Ellie’s 20th Birthday Celebrations Weekend

Lappa Valley is preparing a very special celebration in 2026: the 20th birthday of our much-loved steam locomotive, Ellie.

This special weekend will honour two decades since Ellie first steamed to life, with plenty of opportunities for visitors to see her hard at work on our Main Railway. Families, railway enthusiasts and young train fans alike will be able to enjoy the sights, sounds and smells of steam as Ellie takes centre stage for her birthday.

Ellie was built in 2006 by the Exmoor Steam Railway for a private 12¼-inch gauge garden railway, where she was only ever steamed a handful of times. A few years later she returned to her builders at Exmoor and, during the winter of 2016–17, was rebuilt and re-gauged to 15 inches specifically for service at Lappa Valley.

She arrived here in August 2017 as our No. 4 locomotive and has since become a firm favourite, known for her power, reliability and smart appearance as she hauls trains through the Cornish countryside.

To mark Ellie’s 20th birthday, the celebration weekend will feature special services on our Main Railway, giving guests even more chances to ride behind her and capture those all-important photos and memories.

There will also be a very special birthday moment at 1210pm on the Saturday, with a big sing-song and the presentation of Ellie’s very own coal cake at East Wheal Rose.

As an extra birthday treat, anyone also called Ellie will be able to enjoy free entry to Lappa Valley throughout the celebration weekend. This offer cannot be pre-booked online, and photographic proof of name will be requested on arrival. We are also happy to accept “Eleanor”.

Tickets are now available to book here. Lappa Valley Members enjoy free admission.

Terms and conditions for free entry for people called “Ellie”

This is only applicable for standard entry on either Saturday 4th and Sunday 5th July 2026. Cannot be pre-booked, and evidence will be required (Photographic evidence for adults).

We reserve the right to remove this promotion at any time. Our standard terms and conditions of entry apply.