The Furness Railway Line was opened in stages between 1846 and 1857 to link the mineral industries in the area. The area was very isolated before the railway opened, with the only road crossing to reach the area over Morecambe Bay. The Furness Railway was first proposed in November 1843, linking the slate quarries of Kirkby in Furness and iron ore in the Lindal in Furness area to a deep water berth at Roa Island. It was originally intended to be used solely as a mineral railway, however provisions were made for a branch to Barrow which helped the town to grow as we know it today. 

As the Furness Line reaches 175 years old, the Dock Museum will host a celebration of the Furness Line on Saturday 17th July as part of the Festival of Transport event. The celebrations will include the chance to see the original No.20 Steam Train and enjoy a guided tour of the Dock Museum to find out more about the Furness Line and how it impacted the growth of the town. (COVID restriction dependant). 

Family Friendly Celebration

On the day, the Dock Museum will host a ride-on train and a street entertainer to keep children entertained. The venue boasts a modern playground and a delightful cafe, providing you with the opportunity to enjoy lunch indoors or eat at the outdoor picnic benches whilst the kids play. 

The Dock Museum is located in a beautiful setting with walks along the Walney Estuary, with the Urban Extreme Skatepark only 15 minutes walk away.  

Festival of Transport Bus Tours

Getting to the Dock Museum from the Festival of Transport event in Barrow town centre couldn’t be easier. 

The event organisers are putting on classic bus tours which will set off from Barrow Town Hall (The Mall Bus Stop) and make stops at The Roundhouse (Biggar Bank), the Dock Museum and the Railway Station. The classic bus tours are FREE (donations accepted) and passengers will be able to jump off and on at their leisure, meaning you can enjoy the Festival of Transport event in the town centre, the 175 year celebrations at the Dock Museum and visit the seaside at Biggar Bank by using the FREE bus service.

Click here to find out more about the FREE bus tour and view the timetable:
festivaloftransport.co.uk/bus-tours