List of British heritage and private railways
Interactive map of standard gauge heritage railways in Great Britain.
Interactive map of miniature heritage railways in Great Britain.
This is a list of heritage, private and preserved railways throughout the United Kingdom, the Crown dependencies, and British Overseas Territories whether operational or closed, that are operated for charitable purposes or shareholder profit. Some also provide economic local transport. For rail museums, see List of British railway museums.
Many of the standard-gauge railways listed, including former branch lines and ex-mainline routes, were closed by British Railways under the Beeching Axe of the 1960s. Most have been restored and operate as heritage lines. A smaller number of lines were formerly industrial or colliery railways.
Many of these preserved railways are mentioned in national and international tour guides, and visits may form part of a school curriculum or feature in other studies, including civil engineering, mechanics, social, economic and political history, visual arts and drama.[citation needed]
This list also includes tramways. Nearly all tram services in Britain ended in the 1950s and early 1960s, leaving just Blackpool Corporation Tramways, although some big cities have since revived them in the late 20th century onwards.
This list includes those railways which has public open days and excludes those on private sites which are not advertised to the public.
England
[edit]East of England
[edit]
Standard gauge
[edit]- Colne Valley Railway, Castle Hedingham, Essex
- Epping Ongar Railway, Ongar, Essex
- Mid-Norfolk Railway, Dereham, Norfolk
- Mid Suffolk Light Railway, Brockford, Suffolk
- Nene Valley Railway, Wansford, Cambridgeshire
- North Norfolk Railway, Sheringham, Norfolk
Railway centres and museums
[edit]- Bressingham Steam and Gardens, Diss, Norfolk
- East Anglian Railway Museum, Chappel & Wakes Colne Station, Essex
- Mangapps Railway Museum, Burnham-on-Crouch, Essex
- Railworld Wildlife Haven, Peterborough, Cambridgeshire
- Whitwell & Reepham Railway, Reepham, Norfolk
Narrow gauge
[edit]- Bressingham Steam and Gardens, Diss, Norfolk
- Great Whipsnade Railway, Whipsnade Zoo, Bedfordshire
- Leighton Buzzard Light Railway, Bedfordshire
- Southend Pier Railway, Southend-on-Sea, Essex
- Southwold Steamworks, Southwold, Suffolk
- Waltham Abbey Royal Gunpowder Mills, Essex
- Yaxham Light Railway, Norfolk – private site
Miniature gauge
[edit]
- Audley End Railway, Essex
- Bure Valley Railway, Aylsham, Norfolk
- Bushey Miniature Railway, Bushey, Hertfordshire
- East Herts Miniature Railway, Ware, Hertfordshire
- Eaton Park Miniature Railway, Norwich, Norfolk
- Fancott Miniature Railway, Bedfordshire
- Rex Express, Paradise Wildlife Park, Hertfordshire
- Great Woburn Railway, Woburn, Bedfordshire
- Wells & Walsingham Light Railway, Wells-next-the-Sea, Norfolk
Tramways
[edit]- East Anglia Transport Museum, Lowestoft, Suffolk
East Midlands
[edit]Standard gauge
[edit]
- Battlefield Line, Shackerstone, Leicestershire
- Ecclesbourne Valley Railway, Wirksworth, Derbyshire
- Great Central Railway, Loughborough, Leicestershire
