Platform Two Café

18/08/2026

11/08/2026

Tickets for our Diesel Day tomorrow are available up until midnight tonight. Tickets will also be available on the door tomorrow.

✅️ Unlimited Diesel Train Rides from 10:30 till 15:00.
✅️ Braintree and Halstead Model Railway Club room open for viewing (Wednesday only).
✅️ Explore original station buildings, Goods Shed, Restoration Shed, and Exhibition Hall.
✅️ Browse inside various train carriages from different periods.
✅️ View the Model Railway display room, and museum display room.
✅️ Hot and cold food and drink available from Platform 2 Café.

Book your tickets now: https://earm.co.uk/events/diesel-days/

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06/08/2026

It’s been a while since sharing the menu so here it is again. No bookings available for event days, and tables are first come basis.

There’s plenty of seating on the patio area with some sun brolleys distributed along the platform. Plus a TSO coach for dining if you want to sit inside. In warmer months it can be quite warm on the carriage but there are windows and doors which are opened.

Cafe is open Wednesdays and weekends whilst the museum is open.

05/08/2026

If you couldn't make it to our Diesel Day today, we're running 2 Diesel Trains this Sunday for our Model Railway Exhibition.

Not only can you enjoy unlimited rides on our Diesel Trains, but we will also have our miniature railway running. Trains will run from 10:30 till 15:00.

Here's the event map showing all the layouts, traders and their locations around the museum site. You'll get a copy when you arrive at the museum.

Goods Shed Layouts:
Caroline Concrete Works - o 16.5
Rockridge - HO Gauge
Shelby Yard - HO Gauge
Himalayan Adventure - oo9
Rainbow Railway - OO Gauge
Pacific Crossing BIrkenhead - OO Gauge

Goods Shed Traders:
Great Eastern Models
Elaine's Trains
Locomattive Models

Exhibition Hall Layouts:
Small N Working - oo9
Essex Brick - OO Gauge
Bayou Scie - On30
Jaspers Green - O Gauge
Daconby Town - 3mm

Exhibition Hall Traders:
Dakota Dibben
Kitmaster Collectors Club
Joe Lock Model Railways
Robots Will Kill You 3D Prints
Silverdale Trains

Thompson Centre Layouts:
Juniors Shunting Puzzle - OO Gauge
Matt & Co Colliery - OO Gauge

Thompson Centre Traders:
Microlights
Model Behaviour Weathering - Demo

Platform 2 Café will be providing hot and cold food throughout the event, but we have plenty of picnic tables all around the museum so feel free to enjoy a picnic too.

We will also have Molly Moos ice cream van attending.

Book your tickets now for what will be a great day for train lovers of all sizes.

Tickets available here: https://earm.co.uk/events/model-railway-show/

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01/08/2026

Just a reminder that the Steam Day tomorrow has been changed to a Diesel Day due to continued hot weather and to avoid possible fire risks.

We will be running the Class 04 D2279, and you can enjoy unlimited rides between 10:30 and 15:00.

Tickets will be available on the door, but you can book your tickets online untill midnight tonight here: https://earm.merlintickets.co.uk/product/EVENT00179

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29/07/2026

It’s a productive hot kitchen today!

Fresh out the oven today!
🔅 pork sausage rolls
🔆 roasted vegetable quiche
🔅 sultana scones
🔆 chocolate ginger scones
🔅 cheddar scones
🔆 sundried tomato and feta scones

We have iced coffee, plenty of ice cold drinks and some ice creams available too.

Diesel trains running at the museum.
Cafe is open til 3pm today.