We normally head to my parents for a family day and egg hunt for Easter, but as that was planned for the following weekend, we had Easter day completely free!
I had considered our own little Easter egg hunt, but as I knew we would be doing that next weekend I decided to go for an Easter day out instead.
As regular readers may know, my boys love trains, particularly Mr 4 years old (I’m pretty sure littlest wouldn’t care so much if his big brother wasn’t so interested!). So we went off to Bo’ness and Kinneil railway, where we could ride steam trains and visit the Scottish Railway Museum.
Do a little dance!
We were one of the first to arrive and went to buy our tickets for the train straight away. on our previous visits we had tickets booked in advance as they were special days to see Thomas or Santa. The boys were quite pleased to have their very own tickets for the train (despite them being free and not actually needing tickets). We also found out that the tickets were day rovers, so we could go on and off the trains and go all the way along the line several times. This is great value for only £10 an adult and kids under 5 free!
On the train we chose an old first class compartment all to ourselves, which was lovely. The ticket master stamped out tickets with a special train shaped hole punch, which was a nice touch.
We stayed on the train to the end of the line and then jumped off to watch the train uncouple from the carriages and then change tracks to go round to the other end of the train.
After a a quick chat with the driver we were back on the train and off to Bo’ness again.
It was a heavy downpour as we left the train, so we raced round to the museum and shelter. There was a special egg hunt at the museum where you could win a family day out on the train. Whilst looking at all the exhibits we searched high and low for pictures of Easter eggs. I didn’t manage many great photos inside as our two didn’t want to keep still. Mr O was very interested in an area with a hammer and old train wheels, which you could hammer to see which was a good wheel (it rings) and which had a crack (makes a dull thunk sound). He also enjoyed sorting letters in the old Royal Mail train. Mr A was having great fun weaving in and out of people and happily racing up and down steps.
As we couldn’t hear the rain beating down anymore, we decided to go back outside to see a few more trains in the open sheds. We were rather intrigued by the fireless steam train. It apparently worked at an oil refinery where they couldn’t risk fire and sparks causing a disaster, so instead the train had to be filled directly with steam, rather than creating their own steam from coal and water like normal steam trains.
Our next stop was at the old Norwegian railway carriages which house a little model railway complete with bridge, tunnel, station and many tiny figures and animal details. The boys loved watching the different trains appear and race down the track.
We watched as the steam train was filled with water and had a another little ride on the train, all the way to Manual and back before heading home after a long day of trains.
Do your little ones love steam trains too?
J x
Katy - Hot Pink Wellingtons says
Wow, this looks fantastic! I can’t say I really see the appeal of trains myself, but my little boy thinks they’re the best thing ever, so this would be right up his street! My inner nerd does love a miniature railway though – I love watching the trains pootle round! #whatevertheweather
Sophie says
My grandpa was a great steam train lover so my earliest memories include watching him in his train room and arranging the tiny toy farm animals in the fields around the tiny tracks. Neither of my kids have expressed a train interest…yet! My parents live near to a steam railway and I’m sure a Day Out with Thomas may convince them haha!
Sounds like you had a great time despite the silly rain.
#WhateverTheWeather
Sophie x
Hannah G, The 'Ordinary' Mum says
This looks like such a fun family day out, we’ve yet to take our toddler on a train but I think she’d love it. She’s constantly making ‘choo choo’ noises and asking me to be a train with her around the house! Your boys definitely look like they loved the trains, hope you have a fun easter egg hunt this weekend 🙂 Thanks for hosting #whatevertheweather x
Sarah Stockley says
I’d really love to take my kids on a steam train, we have one not too far away from us in Sussex, it looks like the boys had such a great time. Sarah #WhateverTheWeather
Robina - babylists.co.uk says
This looks amazing! Great piccies – my little boy would love this – thanks for sharing #whatevertheweather
Merlinda Little (Glimmer of Hope) says
I am reading this post with my son on my side and he wont let me read it properly haha.
We are just going up and down looking at your photos!
Now he is asking if we can go too to see those model trains.
#whatevertheweather
Jenny Wales with a Little One says
With 2 boys also my family would enjoy this trip. Love the pic of your little one with his feet up on the train so cute and the old style first class compartments make me wish train travel was still like that.
#whatevertheweather
Caroline (Becoming a SAHM) says
What a fab day on the trains, our little Monkey loves trains too though our local steam train is far more expensive than yours, yours sounds great value! Xx
Chloe says
Ahh my post is train based this week too. It’s amazing how excited they get about trains isn’t it. This place sounds great though, especially indoors with all the interactive activities and the fireless steam train sounds really interesting. I love that it’s not that expensive, the little ones get a ticket and you can ride around all day. That would be right up Evie’s street. x
Emma says
It looks like you had a wonderful time. It would be awesome to have you link up at #TreasuredMoments Easter special http://mscalling.blogspot.co.uk
Su {Ethan & Evelyn} says
What a lovely day out! My kids are the same – every time I go on the bus or the train we always demanded for their own tickets. I just give them my receipt. lol! I am also liking the price! My kind of day out. 🙂 Thank you very much for hosting. x
Wave to Mummy says
My daughter is crazy about trains and I think she would absolutely love something like this 🙂 It looks like you had a wonderful time, and brilliant that they even organised an egg hunt for Easter 🙂 Thanks for hosting #whatevertheweather!