- Great Central Railway (Nottingham), Ruddington, Nottinghamshire
- Lincolnshire Wolds Railway, Ludborough, Lincolnshire
- Midland Railway – Butterley, Derbyshire
- Mountsorrel Railway, Mountsorrel, Leicestershire
- Northampton & Lamport Railway, Pitsford and Brampton, Northamptonshire
- Northants Ironstone Railway, Hunsbury Hill, Northamptonshire
- Peak Rail, Matlock, Derbyshire
- Rushden, Higham & Wellingborough Railway, Rushden, Northamptonshire
Railway centres and museums
[edit]- Appleby Frodingham Railway, Scunthorpe, Lincolnshire
- Barrow Hill Roundhouse, Barrow Hill nr Chesterfield, Derbyshire
- Nottingham Heritage Railway, Ruddington, Nottinghamshire
- Rutland Railway Museum, Cottesmore, Rutland
Narrow gauge
[edit]- Billing Aquadrome Miniature Railway, Great Billing, Northamptonshire
- Crowle Peatland Railway, Crowle, North Lincolnshire
- Derbyshire Dales Narrow Gauge Railway, Rowsley, Derbyshire
- Golden Valley Light Railway, Butterley, Derbyshire
- Irchester Narrow Gauge Railway Museum, Irchester, Wellingborough, Northamptonshire
- Lincolnshire Coast Light Railway, Skegness, Lincolnshire
- Narrow Gauge Railway, Mountsorrel, Leicestershire
- North Ings Farm Railway, Lincolnshire
- Sherwood Forest Railway, Nottinghamshire
- Steeple Grange Light Railway, Wirksworth, Derbyshire
- Wicksteed Park Railway, Kettering, Northamptonshire
Miniature gauge
[edit]- Cleethorpes Coast Light Railway, Lincolnshire
- Mablethorpe Miniature Railway, Queens Park, Mablethorpe, Lincolnshire
- Stapleford Miniature Railway, near Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire
Tramways
[edit]
- National Tramway Museum, Crich, Derbyshire
North England
[edit]
Standard gauge
[edit]- Aln Valley Railway, Alnwick, Northumberland
- Bowes Railway, Tyne and Wear
- Derwent Valley Light Railway, Murton, North Yorkshire
- East Lancashire Railway, Bury, Greater Manchester
- Eden Valley Railway, Warcop, Cumbria
- Embsay and Bolton Abbey Steam Railway, Embsay, North Yorkshire
- Keighley & Worth Valley Railway, Haworth, West Yorkshire
- Lakeside and Haverthwaite Railway, Haverthwaite, nr Staveley, Cumbria
- Middleton Railway, Hunslet, West Yorkshire
- North Tyneside Steam Railway, North Shields, Tyne and Wear
- North Yorkshire Moors Railway, Pickering, North Yorkshire
- Ribble Steam Railway, Preston, Lancashire
- Stainmore Railway, Kirkby Stephen, Cumbria
- Tanfield Railway, Marley Hill, County Durham
- Weardale Railway, Stanhope, County Durham
- Wensleydale Railway, Leeming Bar, North Yorkshire
- Yorkshire Wolds Railway, Sledmere–Fimber, East Yorkshire
Railway centres and museums
[edit]- Beamish Museum & Railway Centre, County Durham
- Carnforth Railway Centre, Carnforth, Lancashire - private site
- Crewe Heritage Centre, Crewe, Cheshire
- Head of Steam, Darlington, County Durham
- Leeds Industrial Museum, Armley, West Yorkshire
- Locomotion, Shildon, County Durham
- National Railway Museum, York, North Yorkshire
- South Yorkshire Transport Museum, Aldwarke, Rotherham, South Yorkshire
- Stephenson Railway Museum, West Chirton, Tyne and Wear
Narrow gauge
[edit].jpg)
- Eaton Hall Railway, Cheshire – private site
- Heatherslaw Light Railway, Northumberland
