Big Pit Station (P&B Railway)
BEST FOR
Ages 0+
ENTRY
from £89.50
WHERE
Pontypool
What it’s like
A heritage steam and diesel train ride out to Blaenavon High Level and back, with a stop to watch the locomotive run round the carriages.
You board at the station, settle into a 1950s or 60s carriage, and rattle off on a heritage line towards Blaenavon High Level. The whole return trip takes about 55 minutes, including a 15 minute stop where the locomotive has to run round to the other end of the carriages, which is a proper bit of spectacle for anyone who likes trains, not just the small ones. On standard running days one ticket lets you hop off and back on any train that day, so you're not locked into a single journey.
Under 3s travel free, and everyone from 3 to 15 needs a child ticket. If you fancy something bigger than a seat by the window, there's a locomotive cab ride on offer, though that one's for adults only and at £89.50 it's a proper treat rather than a casual add-on.
The carriages are old enough that storage is basically nonexistent. Prams and pushchairs get left at the station building rather than brought aboard, and the aisles are narrow, so anyone travelling with a buggy should expect to fold it up and carry what they need. There are no toilets on the train itself, just at Furnace Sidings and Blaenavon High Level, so time that pre-journey trip accordingly. A modified wheelchair access carriage came into service in September 2025, with ramps and allocated spaces, which is a decent step up from what heritage railways usually manage.
Bring a card. The ticket office doesn't take cash, and if you want a discount you'll need to have booked online in advance, since walk-up prices don't get the same deal. Beyond the standard timetable there are Halloween ghost trains and Christmas Santa specials, and the railway also runs on selected Wednesdays through the summer holidays.
Facilities
Need to know
- Best for
- Under 3s ride free; good for any age but buggies are a squeeze on board
- Booking
- Book online in advance for discount codes
- How long to allow
- Approximately 55 minutes for return journey
- Pushchairs
- Space very limited, no storage facilities, narrow aisles
- Wheelchairs
- Modified wheelchair access coach in service with widened carriage doors, ramps, and allocated spaces with window views
- Dogs
- Policy not stated on site
- Worth knowing
- On certain dates Kids go Free offer allows one free child place for every adult ticket purchased
- A carer travels free with a fare-paying disabled passenger, but you need to get the complimentary ticket at the booking office with ID.
- Halloween ghost trains and Christmas Santa specials run alongside the usual timetable.
- On certain dates a kids-go-free offer gives one free child place per adult ticket.
- The site is signposted off the B4248 near Garn Yr Erw, look for the steam locomotive symbol rather than trusting your sat nav address alone.
Plan your visit
How long does the ride take?
About 55 minutes there and back, including a 15 minute stop at Blaenavon High Level while the locomotive runs round the carriages.
How much does it cost?
Under 3s go free, children from 3 to 15 need a child ticket, and adults pay full fare. A locomotive cab ride is £89.50, but that one's 18+ only.
Do we need to book ahead?
You can walk up on the day, but discounts only apply if you've booked online in advance.
Can we bring a pushchair on board?
There's nowhere to store one on the train, the aisles are narrow and the carriages date from the 1950s and 60s, so most people leave prams at the station building.
Are there toilets on the train?
None on board, but you'll find facilities at Furnace Sidings and Blaenavon High Level stations.
Is it wheelchair accessible?
A modified carriage with ramps, widened doors and allocated wheelchair spaces went into service in September 2025.
Can we pay by cash?
The ticket office is card and contactless only, no cash and no cheques accepted.
Can we get off and explore, then catch a later train?
On standard running days, yes, one ticket covers unlimited rides that day so you can hop off at a stop and catch a later train back.
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