Next February, Peak Rail, based at Matlock in Derbyshire, is offering visitors the chance to forget the dark winter evenings and enjoy an unforgettable night celebrating railways in the dark.

On the evening of Saturday, 21st February 2026, train-goers can take a nostalgic step back in time to enjoy the magic of the past with live entertainment and authentic railway experiences.

The evening will transport visitors back to how railways used to be at night, when they came to life with bardic and paraffin lamps casting their warm glow. Those times will be recreated with signal boxes, crossings, and stations being lit up to recreate the atmosphere of what they looked like in the 1960s.

Darkness also gave a different feel to freight trains, and once again, there will be a chance to experience the thrill of seeing freight trains running in the dark under the night sky.

During this February evening, steam locomotives will recreate the sounds and sights of the 1960s under the night sky of Derbyshire. For a supplement, there will be the chance to experience life as a guard on a steam-hauled freight train in the 1960s, by travelling in a traditional brake van and feeling the warmth from its glowing stove.

To get visitors in the mood, live music will add to the evening’s enjoyment, and there will be a wide selection of local ales and craft beers on sale.

Fares and a timetable for the evening’s events will be available soon from the Peak Rail website.

For a chance to get out of the house on Boxing Day, Peal Rail will be running special services from Rowsley South to Matlock for the Matlock Raft event, and also Mince Pie Specials from Rowsley South at 11 am, 1 pm, and 3 pm.

Peak Rail holds regular events throughout the year, including a 1940s weekend for nostalgia buffs. Volunteers at the railway are currently overhauling a former War Department 0-6-0 saddle tank. No. WD 150 Royal Pioneer.