- South Tynedale Railway between Alston, Cumbria and Slaggyford, Northumberland
- Threlkeld Quarry Railway, Cumbria[1]
- West Lancashire Light Railway, Hesketh Bank, Lancashire
- Woodhorn Narrow Gauge Railway, Ashington, Northumberland
Miniature gauge
[edit]
- All in one Miniature Railway, Knutsford nr Allostock, Cheshire
- Blackpool Zoo Railway, Blackpool, Lancashire
- Brookside Miniature Railway, Poynton, Cheshire
- Dragon Miniature Railway, Marple, nr Stockport, Greater Manchester
- High Legh Miniature Railway, High Legh, Cheshire
- Whistlestop Valley, Clayton West, West Yorkshire
- Knowsley Safari Park Railway, Knowsley, Merseyside
- Halton Miniature Railway, Runcorn, Cheshire
- Lakeside Miniature Railway, Pleasureland Southport, Merseyside
- North Bay Railway, Scarborough, North Yorkshire
- Pleasure Beach Express, Blackpool Pleasure Beach, Lancashire
- Pugneys Light Railway, Wakefield, West Yorkshire
- Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway, Cumbria
- Wirral Model Engineering Society, Royden Park, Wirral, Merseyside
- Saltburn Miniature Railway, Saltburn, North Yorkshire
- South Park Miniature Railway, Cheadle Hulme, Greater Manchester
- Teesside Small Gauge Railway, Preston Park, Stockton-on-Tees
- Walton Park Miniature Railway, Sale, Greater Manchester
- Windmill Farm Railway, Bursough, Lancashire
- Thorpe Light Railway, Whorlton, County Durham
Tramways
[edit]
- Beamish Museum, County Durham
- Bradford Industrial Museum, Eccleshill, (nr Bradford), West Yorkshire
- Heaton Park Tramway, Manchester, Greater Manchester
- Shipley Glen Tramway, Shipley, West Yorkshire
- Wirral Transport Museum and Heritage Tramway, Birkenhead, Merseyside
South East
[edit]
Standard gauge
[edit]- Bluebell Railway, Sheffield Park, Sussex
- Chinnor & Princes Risborough Railway, Chinnor, Oxfordshire / Princes Risborough, Buckinghamshire
- Cholsey & Wallingford Railway, Wallingford, Oxfordshire
- East Kent Railway, Shepherdswell, Kent
- Isle of Wight Steam Railway, Havenstreet, Isle of Wight
- Kent & East Sussex Steam Railway, Tenterden, Kent
- Lavender Line, Isfield, East Sussex
- Rother Valley Railway, Robertsbridge, East Sussex (line extension under construction)
- Spa Valley Railway, Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent
- Watercress Line, New Alresford, Hampshire
Railway centres and museums
[edit]
- Buckinghamshire Railway Centre, Quainton, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire
- Chatham Historic Dockyard Railway, Kent
- Didcot Railway Centre, Didcot, Oxfordshire
- London Transport Museum, Covent Garden, Central London
- Southall Railway Centre, Southall, West London- private site
Narrow gauge
[edit]
- Amberley Museum Railway, Amberley, West Sussex
- Great Bush Railway, Tinkers Park, Hadlow Down, East Sussex
- Bredgar & Wormshill Light Railway, near Sittingbourne, Kent
- Exbury Gardens Railway, Beaulieu, Hampshire
- Hayling Seaside Railway, Hayling Island, Hampshire
- Hollycombe Steam Collection, near Liphook, Hampshire
- Hythe Pier Ferry Railway, Hampshire
- Old Kiln Light Railway, Rural Life Centre, Reeds Road, Tilford, Farnham, Surrey
- Hampton & Kempton Waterworks Railway, Hanworth/Hampton, London.
