Overview

We never set out to visit this museum, the sign caught my dad's eye when exploring the Carrickfergus area. I wasn't so excited by the idea of a train museum, but dad wanted to have a look. From the outside it looked as I expected an old platform with a station turned into cafe and a signal box - great! However that's not what it was at all. Robin, a volunteer guide came to say hi and asked if we'd like a tour. Why not, we thought, paid our money and off we went. We headed in the direction of the signal box, as I was in my power chair I was expecting to have to wait at the bottom while dad went in, but no, they had a platform lift and had designed the inside to have plenty room for me to move and see things. Robin was great explaining things and showing me how they worked. Dad was able to pull some of the levers and see signals change - I couldn't reach unfortunately. Thinking that was it, we followed Robin back to the station, but he kept walking so we carried on. We rounded a corner and seen just how huge the place was, there were engine sheds, maintenance sheds, turntables, a visitors centre and lots of old machines to look at. Each one had full disabled access, half way round there were even toilets. I'm no train enthusiast but it was so engaging and interactive. Some of the volunteers were fixing the engines, and would stop to explain what they were doing, the process to fix the item etc. Robin was so informative and put up with my endless questions. One of the best bits was near the end of the tour, they had some 1920's trains and carriages you could look in. Not only was there a raised platform you could go along to see in them, but they had a lift to get me up there and a ramp that took me into the bigger carriage (only happened to be the Guinness one!). In all the tour was about an hour and a half, but we could honestly have been there all day. After chatting to the manager and some more volunteers we headed back to the cafe for a cuppa. Lovely place, good tea. Didn't have time for food, but the menu sounded lovely.

Transport & Parking

We drove, however the signage wasn't great to show where to park. We parked up in the big carpark that I think is used for all the sports stuff near by. It wasn't until we walked (wheeled) the 50 yards round the corner that we seen they had dedicated disabled parking at the door.

Access

Everything was amazing. All level, the paths were smooth. Doors weren't automatic but you can't walk round without a tour guide anyways so not an issue. Every set of steps had a platform lift. There were some seats in places for a rest, but not many. The only part a wheelchair wouldn't get would be in the carriages as they were from the 1920's and so doorways and corridors were too narrow to accommodate.

Toilets

The only loo I used was in the cafe building but it was a perfectly good disabled loo. No changing places toilet though.

Staff

The staff and volunteers were all wonderful and so chatty. They made the trip 10/10! I did get coerced into helping with an advert for their next Steam & Stetson day which was great fun.

Photos