Birmingham Society of Model Engineers Ltd
WHERE
Solihull
What it’s like
A miniature railway club where kids ride full-length trains around raised and ground-level tracks, through tunnels and past working signal boxes.
This is a proper model engineering club rather than a theme park, and it shows in the detail: two gauges of track, a brick-built double arched tunnel, footbridges, paved platforms and an engine shed you'd expect to see on a full-size railway shrunk down. Kids ride the trains themselves round the raised and ground-level dual tracks, past signal boxes and steaming bays, which is the bit that sticks.
Because it's run by a members' society rather than a visitor attraction, this listing is really about one thing: hiring the place out for a birthday party. That's £270 for up to 30 children, either the 9:15am to 12:45pm or the 1:15pm to 4:45pm slot on a Saturday, and it runs from April through to October.
There's a catch worth knowing before you get your heart set on it. No parties are running in 2026, they've paused for maintenance and are aiming to bring them back in 2027. If you're planning around a specific birthday this year, that's a fact worth building your plans on rather than working around.
One rule that's more safeguarding than health and safety: under-18s can't be on site without an adult, so this isn't a drop-and-go party even for older kids. There's also a 5mph limit on site and a genuine need to watch children near the ground-level tracks and around the toilets and clubhouse, since these are real moving trains, not a ride at a fairground.
Facilities
Need to know
- Parties
- £270, Saturday morning 9:15am-12:45pm or afternoon 1:15pm-4:45pm, up to 30 children, available April-October (not 2026)
- There's a 5mph speed limit on site and real moving trains, so keep an eye on kids near the ground-level tracks
- Parties are Saturday-only and seasonal, April to October
- Under-18s need an adult with them at all times, it's a safeguarding rule not just a suggestion
- Toilets and parking are on site alongside the tracks and engine shed
Plan your visit
Can we just turn up for a ride on the trains?
The listing here is built around booking the whole place for a birthday party rather than casual visits, so a party booking is the way in.
Are parties running this year?
Not in 2026. They've paused for maintenance and are planning to bring them back in 2027.
How much does a party cost and what do we get?
£270 for up to 30 children, either the 9:15am to 12:45pm or 1:15pm to 4:45pm Saturday slot, available April to October in normal years.
Do parents need to stay for the party?
Yes, under-18s can't be on site without an adult present, so it's not a drop-off do.
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