Fun With Trains Bolton

19/04/2026

🚂 WOW! Thank You, Egerton! 🏠❤️

​What an incredible day back at our home station! A massive thank you to every single family who joined us at Walmsley Parish Church Hall today. 🏰✨

​Seeing the hall buzzing with so many mini-engineers was fantastic. From the record-breaking long trains on the 500ft layout to the non-stop action on the rollercoaster—and a huge shoutout to everyone who tested out our brand-new Reading Corner! 📖 It was so lovely to see a few "quiet carriage" moments amidst the excitement.

​Want to do it all again? Or did you miss out today? 🏁

​The "Little Engine That Could" is staying on the tracks! We are heading to North Manchester next Sunday, 26th April, for our big Middleton Takeover at Alkrington Community Centre.

​Why join the crew in Middleton?

🎢 Same 500ft layout & famous rollercoaster.

📖 Our new Reading Corner will be there!

☕ More hot coffee and stress-free Sunday vibes.

🧹 And yes... we still handle 100% of the cleanup! 🙌

​Spaces for Middleton are available now! Check the first comment below to secure your spot for next Sunday. 👇

​📢 One more favor: If you had a great time today, please share this post or tag a friend in Middleton/Manchester who needs to know we are coming! Your word-of-mouth support is what keeps us steaming ahead. ❤️🚂

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19/04/2026

🚂 The Signals are GREEN! Egerton, We Are Ready For You! 🏁🏠

​The coffee is steaming, the rollercoaster is in place, and 500 feet of track is winding its way around Walmsley Parish Church Hall! We have officially finished the setup and we are ready for our first mini-engineers to join the crew.

​If you’re looking for a last-minute plan to get the kids out of the house for some 100% screen-free, traditional play, we’ve got you covered! 🏰✨

​What’s waiting inside:

🚂 A Railway Empire: 500ft of track and 100+ trains.

🎢 High-Speed Fun: Train rollercoaster & ride-ons (ages 6 and under).

📖 DEBUTING TODAY: Our brand-new Reading Corner is officially open for cozy stories!

☕ Station Master Fuel: Freshly brewed coffee and tea for the grown-ups.

🧹 The Parent Win: You enjoy the morning, and we handle every single piece of the 500ft cleanup! 🙌

​Last-Minute Spaces:

We still have a handful of spots available for our 11:15 and 13:00 (SEND) sessions!

​📍 Location: Walmsley Parish Church Hall, Blackburn Rd, Egerton, BL7 9SA

​Check the first comment below to grab a final spot and come join the fun! 👇

​📢 One final push! Please share this post or tag a local friend. Let’s make our homecoming event a massive one! ❤️🚂

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19/04/2026

🚂 It’s "Stupid O’Clock" & the Tracks are Calling! ☕️🚩

​The alarm went off, the coffee is in the travel mug, and we are officially on-site at Walmsley Parish Church Hall! 🏠✨

​While Egerton is still hitting the snooze button, we are busy transforming this hall into a 500ft railway empire. Every bridge, every tunnel, and every one of our 100+ trains is being prepped for our mini-engineers to arrive!

​Why not roll out of bed and join us this morning?

✅ The Ultimate Wake-Up: 500ft of track and our famous train rollercoaster.

✅ Screen-Free Sunday: 90 minutes of pure, traditional play.

✅ New Reading Corner: Debuting today for those cozy morning stories! 📖

✅ Grown-Up Fuel: The kettle is already on—fresh coffee and tea waiting for you. ☕️

✅ The Best Part: We do the massive 500ft tidy-up at the end while you head home for Sunday lunch! 🧹🙌

​We have a few final spots left for this morning’s sessions!

🕒 09:30 | 11:15 | 13:00 (SEND)

​Check the first comment below to grab a last-minute spot before the first whistle blows! 👇

​📢 Early birds, help us out! Please share this post to your local groups or tag a friend who needs a last-minute plan to burn off some Sunday morning energy! ❤️🚂

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18/04/2026

🚂 One More Sleep! Egerton, Are You Ready? 🏁🏠

​The "engines" are fueled, the 500ft of track is packed, and the rollercoaster is polished! We are officially less than 24 hours away from our homecoming at Walmsley Parish Church Hall tomorrow, Sunday, 19th April.