- London Museum of Water & Steam, Kew Bridge, Brentford, London
- Mail Rail, short section of the former London Post Office Railway opened to public since 2017
- Romney, Hythe & Dymchurch Railway, Kent
- Sittingbourne & Kemsley Light Railway, Kent
- Volk's Electric Railway, Brighton, East Sussex
Miniature gauge
[edit]- Bekonscot Light Railway, Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire
- Blenheim Park Railway, Blenheim Palace, Oxfordshire
- Beech Hurst Park Miniature Railway, Haywards Heath, West Sussex
- Crowborough Miniature Railway, Crowborough, East Sussex
- Eastleigh Lakeside Steam Railway, Hampshire
- Frimley Lodge Park Railway, Surrey
- Great Cockcrow Railway, Chertsey, Surrey
- Harlington Locomotive Society, Hayes, Middlesex
- Hastings Miniature Railway, Hastings Seafront, East Sussex
- Ickenham Miniature Railway, Ickenham, London
- Jocks Lane Miniature Railway, Bracknell, Berkshire
- Leatherhead Model Railway, Leatherhead, Surrey
- Littlehampton Miniature Railway, Littlehampton, West Sussex
- Malden District Society of Model Engineers, Thames Ditton, Surrey
- Moors Valley Railway, near Ringwood, Hampshire
- Pinewood Model Railway, Pinewood, Crowthorne
- Reading Society of Model Engineers, Reading Berkshire
- Royal Victoria Railway, Southampton, Hampshire
- Ruislip Lido Railway, Ruislip, London
- South Downs Light Railway, Pulborough, West Sussex
- Swanley New Barn Railway, Swanley, Kent
- Watford Miniature Railway, Cassiobury Park, Watford, Hertfordshire
- Woking Miniature Railway, Knaphill, Surrey
South West
[edit]
Standard gauge
[edit]- Avon Valley Railway, Bitton, South Gloucestershire
- Bodmin & Wenford Railway, Bodmin, Cornwall
- Dartmouth Steam Railway, Paignton, Devon
- Dean Forest Railway, Norchard, Gloucestershire
- East Somerset Railway, Cranmore, Somerset
- Helston Railway, Prospidnick, Cornwall
- Plym Valley Railway, Marsh Mills, Plympton, Devon
- North Dorset Railway, Shillingstone, Dorset
- Somerset & Dorset Railway, Midsomer Norton, Somerset
- South Devon Railway, Buckfastleigh, Devon
- Swanage Railway, Swanage, Dorset
- Swindon & Cricklade Railway, Blunsdon, Wiltshire
- Tarka Valley Railway, Great Torrington, Devon
- West Somerset Railway, Minehead, Somerset
Railway centres and museums
[edit]- Bideford Railway Heritage Centre, Bideford, Devon
- Bristol Harbour Railway, Bristol
- Steam – Museum of the Great Western Railway, Swindon, Wiltshire
- Yeovil Railway Centre, Yeovil, Somerset
Narrow gauge
[edit]
- Bicton Woodland Railway, Devon
- Devon Railway Centre, Bickleigh, Devon
- Exmoor Steam Railway, Devon – private site
- Gartell Light Railway, Templecombe, Somerset
- Launceston Steam Railway, Launceston, Cornwall
- Lea Bailey Light Railway. Gloucestershire / Herefordshire border
- Lynbarn Railway, Devon
- Lynton & Barnstaple Railway, Woody Bay, Devon
- Morwellham Quay Open Air Museum, Devon
- Westonzoyland Pumping Station Museum, Somerset
Miniature gauge
[edit]
- Beer Heights Light Railway, Devon
- Berkeley Light Railway, Gloucestershire
- Exmouth Miniature Railway, Devon
- Gorse Blossom Farm Railway, Devon
- Lappa Valley Steam Railway, Cornwall
- Longleat Railway, Wiltshire
- Moors Valley Railway, Ashley Heath, Dorset
- Perrygrove Railway, Coleford, Gloucestershire
- Bickington Steam Railway, Trago Mills, Devon
Tramways
[edit]- Seaton Tramway, Seaton, Devon
West Midlands
[edit]
Standard gauge
[edit]- Cambrian Heritage Railways, Oswestry and Llynclys, Shropshire
- Chasewater Railway, Chasewater Country Park, Brownhills, Staffordshire
- Churnet Valley Railway, Cheddleton, Staffordshire
- Foxfield Railway, Blythe Bridge, Staffordshire
- Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway, Toddington, Gloucestershire and Broadway, Worcestershire
- Severn Valley Railway, Bridgnorth, Shropshire and Kidderminster, Worcestershire
- Telford Steam Railway, Horsehay, Shropshire
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Railway centres and museums
[edit]- Coleford Great Western Railway Museum, Coleford, Gloucestershire
- Tyseley Railway Centre, Tyseley, Warwickshire
