THE MINISTRY OF STEAMPUNK
STEAM TRAINS AND FAIRYTALES
Midland Railway Trust, Butterley
23-24 May 2026
For the Ministry of Steampunk's fifth Steampunk Fairytale weekend we are delighted to be returning to the fabulous Midland Railway Trust at Butterley Station and Swanwick Junction where we had a fabulous time last year.
There will be a Steampunk Market bursting with stalls for your perusal, delectation and to assist you in parting with your money in return for the exquisite, the beautiful, the quirky, the weird and that accessory you have been trying to track down for several years. Our carefully selected vendors will be based on The Green at Swanwick Junction and in the Johnson's Building (which is where the microbrewery is also located).
The Midland Railway Trust is split across two sites which are joined by a railway. Visitor parking is all at Butterley Station where there are a number of exhibits.
Period Steam and Diesel trains will then take you down the line to Swanwick Junction where the bulk of the attractions are based, including multiple Engine Sheds, the Station Buffet, the microbrewery, St Saviour's Church, the Stationary Power Building, Road Transport Building, the West Shed containing the Princess Royal Class Steam Train and many other exhibits, the Narrow Gauge trains, the Garden Railway and so much more. You can see some of these locations on the map below.
Our previous Steampunk Fairytale events have welcomed many visitors in stunning outfits - from Fairies to Disney Princesses, from Snow White and Cinderella to Red Riding Hood and some big bad wolves, from Mad Hatters to furries, woodland creatures and characters from the gritty world of the Amazon Prime series Carnival Row.
All will again be welcome again at Butterley, from princesses to the fae underworld - although any Steampunk attire will be suitable if you want to come in costume as this is first and foremost a Steampunk event. Of course we also welcome anyone who wants to come along and see what Steampunk is all about, whether in costume or not.
If you are new to Steampunk, this is possibly the perfect Steampunk event to come to as there will be something for everyone. Families are very welcome; one family member can come dressed as a princess or a fairy and another family member can spend the day looking at diesel engines; what could be better?
When you arrive at Butterley Station (above) you may be subject to basic fairytale health screening procedures; we don't want another head lice problem thank you Rapunzel, and if you have one do bring your Steampunk passport along for certification and visa purposes. This year's train timetable will be shared nearer the time of the event ; last year's timetable is shown below, but please check back to see this year's timetable closer to the event so that you don't miss your train!
St Saviour's Church seen here is an intriguing metal building. It was originally built for the railwaymen and their families who lived around the Midland Railway Company's locomotive shed in Westhouses, Derbyshire. It was moved to its current location at Swanwick junction much more recently. Since our 2025 event the church has been fitted with a new spire and bell, which should be fun.
This is where we will be holding a programme of features over the weekend, including talks, tea duelling and an opportunity to sign up for the Church of Cthulhu.
Our storyteller Tan will be sharing some adult-themed stories in here, Lady Elsie will be talking about some attic finds (likely to be costume related, but old Tupperware can't be excluded) and Nimrod will be talking about his Case of Good Fortune - the compendium of good luck charms for the discerning Steampunk traveller with very strong arms.
Pretty much everywhere you look at Butterley you will find trains - either in the various sheds, or running along the tracks, or out on display, or in various states of disassembly. There are full size trains, the miniature railway, garden railways and model railways in various gauges. Some you can ride in, others you can ride on. Some you can climb on, others you can have your photo taken in front of.
There are also lots of static engines of one kind and another. These are located in one of many spacious buildings where you can wonder at the polished machines and maybe meet some of the curators while at the same time keep out of the mid-day sun (other kinds of weather may also be available).
But not everything at Swanwick Junction is gleaming. If rust is your thing and you are looking for a photographic backdrop with a more 'weathered' look then the Midland Railway Trust has that covered too.
A very special treat we have in store for Butterley in 2026 is the return of Belly Fusion Dance Collective who will be performing for us on the Saturday.
Belly Fusion are always very popular and this may be your only chance to see them this year - so don't miss it.
The photo here shows Belly Fusion performing at our Steampunk Fairytale event at Tutbury Castle in 2024.
Also returning for 2026 will be Teapot Racing with a course provided by our favourite teapot enthusiast Richard who together with Irene will put you through your paces whether a novice or a seasoned pro. You can bring your own motorised teapot or use one of the 'house' teapots if you prefer.
Helping us maintain the insanity of the event will be our friends from M/V Storm Petrel seen here in 'last year's outfits'. Expect a new livery this year as well as impromptu road blocks. Last year we caught them firing a machine gun from the back of a bus, so who knows what they will get up to this year. The other picture here is a steampunk AT-ST which was on display; who knows what steampunk exhibits may be added to the Swanwick Junction site this year?
Also in attendance will be officials and members of NIMPH, the National Institute of Monster and Paranormal Hunters (no picture for reasons of National Security, not because I can't find one at the moment). NIMPH will be present to keep you all safe from the more malign elements of the monster and paranormal fraternity and will also be providing educational talks on the subject over the weekend (you may need to sign the official secrets act to attend).
Tickets for this year's event are already available directly from the Midland Railway website which you will find here or by clicking the button below.
Further information including a detailed train timetable and feature timetable will be added closer to the event. Meanwhile do snag your tickets to what promises to be the most wonderful celebration of Steampunk with a fairytale twist in a magnificent location, brimming with exhibits, rides and a fabulous array of Steampunk traders.
The Train Route
During the weekend trains will run between Butterley Station (where the car park is) and Swanwick Junction (where most of the event will be taking place). There is no visitor access to Swanwick Junction by road.
Trains from Butterley
Trains run direct from Butterley to Swanwick, a journey of around four minutes. After leaving Swanwick, trains run on to Riddings (where you stay on the train) and then back to Swanwick.
Trains from Swanwick
Trains from Swanwick back to Butterley pass through Butterley station without stopping and then turn round at Hammersmith. Returning from Hammersmith, the trains then stop at Butterley before returning to Swanwick as above.
The key times from 2025 are below:
2025