​If you’re looking for a stress-free way to spend your Sunday morning, we’ve got you covered. No screens, no batteries, and absolutely no tidying up after the fun is done! 🧹🙌

​A quick "Station Master" checklist for tomorrow:

📍 Where: Walmsley Parish Church Hall, Egerton, BL7 9SA.

⏰ When: Please try to arrive about 5 minutes before your session start time so we can get everyone checked in and playing!

☕ For the Adults: We’ll have hot tea, coffee, and refreshments available for purchase while the kids run the rails.

📖 New for Tomorrow: Don't forget to check out our brand-new Reading Corner for a cozy story-time break!

​Final Remaining Spaces:

🕒 09:30 | 11:15 | 13:00 (SEND Session)

Some sessions are now very close to capacity!

​Check the first comment below to grab one of the final spots before you head to bed! 👇

​📢 One last favor: Please share this post or tag a friend who might have missed the announcement. Let’s make tomorrow a massive day for the mini-engineers! ❤️🚂

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17/04/2026

🚂 Friday Feeling! Who’s Ready for a Stress-Free Sunday? 🏁🏠

​The weekend is officially here, and the Fun with Trains crew is getting the rolling stock ready! We are just 48 hours away from transforming Walmsley Parish Church Hall into a 500ft railway empire this Sunday, 19th April.

​If you’re currently looking at a living room full of toys and thinking about the "big tidy up" later, why not let us handle the mess this Sunday? 🧹🙌

​Your Sunday Morning Checklist:

✅ 90 Minutes of Peace: While they explore 500ft of track and 100+ trains.

✅ High-Speed Fun: The train rollercoaster and ride-ons are ready (strictly for ages 6 and under).

✅ New Reading Corner: Our brand-new story nook is officially open for cozy pit stops! 📖

✅ Grown-Up Fuel: A hot coffee or tea in a friendly, relaxed environment. ☕

✅ The Best Part: You head home for Sunday lunch and we handle every single piece of track!

​Remaining Spaces for Sunday, 19th April:

🕒 09:30 – 11:00 | 🕒 11:15 – 12:45 | 🕒 13:00 – 14:30 (SEND Session)

​📍 Location: Walmsley Parish Church Hall, Egerton, BL7 9SA

​We are down to our final few spots in some sessions! Check the first comment below to grab yours before they're gone. 👇

​📢 Final Call for Shares! As it's our home-turf event, we’d love to see the hall full! Please share this post with your local groups or tag a friend who needs to swap the iPad for the tracks this weekend. Your support is amazing! ❤️🚂

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17/04/2026

🍻 The Big Reveal: Teaming Up with TrackPlay in London! 💙

​The secret is officially out! We haven't travelled down to the capital to look at full-sized steam engines... we have been called down to assist the big bosses!

​The Venue:

We are incredibly excited to announce that we are at the amazing Big Penny Social in London, working alongside our parent company, TrackPlay! The sheer size of the floor space means the TrackPlay team is building one of the biggest layouts we have ever seen.

​The Engineering:

🔧 Neil has been drafted in by the top brass to help with the heavy lifting. He has swapped his metal spanners for tiny plastic junctions, applying his serious engineering brain to building some incredibly complex viaducts and suspension bridges for the TrackPlay fleet!

​The Logistics:

📋 Emily is managing our section of the event like a true stationmaster, keen to show the big bosses how smoothly the Northwest branch operates. She is also completely fuelled by chocolate buttons, making the most of her post-Easter freedom!

​The Homeguard:

🦕 A massive shoutout to Willow and Smokey, who are holding the fort back in the Northwest and keeping Whistle company while we run the blue tracks down south!