- Winchcombe Railway Museum, Winchcombe, Gloucestershire
Narrow gauge
[edit]- Amerton Railway, Staffordshire
- Apedale Valley Light Railway, Chesterton, Newcastle Under Lyme, Staffordshire
- Bromyard and Linton Light Railway, Bromyard, Herefordshire – private site
- Moseley Railway Trust, Chesterton, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire
- North Gloucestershire Railway, Toddington, Gloucestershire
- Perrygrove Railway, Gloucestershire
- Rudyard Lake Steam Railway, Rudyard, Staffordshire
- Statfold Barn Railway, Tamworth, Staffordshire
Miniature gauge
[edit]- Broomy Hill Railway, Herefordshire
- Downs Light Railway, Colwall, Worcestershire (also the oldest private miniature railway worldwide)
- Echills Wood Railway, Kingsbury Waterpark, Warwickshire
- Evesham Vale Light Railway, Evesham Country Park, Worcestershire
- Weston Park Railway, Shropshire
- Rainsbrook Valley Railway, Onley Lane, Warwickshire
Tramways
[edit]
- Black Country Living Museum, Dudley, West Midlands
Proposed
[edit]East of England
[edit]- Leiston Works Railway, Leiston, Suffolk (currently under construction)[2]
- Norfolk Orbital Railway, Holt, Norfolk[3]
- Southwold Railway, Blythburgh and Southwold, Suffolk[4]
- Wisbech and March Railway, Waldersea, Cambridgeshire
North of England
[edit]- Poulton and Wyre Railway, Thornton–Cleveleys, Lancashire (under restoration)
South of England
[edit]- North Somerset Railway, Radstock, Somerset
- Tarka Valley Railway, Torrington, Devon
- Vale of Berkeley Railway, Sharpness, Gloucestershire
Defunct
[edit]This is a list of former heritage railway attractions that are sadly defunct.
- Ashford Steam Centre, Willesborough, Kent – closed in 1976.
- Abbey Light Railway, Kirkstall, West Yorkshire – closed in 2012.
- Brockham Railway Museum, Dorking, Surrey – closed 1982 (Stock moved to Amberley Museum Railway, West Sussex)
- Bolebroke Castle Miniature Railway, East Sussex – closed 2012
- Buxton Steam Centre, Derbyshire – closed in 1987, as Peak Rail moved to Darley Dale.
- Cadeby Light Railway, Cadeby, Leicestershire – closed in 2005.
- Chester Zoo monorail, Chester Zoo, Chester
- Creekmoor Light Railway, Poole, Dorset – closed in 1973
- Dinting Railway Centre, Derbyshire – closed in 1991, (Society moved to Ingrow (West) station on the KWVR, West Yorkshire.)
- Dowty Railway Centre, Ashchurch, Gloucestershire – closed in the 1980s
- Eastbourne Tramway, East Sussex – closed 1969, (moved to Seaton, Devon)
- Electric Railway Museum, Warwickshire - closed in October 2017, (rolling stock relocated to other preserved railways across the UK).
- Elsecar Heritage Railway, South Yorkshire - closed 2020.
- Finmere railway station, Buckinghamshire (stock relocated after the land was developed for HS2).
- Great Yorkshire Railway Preservation Society, Starbeck, North Yorkshire – closed in 1989 (Group moved to Murton, near York, to restore part of the former Derwent Valley Light Railway)
- Lincolnshire Coast Light Railway, Humberston, Lincolnshire – closed 1985 - Rebuilt 2009 in Skegness.
- Markeaton Park Light Railway, Rowsley, Derbyshire - closed in 2016, track lifted in 2017.
- Marwell Wildlife Railway, Hampshire - closed in 2021 and track lifted by end of 2022.
- Museum of British Transport, Clapham, South London – closed in 1973. Some exhibits moved first to Syon Park, West London and subsequently to Covent Garden to form London Transport Museum. Some exhibits moved to N.R.M. York.
- North Downs Steam Railway, Dartford, Kent – closed in 1995 (society merged with Spa Valley Railway)
- North Woolwich Old Station Museum, East London – closed in 2008
- Queen Mary's Hospital Miniature Railway, Carshalton, South London - Closed in 1997
- Ramsgate Tunnel Railway, Ramsgate, Kent – closed in 1965
- Snibston Railway, Coalville, Leicestershire – closed on 31 July 2015 (as with the Discovery Museum, itself)
- Southport Pier Tramway, Southport, Merseyside - closed 2015
- Southport Railway Museum, Southport, Lancashire – closed in 1999 (Society moved to Preston Docks as the Ribble Steam Railway).
