Rutland's rail museum, Rocks by Rail near Cottesmore, opens for the 2023 season

A rail museum steamed into its operating season with an event on Easter Sunday.

The open day at Rocks by Rail near Cottesmore featured family-friendly fun, including an Easter bunny hunt and train rides aboard the Rutlander.

Those keen to find out more about the role railways played in Rutland's quarrying over the years could see excavators and mineral trains demonstrating what quarrying ironstone in the area was like.

A new exhibition opened too, marking the 50th anniversary of the closure of Rutland's last ironstone quarry, at Exton Park.

While visitors were shown around by knowledgeable volunteers before enjoying drinks and snacks in the Sundew café, the rail enthusiasts who give up their time to run the museum celebrated with Ray Bennett, their oldest volunteer who turns 92 this month.

Ray invited a group from his other hobby, Old Tractors, to come along to the museum, and they brought a range of vintage and veteran farm vehicles for people to admire.

The Rocks by Rail website is at www.rocks-by-rail.org

Tickets are available as well as a timetable of events for the season.