Summer News

Looking forward to summer weekends at Crofton

Summer Steamings

There’s no better place to be on a sunny day than beside the Kennet and Avon Canal, with the sights and sounds of steam. (Although we do admit to being slightly biased!) 

We are delighted to announce our dates for steaming days in July, August and September 2022.

Saturday 30 & Sunday 31 July

Sunday 28 & Bank Holiday Monday 29 August

Saturday 24 & Sunday 25 September

Advance booking for steaming days is recommended. We look forward to seeing you there!

Crofton is open on Saturdays and Sundays through to the 25 September 2022.  Entry to the site is free on non-steaming days, with an admission charge to view the boiler house and engines.

More information – opening times and prices

If making a special or long distance journey, please check with us beforehand that we will be open. Crofton is powered by volunteers, we may have to close at short notice for unforeseen circumstances.

A New Boiler Manager at Crofton

Many congratulations to volunteer Gill Payne who completed her training as Boiler Manager at the June steaming. Gill commenced boiler assistant training in 2018, and boiler manager training in 2021 (there was no boiler work during 2020 due to COVID).

Boiler Appeal Latest

The Boiler Appeal is now within a few hundred pounds of its target of £30,000.  This is a magnificent achievement, and we are grateful to all those who have given so generously.  We will be keeping the appeal open, and in particular promoting it with visitors to Crofton over the summer, to help build up a ‘reserve fund’ for normal winter maintenance.  So it is still not too late to make a donation and help keep Crofton steaming.

You may also be wondering about future coal supplies.  Although the price has doubled compared with last year, we have secured supplies for the rest of the season’s steamings.  But we have also purchased a small supply of an Ecoal product, which we will trial at a forthcoming training day.  This fuel is made from about 50% of crushed olive stones, emits up to 80% less smoke than house coal and up to 40% less carbon dioxide.  So far as we know, this will be the first time this fuel has been trialled in a Lancashire boiler.