- Stevington & Turvey Light Railway, Turvey, Bedfordshire – private site - closed in 2014.
- Transperience, Low Moor, Bradford, Yorkshire – closed in 1997
- Wells Harbour Railway, in Norfolk - closed in 2021
- Westerham Valley Railway Association, Westerham, Kent – closed 1965 (merged with Kent and East Sussex Railway Preservation Society with a few items of stock transferred to KWVR.)
Northern Ireland
[edit]See List of heritage railways in Northern Ireland
Irish standard gauge
[edit]- Downpatrick and County Down Railway, County Down
Railway centres and museums
[edit]- Whitehead Railway Museum, Whitehead, County Antrim
- Ulster Folk and Transport Museum, Cultra, County Down
Narrow gauge
[edit]- Foyle Valley Railway, County Londonderry
- Giant's Causeway and Bushmills Railway, County Antrim
- Peatlands Park Railway, County Armagh[5]
Defunct
[edit]- Shane's Castle Railway, County Antrim – closed 1994 (stock moved to Giants Causeway and Bushmills Railway.)
Scotland
[edit]Standard gauge
[edit]Central Highlands
[edit]- Keith & Dufftown Railway, Dufftown, Banffshire and Keith, Morayshire
- Strathspey Railway, Aviemore, Highland
East Coast of Scotland
[edit]- Bo'ness and Kinneil Railway, Bo'ness, Falkirk
- Fife Heritage Railway, Leven, Fife
- Caledonian Railway, Brechin, Angus
- Royal Deeside Railway, Milton of Crathes, Aberdeenshire
South West Scotland
[edit]- Scottish Industrial Railway Centre, Dunaskin - Waterside, East Ayrshire [6]
Railway centres and museums
[edit]- Museum of Scottish Railways, Bo'ness, Falkirk
- Riverside Museum, Glasgow
- Summerlee Museum of Scottish Industrial Life,[7] Coatbridge, North Lanarkshire
Narrow gauge
[edit]
- Alford Valley Railway, Alford, Aberdeenshire
- Almond Valley Light Railway, Livingston, West Lothian
- Leadhills and Wanlockhead Railway, South Lanarkshire
Miniature railways
[edit]- Craigtoun Miniature Railway, St Andrews, Fife
- Ness Islands Railway, Inverness
Proposed
[edit]- Waverley Route Heritage Association, Whitrope, Roxburghshire
Defunct
[edit]- Isle of Mull Railway, Inner Hebrides – closed in 2011.
- Kerr's Miniature Railway, Arbroath - closed in 2020.
- Lochty Private Railway, Fife – closed in 1992.
- Sanday Light Railway, Braeswick, Orkney – closed in 2006.
