosphere and fantastic home-made cakes are an added bonus!

Highly recommended

 

[RMW14141414]

Unfortunately not very busy which is a shame as I really like the Battlefield line.
A preserved line that, no disrespect, doesn’t try too hard
Staff are very pleasant & everything is relaxed
Got a great station buffet too which opens on a Saturday,Sunday & Wednesday

Can’t get much for £15 nowadays
Also very handy for me as only a 20 minute drive away

Off the M42/A42 at the A444
Follow signs for Nuneaton
After around 3 miles at the village of Twycross turn left at mini island & after passing the tractor place turn right towards Little Twycross
Follow road for around 3 miles where the signs appear for the railway

Don’t put the sat nav address in that’s on the website.
A couple did that & they ended up parking at Shackerstone village & walking in, a distance of about 1.5 miles

Heya! I work on the battlefield line.

I can agree on the people that plan it not doing much, giving other things better standards than others, its just the things we have are too little to handle some problems. problems, like Mkt Bosworth being an apocalypse!, We are working on making things better around as am I.

And yes it is very quiet. Last train on the transport gala had one person on board, including staff two from market Bosworth to Shack.
We are in the middle of nowhere as well whom makes it worse.

Thanks :3

 

[50002Superb]

Heya! I work on the battlefield line.

I can agree on the people that plan it not doing much, giving other things better standards than others, its just the things we have are too little to handle some problems. problems, like Mkt Bosworth being an apocalypse!, We are working on making things better around as am I.

And yes it is very quiet. Last train on the transport gala had one person on board, including staff two from market Bosworth to Shack.
We are in the middle of nowhere as well whom makes it worse.

Thanks :3

I saw that ICRS recently did a day there, which included a tour of the long line of stored engines, is this a regular occurrence? I would have gone but it clashed with something else.

 

[4SubAsociation]

Another view from Sunday, showing a bit more of the Gronk that was behind 701 in the previous shot (with an electric loco in front of it), together with a green device on the right that I had not previously noticed.

View attachment 186702

The electric loco is Spondon 1. It is in opperational conditon. There is a thread about the SERA below. Also on the Line is Ruston 165DE and the tyneside unit. Links below.

Suburban Electric Railway Association updates. Tyneside EPB, 2-EPB 6307, Class 457, Spondon and Ruston 165DE Mazda

Tyneside EPB is in store pending start of restoration work at Shackerstone (Battlefield Railway) benefited from a jet wash back in November 2022. The unit lives in a siding in a tree lined cutting and this means it attracts green algae as it is not moved for long periods of time. More recently...

www.railforums.co.uk

The Suburban Electric Railway Association - About Us

 

[xotGD]

Here's a phot of Spondon No. 1 from my visit:

 

[The_Van]

I saw that ICRS recently did a day there, which included a tour of the long line of stored engines, is this a regular occurrence? I would have gone but it clashed with something else.

The ICS have tried a number of new visits this year, this was one. I've not seen any 26 announcements yet

 

[50002Superb]

The ICS have tried a number of new visits this year, this was one. I've not seen any 26 announcements yet

Sorry I should have said that I am an ICRS member so aware of what they have been doing.

I just wondered if the Railway itself had considered doing organised visits, similar to what the SVR do with their diesel depot as there is clearly some interest in what is being stored there and it adds an extra angle to what the railway offers visitors.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 7 Oct 2025 ==

Here's a phot of Spondon No. 1 from my visit:

View attachment 189878

That’s a great pic.

 

[Russel]

Nice little railway, a bit out of the way and forgotten about though sadly.

I live within a 30 minute drive and forget it's there!

 

[Scrotnig]

I'm not too far from this line, certainly can be done as a day trip.

Been on it a few times, I always enjoy the experience. It's definitely more "raw" than some but as far as I'm concerned it's better for that.

A shame if it's having quiet periods as it is absolutely well worth a visit.

 

[RMW14141414]

I saw that ICRS recently did a day there, which included a tour of the long line of stored engines, is this a regular occurrence? I would have gone but it clashed with something else.

I don't really know, haven't heard of it! When I'm next working i'll give an ask for you.