​If you are in London today, come down to the Big Penny Social and see the TrackPlay magic in action! 🚂🇬🇧

16/04/2026

🇬🇧 London Calling! 🚐

​Emily and Neil have swapped the quiet Northwest engine shed for the bustling streets of the capital! We have just parked up the work van after a long road trip down south. The journey was successfully fuelled by Neil’s quiet patience with the M1 and M6 traffic and Emily finally making up for lost time with a massive bag of chocolate buttons!

​We have left Willow and Smokey in charge of looking after Whistle back home, because we are here in London on a very special, top-secret railway mission...

​Can anyone guess what we are up to? Drop your best theories in the comments! 👇

16/04/2026

🌟 Mainline Royalty and Mutual Respect! 🚂

​We have had the most incredible visitor at the railway this week! The yard has been buzzing with excitement as we welcomed the magnificent A1 express engine, Tornado!

​🤝 Meeting of Minds:

It was a brilliant sight seeing our bright orange LMS Mogul parked up next to the gleaming green A1. Whistle is our sturdy mixed-traffic workhorse, whilst Tornado is a pure express thoroughbred. They spent the afternoon swapping stories of heavy freight gradients and high-speed mainline runs. Two very different railway jobs, but a massive amount of mutual respect!

​🦕 Shed Operations:

Willow has been working double-time to make sure the shed is looking absolute perfection for our guest, polishing every brass fitting in sight. Neil has been quietly admiring the heavy engineering, and Emily has been managing the logistics.

​🐾 The Royal Seal:

Even the Shed Ghost was impressed. Smokey abandoned her patchwork bed to inspect the visitor. After a thorough sniff of the green paintwork, she actually gave Tornado a polite head-bump! That is the highest honour Smokey can bestow; the A1 has officially been approved!

​Tornado has now headed back out onto the mainline, and Whistle is back to her regular duties, looking incredibly proud and confident in her work. A truly special visit! 💚🧡

15/04/2026

🚂 Mid-Week Check-In: Are You Ready for Egerton? 🏁🏠

​Happy Wednesday! The week is flying by, and the Fun with Trains crew is busy prepping the tracks for our return to Walmsley Parish Church Hall this Sunday, 19th April.

​If your weekend plans are looking a bit "screen-heavy," why not swap the iPad for the Iron Road? We’re bringing 500 feet of track and over 100 trains to create a total "unplugged" paradise for your little engineers!

​Why make Egerton your Sunday destination?

🎢 Ride the Rails: Our train-themed rollercoaster and ride-on train are polished and ready (strictly for ages 6 and under).

📖 The New Reading Corner: Our brand-new collection of train stories is ready for those who need a cozy pit stop.

☕ Station Master Fuel: We’ve got the coffee and tea waiting for you—enjoy a brew while the kids do the "heavy lifting" on the tracks.

🧹 The Sunday Bonus: They have the fun, you get the coffee, and we handle the 500ft cleanup. You just head home for Sunday lunch!

​Session Times (Sunday, 19th April):

🕒 09:30 – 11:00

🕒 11:15 – 12:45

🕒 13:00 – 14:30 (SEND Session - Relaxed & Quieter)

​📍 Location: Walmsley Parish Church Hall, Blackburn Rd, Egerton, BL7 9SA

​Spaces are getting limited for certain slots! Check the first comment below to grab your spot. 👇

​📢 A huge thank you: Your shares and tags keep our little engine running! Please share this post to your local groups or tag a friend who needs a stress-free Sunday morning. See you at the station! ❤️🚂

​

13/04/2026

🚂 Middleton: The Two-Week Countdown is ON! 🚩

​The signals are set and the tracks are being polished! We are officially just under two weeks away from bringing our massive railway world to Alkrington Community Centre on Sunday, 26th April.

​If you’re looking for a way to wrap up April with a "Parenting Win," this is it. We’re providing 90 minutes of 100% screen-free, traditional play that experts say is vital for development—and the best part? We handle the 500ft cleanup at the end! 🧹🙌

​What’s happening at the Middleton Station:

🎢 Double the Rides: Our famous train rollercoaster AND ride-on train (strictly for mini-engineers aged 6 and under).