Wales
[edit]
North Wales
[edit]| Name | Type | Gauge | Length | Opened | Closed | Re-Opened | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Llangollen Railway | Heritage railway | 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) | 16km | 1862 | 1964 | 1981 | |
| Conwy Valley Railway Museum | Museum and miniature railway | 7+1⁄4 in (184 mm) | 1.6km | 1970s | Has a 0.8km long 15 in (381 mm) gauge tramway | ||
| Penrhyn Castle Railway Museum | Museum | N/A | 0km | 1951 | |||
| Bala Lake Railway | Heritage railway | 1 ft 11+5⁄8 in (600 mm) | 7.2km | 1861 | 1965 | 1972 | Originally standard gauge line |
| Ffestiniog Railway | Heritage railway | 1 ft 11+1⁄2 in (597 mm) | 21.7km | 1836 | 1946 | 1954 | Also owns and operates the Welsh Highland Railway |
| Llanberis Lake Railway | Heritage railway | 1 ft 11+1⁄2 in (597 mm) | 4km | 1971 | |||
| Snowdon Mountain Railway | Tourist railway | 2 ft 7+1⁄2 in (800 mm) | 7.5km | 1896 | |||
| Welsh Highland Heritage Railway | Heritage railway | 1 ft 11+1⁄2 in (597 mm) | 1.6km | 1980 | |||
| Welsh Highland Railway | Heritage railway | 1 ft 11+1⁄2 in (597 mm) | 40.2km | 1922 | 1937 | 1997 | Owned and operated by the Ffestiniog Railway |
| Fairbourne Railway | Miniature railway | 12+1⁄4 in (311 mm) | 3.2km | 1895 | 1940 | 1947 | Previously 2 ft (610 mm) and 15 in (381 mm) |
| Rhyl Miniature Railway | Miniature railway | 15 in (381 mm) | 1.6km | 1911 | |||
| West Shore Miniature Railway | Miniature railway | 2018 | |||||
| Great Orme Tramway | Tramway | 3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm) | 1902 | ||||
| Glyn Valley Tramway | Tramway | 2 ft 4+1⁄2 in (724 mm) | 0km | 1873 | 1935 | c. 2022[citation needed] |
Mid Wales
[edit]| Name | Type | Gauge | Length | Opened | Closed | Re-Opened | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Corris Railway | Heritage railway | 2 ft 3 in (686 mm) | 1.17km | 1859 | 1948 | 1971 | |
| Talyllyn Railway | Heritage railway | 2 ft 3 in (686 mm) | 11.67km | 1865 | Includes Narrow Gauge Railway Museum | ||
| Welshpool and Llanfair Light Railway | Heritage railway | 2 ft 6 in (762 mm) | 13.7km | 1903 | 1956 | 1963 | |
| Vale of Rheidol Railway | Heritage railway | 1 ft 11+3⁄4 in (603 mm) | 18.91km | 1902 | |||
| Rhiw Valley Light Railway | Miniature railway | 15 in (381 mm) | 1.265km | 1970 |
South Wales
[edit]| Name | Type | Gauge | Length | Opened | Closed | Re-Opened | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barry Tourist Railway | Tourist Railway | 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) | 2.4km | 1885 | 1976 | 1994 | |
| Gwili Railway | Heritage railway | 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) | 7.24km | 1860 | 1973 | 1978 | |
| Llanelli and Mynydd Mawr Railway | Heritage railway | 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) | 0.4km[8] | 1801 | 1989 | 2017 | |
| Pontypool and Blaenavon Railway | Heritage railway | 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) | 5.6km | 1866 | 1941 | 1983 | |
| Brecon Mountain Railway | Tourist Railway | 1 ft 11+3⁄4 in (603 mm) | 8km | 1980 | |||
| Margam Park Railway | 1 ft 11+3⁄4 in (603 mm)[9] | c. 2011[10] | |||||
| Teifi Valley Railway | 2 ft (610 mm) | 1km | 1986 | Closed 2014 and much of the track lifted. Reopened 2016 | |||
| Cefn Mably Farm Park Railway Attraction | Miniature railway | 12+1⁄4 in (311 mm) | c. 2020[11] | ||||
| Heath Park Electric Tramway | 18 in (457 mm) | 0.2km | |||||
| Garw Valley Railway | Heritage railway | 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) | 8km | 1876 | 1997 | c. 2001 |
Proposed
[edit]North Wales
[edit]Standard gauge
[edit]- Dolgarrog Railway, Conwy (under construction)
- Bala & Ffestiniog Railway Heritage Trust, Maentwrog Road, Gwynedd (currently under restoration)
Narrow gauge
[edit]- Glyn Valley Tramway, Chirk, Wrexham
South Wales
[edit]Standard gauge
[edit]- Garw Valley Railway, Pontycymer, Bridgend
- Maerdy Heritage Railway, Maerdy, Rhondda Cynon Taf
Defunct
[edit]- Butetown Historical Railway Society, Cardiff Bay – closed in 1997, moved to Barry Tourist Railway
- Caerphilly Railway Society, Caerphilly Railway Works – closed 1996, moved to Gwili Railway
- Gloddfa Ganol, Blaenau Ffestiniog - museum of narrow-gauge railways, closed in 1998, stock sold at auction
- Swansea Vale Railway, Pentrechwyth – closed in 2009, (most of the track and rolling stock are now located on the Gwili Railway).
