Operating Timetable - Gunpowder Railway | Waltham Abbey, UK

Come for a unique train ride

Gunpowder Railway is currently closed

The railway will next be running when the Royal Gunpowder Mills reopens.
We are currently in our Winter Maintenance Period find out more of what we have been doing in our Diary.

Running Days for 2026 Season

Every Saturday from 4th April through to 26th September (except the 18th April).
Alternative Sundays starting 5th April (except the 19th April).
Last public running day of the season Sunday 27th September.

5-Train Service – no access to the Railway Works nor Cordite Train Museum

4-Train Service – including 20 minutes stop and Guided Tour to visit the Railway Works and Cordite Train Museum

Book Tickets Online

The Gunpowder Railway is located within the Waltham Abbey Royal Gunpowder Mills site which on running days typically opens at 11am, last entry is at 3pm, and the site closes at 4pm (though this varies from time to time, so please check for details). You need an entry ticket for the Royal Gunpowder Mills to ride the railway.

All journeys start from and return to Long Walk Station. With a round trip to Powdermill Cut Station and back, excluding a visit into the Railway Works, typically takes 45 minutes.

You ride on our unique railway in converted RNAD wagons now working as carriages on a scenic trip around the edge of the Gunpowder Mills. These are fully accessible and the station platform is accessed via a ramp.

Note: It is a reasonably long walk (along the Long Walk) of around 20 minutes from the car park, exhibition, theatre, cafe and toilets complex down to the Long Walk railway station to board the train. There are no toilet facilities at the stations nor on the trains.

Annual Tickets are available, all of regular weekend open day tickets are annual passes so you can come back as many times as you like throughout the year on these dates: 4/5 Apr, 11/12 Apr, 25/26 Apr, 2/3 May, 9/10 May, 16/17 May, 23/24 May, 30/31 May (1940s Vintage Weekend), 6/7 June, 13/14 June, 20/21 June, 27/28 June, 4/5 July, 11/12 July, 18/19 July, 25/26 July, 1/2 Aug, 8/9 Aug (Pirate Adventure Weekend), 15/16 Aug, 22/23 Aug, 29/30 Aug, 5/6 Sept, 12/13 Sept, 19/20 Sept, 26/27 Sept. The railway is not running on all the listed Sundays, see the Operating Timetable above.

The timetable listed is subject to operational changes at any point (e.g. engine failure) and be aware that the last train does depart significantly before the wider site closes.