📖 NEW Reading Corner: A cozy spot for a quiet story-time pit stop.

🚂 Railway Empire: 500 feet of track and over 100 trains to explore.

☕ Station Master Fuel: We’ll have tea, coffee, and refreshments available for purchase so you can relax while they run the rails.

​Spaces are available across our three Sunday sessions:

​🕒 09:30 – 11:00: General Session

​🕒 11:15 – 12:45: General Session

​🕒 13:00 – 14:30: SEND Session (Quiet & Relaxed)

​📍 Location: Alkrington Community Centre, Hardfield Rd, Middleton, M24 1TQ

​Don’t miss out! Check the first comment below to secure your spot for the Middleton takeover! 👇

​📢 A huge favor: As we grow our events in Middleton, we rely on your local knowledge! Please help us by sharing this post far and wide or tagging a friend who needs a stress-free Sunday. Your support keeps our little engine moving! ❤️🚂

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12/04/2026

🚂 Egerton: Just One Week to Go! 🏠🚩

​The countdown is officially on! Next Sunday, 19th April, we are pulling back into our home station—Walmsley Parish Church Hall—and we can’t wait to see the home crowd!

​Following the recent news about the importance of "traditional play" for our children’s development, we are proud to offer a 100% screen-free zone. It’s 90 minutes of pure, "unplugged" imagination where the only thing being recharged is your child's creativity! 🧠✨

​What’s waiting on the platform?

🎢 Double the Rides: The train rollercoaster AND our ride-on train are ready for action (strictly for ages 6 and under).

📖 NEW Reading Corner: A cozy "Quiet Carriage" for a story-time pit stop.

🚂 Railway Empire: 500 feet of track and over 100 Thomas & Friends characters.

☕ Station Master Fuel: We’ll have the kettle on! Tea, coffee, and refreshments available while they play.

🧹 The Ultimate Win: You enjoy the coffee, they have the fun, and we handle the massive cleanup at the end!

​Spaces are still available across our Sunday sessions:

​🕒 09:30 – 11:00

​🕒 11:15 – 12:45

​🕒 13:00 – 14:30 (SEND Session)

​📍 Location: Walmsley Parish Church Hall, Egerton, BL7 9SA

​Don’t miss the final whistle—check the first comment below to secure your spot! 👇

​📢 Help us out! As a small family business, we rely on your support. Please share this post far and wide or tag a friend who needs a stress-free Sunday morning. Let’s make our home event a busy one! ❤️🚂

​

12/04/2026

Something for all our Bolton families. Here at fun with trains you know we don't just love trains but we love dinosaurs 🦖 and stories 📚 too.

Our very own Willow insisted we get tickets for this event so they could meet their dinosaur friend and tell them all about their adventures in the shed.

So we thought we'd share this event with you all as something to do as a family on a Friday evening before bedtime.

Your little ones will love the adventure and the intrigue and who knows what mysteries they might uncover.

.

**Update:Tickets are sold out**

Update: please note that everyone attending (both adults and children) will need to purchase a ticket. **

🗝️📚🦖 Are You Brave Enough to Step Into a Story and Uncover the Dino Mystery? 🗝️📚🦖

When the library closes and the lights go down, the stories don’t always stay on the shelves… 👀 We’ve heard mysterious noises echoing between the bookcases, and there are whispers that a dinosaur may have escaped from the pages of a book and is hiding in the basement!

To uncover the truth, you’ll need to join us after hours, follow a trail of story inspired clues and unlock the secret basement password. Will you crack the clues, turn the next page, and discover what’s really lurking beneath the shelves?
This escape room style adventure is perfect for families and designed for children aged 5+, bringing books, stories, and imagination to life in an exciting new way.

📍 Date: Friday 24th April
📍 Times: 6.15pm and 7.15pm
There will be no access until around 10–15 minutes before your time slot, so please don’t arrive too early as you may need to wait outside.
📍Tickets available on Eventbrite by following this link - https://shorturl.fm/07etj
📍 Refunds: Tickets are non refundable, so please double check the number of tickets and your chosen time slot before booking.