- Penrhyn Quarry Railway, Bethesda, Gwynedd
- Trawsfynydd and Blaenau Ffestiniog Railway, Closed and replaced by Bala & Ffestiniog Railway Heritage Trust
Crown dependencies
[edit]Isle of Man
[edit]| Name | Type | Gauge | Length | Opened | Closed | Re-Opened | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Douglas Bay Horse Tramway | Tramway | 3 ft (914 mm) | 2.6km | 1876 | 1939 | 1946 | |
| Great Laxey Mine Railway | Heritage railway | 19 in (483 mm) | 0.4km | 1870s | 1929 | 2004 | |
| Groudle Glen Railway | Heritage railway | 2 ft (610 mm) | 0.9km | 1896 | 1962 | 1982 | |
| Isle of Man Railway | Nationalised railway | 3 ft (914 mm) | 25km | 1874 | Current line opened in 1974, however the company's first, now defunct line opened in 1973. | ||
| Manx Electric Railway | Nationalised railway | 3 ft (914 mm) | 27km | 1893 | |||
| Snaefell Mountain Railway | Nationalised railway | 3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm) | 8.9km | 1895 | |||
| Crogga Valley Railway | Miniature railway | 7+1⁄4 in (184 mm) | 0.41km | ||||
| Orchid Line | Miniature railway | Multiple gauges |
Derelict
[edit]See Rail transport in the Isle of Man.
Channel Islands
[edit]British Overseas Territories
[edit]Falkland Islands
[edit]- Camber Railway, Stanley (defunct)
See also
[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Heritage railways in the United Kingdom.
- British narrow-gauge railways
- British Rail
- Conservation in the United Kingdom
- List of closed railway lines in Great Britain
- List of Conservation topics
- List of funicular railways
- List of heritage railways
- List of heritage railways in the Republic of Ireland
- List of railway companies
- List of Yorkshire railways
- Mainline steam trains in Great Britain
- Mountain railway
- Rail transport in the United Kingdom
- Railways in Norfolk
- Railways of Shropshire
- Ridable miniature railway
References
[edit]- ^ Greenbank, Tony (10 August 2015). "An abandoned industrial site hiding a wildlife haven". The Guardian.
- ^ "One Suffolk". leistonworksrailwaytrust.onesuffolk.net. Archived from the original on 13 June 2013. Retrieved 3 April 2018.
- ^ "Norfolk Orbital". https://norfolk-orbital-railway.co.uk/. Retrieved 3 January 2023.
{{cite web}}: External link in|work= - ^ "Southwold Railway Trust – England's premier 3-foot gauge railway". www.southwoldrailway.co.uk. Archived from the original on 6 March 2013. Retrieved 3 April 2018.
- ^ "Peatlands Park". Discover Northern Ireland. Retrieved 2 January 2023.
- ^ "ScottishIndustrialRailwayCentre". www.scottishindustrialrailwaycentre.org.uk. Retrieved 3 April 2018.
- ^ . 27 October 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20091027060737/http://geocities.com/summerleetrams/. Archived from the original on 27 October 2009. Retrieved 3 April 2018.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ^ "About Our Project". llanellirailway. Retrieved 12 September 2022.
- ^ "The Train". www.margamcountrypark.co.uk. Retrieved 12 September 2022.
- ^ Rik, Ge (30 April 2014). "Narrow Gauge Railways UK: Margam Park Railway". Narrow Gauge Railways UK. Retrieved 12 September 2022.
- ^ Till.Tech. "Cefn Mably Farm Park | Full Steam Ahead!". Cefn Mably Farm Park. Retrieved 12 September 2022.
External links
[edit]- International Working Steam
- Heritage Railways Directory
- National Preservation forum
- Britains Great Little Railways
- Waverley Route
Heritage railways, museums and preservation societies in Wales | |
|---|---|
| Narrow gauge |
|
| Standard gauge | |
| Centres and museums | |
| |
