When the disused coal tip at Peterborough was to be cleared, Brian Pearce decided to follow the example of his former company, Perkins, and turn it into a wildlife haven and recreation area. As it was right next to Peterborough station and the Nene Valley Railway, he used a railway theme, calling it Railworld .
The 'park' now covers a small area at the NVR station, with static exhibits of railed transport (including a coach from the world's first commercial MagLev (Magnetic Levitation) train which ran in Birmingham between 1984 and 1995), and a small garden railway. There is a larger area on the other side of the river (crossed by a private footbridge) which has an audio-visual centre (films of old locos) and children's activities, a viewing platform looking over the rails to Peterborough station, and a model railway shed with three layout (the engines on the Thomas layout can be controlled by children (or adults)). There is also a wildlife garden with walks through the trees and past small streams and waterfalls - very peaceful, and wildlife friendly.
