After closing down due to the Covid pandemic the Doon Valley Railway museum is opening for Easter Monday. 

The open day for Doon Valley Railway see's it open it's doors for the first time this year in an attempt to add some Easter activities for all the family.

The Doon Valley Railway is based at the site of the Dunaskin Ironworks, latterly the centre of the National Coal Board's mining operations in the Doon Valley.

Part of the NCB's internal railway system has been preserved, and the railway offers their visitors a two mile return journey on the railway.

The shop, cafe and museum are based in the original 1840s buildings from when the ironworks was established, while the railway itself was in daily use for coal traffic from Chalmerston until the Autumn of 2010.

The Covid pandemic has been a massive blow to the railway museum with closures affecting income being a massive concern. 

Gordon Thomson, Secretary of the Ayrshire Railway Preservaton Group says: "Easter Monday will be our first fully Open Day since September 2019.

"We have suffered through loss of income during the Covid pandemic, but some grants we were able to get have been very helpful."

Gordon also gave some details regarding the trains that will be in operation going forward, he said: "On Easter Monday, our trips will be in a 1944 built Engineers Saloon coach, hauled by one of our vintage diesels, 'Powfoot No. 1'  which was built at Barclays Kilmarnock in 1941, for use at the munitions factory at Powfoot, Dumfriesshire.

"Our regular steam locomotive, 'NCB Ayrshire No. 10' is in the final stages of a thorough overhaul, and will be in action during the summer."

The first train departs at 11.00 a.m. and will run every 20 minutes until 4.00 p.m. Tickets can be bought on the day with no need to pre-book, from the shop and ticket office.

Tickets are priced at Adult £7.00, Children £4.00, Family £18.00 (2 adults, 3 children).