List of British heritage and private railways
From Infogalactic: the planetary knowledge core
This is a list of heritage, private and preserved railways in and throughout the United Kingdom and the Channel Islands that are privately owned, kept or preserved, built, constructed and run for railway heritage and/or profit, not necessarily providing a meaningful public transportation service. For rail museums, see List of British railway museums.
Many of the standard gauge railways listed (thus including former branch lines and ex-mainline routes) were originally closed by British Railways (later shortened to British Rail) under the Beeching Cuts in the 1960s, although lines closed in subsequent decades have also been subject to restoration and operation as private or preserved heritage lines. A smaller number of lines were formerly industrial or colliery railways.
Many of these preserved railways, heritage lines and railway centres alike are popular tourist attractions and make significant contributions to their local economies and various areas too.
Contents
- 1 England
- 2 Ireland
- 3 Scotland
- 4 Wales
- 5 Isle of Man
- 6 Channel Islands
- 7 See also
- 8 References
- 9 External links
England
East of England
Mixed train on the Mid-Suffolk Light Railway
Standard Gauge
- Colne Valley Railway, Castle Hedingham, Essex
- Epping Ongar Railway, Ongar, Essex
- Lincolnshire Wolds Railway, Ludborough, Lincolnshire
- Mid-Norfolk Railway, Dereham, Norfolk
- Nene Valley Railway, Wansford, Cambridgeshire
- North Norfolk Railway, Sheringham, Norfolk
Railway Centres and Museums
- Appleby Frodingham Railway, Scunthorpe, Lincolnshire
- Bressingham Steam and Gardens, Norfolk
- East Anglian Railway Museum, Essex
- Mangapps Railway Museum, Essex
- Mid Suffolk Light Railway, Brockford, Suffolk
- Whitwell & Reepham Railway, Norfolk
Narrow Gauge
- Bressingham Steam and Gardens, Norfolk
- Cleethorpes Coast Light Railway, Lincolnshire
- Leighton Buzzard Light Railway, Bedfordshire
- North Ings Farm Railway, Lincolnshire
- Southend Pier Railway, Southend-on-Sea, Essex
- Stevington & Turvey Light Railway, Turvey, Bedfordshire - private site
- Waltham Abbey Royal Gunpowder Mills, Essex
- Yaxham Light Railway, Norfolk - private site
Minimum Gauge
- Audley End Railway, Essex
- Bure Valley Railway, Aylsham, Norfolk
- East Herts Miniature Railway, Ware, Hertfordshire
- Eaton Park Miniature Railway, Norwich, Norfolk
- Fancott Miniature Railway, Bedfordshire
- Museum of Power, Langford, Essex
- Watford Miniature Railway, Cassiobury Park, Watford, Hertfordshire
- Wells & Walsingham Light Railway, Wells-next-the-Sea, Norfolk
- Wells Harbour Railway, Wells-next-the-Sea, Norfolk
Tramways
- East Anglia Transport Museum, Lowestoft, Suffolk
East Midlands
Standard Gauge
- Battlefield Line, Shackerstone, Leicestershire
- Ecclesbourne Valley Railway, Wirksworth, Derbyshire
- Great Central Railway, Loughborough, Leicestershire
- Great Central Railway (Nottingham), Ruddington, Nottinghamshire
- Midland Railway, Butterley, Derbyshire
- Northampton & Lamport Railway, Pitsford and Brampton, Northamptonshire
- Northants Ironstone Railway, Hunsbury Hill, Northamptonshire
- Peak Rail, Darley Dale, Derbyshire
- Rushden, Higham & Wellingborough Railway, Rushden, Northamptonshire
- Rutland Railway, Cottesmore, Rutland
Railway Centres and Museums
- Barrow Hill Railway Centre, Barrow Hill nr Chesterfield, Derbyshire
- Nottingham Transport Heritage Centre, Ruddington, Nottinghamshire
- Rushden Transport Museum, Northamptonshire
Narrow Gauge
- Derbyshire Dales Narrow Gauge Railway, Derbyshire
- Golden Valley Light Railway, Derbyshire
- Steeple Grange Light Railway, Wirksworth, Derbyshire
Minimum Gauge
- Markeaton Park Light Railway, Derbyshire
- Stapleford Miniature Railway, Leicestershire
- Wicksteed Park Railway, Northamptonshire
Tramways
- Crich Tramway Village and Museum, Crich, Derbyshire
North of England
Goathland station on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway
Standard Gauge
- 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
- Elsecar Heritage Railway, South Yorkshire
- Embsay and Bolton Abbey Steam Railway, Embsay, North Yorkshire
- Keighley & Worth Valley Railway, Haworth, West Yorkshire
- Lakeside & 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
- Weardale Railway, Stanhope, County Durham
- Wensleydale Railway, Leeming Bar, North Yorkshire
- Ribble Steam Railway, Riversway, Lancashire
- Stainmore Railway, Kirkby Stephen, Cumbria
- Tanfield Railway, Marley Hill, County Durham
- Yorkshire Wolds Railway, Sledmere–Fimber, East Yorkshire (still under construction)
Railway Centres and Museums
- Astley Green Colliery Museum, Lancashire
- Beamish Museum & Railway Centre, County Durham
- Carnforth Railway Centre, Carnforth, Lancashire
- Darlington Railway Centre and Museum, Darlington, County Durham
- Haig Colliery Mining Museum, Cumbria
- Leeds Industrial Museum, Armley, West Yorkshire
- Locomotion, Shildon, County Durham
- National Railway Museum, York, North Yorkshire
Narrow Gauge
The Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway in 1981
- Eaton Hall Railway, Cheshire - private site
- Heatherslaw Light Railway, Northumberland
- Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway, Cumbria
- South Tynedale Railway between Alston, Cumbria and Lintley, Northumberland
- West Lancashire Light Railway, Lancashire
- Windmill Farm Railway, Lancashire
- Woodhorn Narrow Gauge Railway, Ashington, Northumberland
Minimum Gauge
- All in one Miniature Railway, Knutsford, Allostock, Cheshire
- Dragon Miniature Railway, Marple, Greater Manchester
- High Legh Miniature Railway, High Legh, Cheshire
- Kirklees Light Railway, Clayton West, West Yorkshire
- Lakeside Miniature Railway, Southport, Merseyside
- North Bay Railway, Scarborough, North Yorkshire
- Saltburn Miniature Railway, Middlesbrough, North Yorkshire
- South Park Miniature Railway, Cheadle Hulme, Greater Manchester
- Woodhorn Narrow Gauge Railway, Ashington, Northumberland
Tramways
- Beamish Museum, County Durham
- Bradford Industrial Museum, Eccleshill, (nr Bradford), West Yorkshire
- Heaton Park Tramway, Manchester, Greater Manchester
- Merseyside Tramway Preservation Society, Birkenhead, Merseyside
- Shipley Glen Tramway, Shipley, West Yorkshire
- South Yorkshire Transport Museum, Aldwarke (nr Rotherham), South Yorkshire
- Southport Pier Tramway, Southport, Merseyside
- Wirral Tramway & Transport Museum, Wirral, Merseyside
South East
Standard Gauge
- Bluebell Railway, Sheffield Park, Sussex
- Chatham Historic Dockyard Railway, Kent
- Chinnor & Princes Risborough Railway, Chinnor, Oxfordshire
- Cholsey & Wallingford Railway, Wallingford, Oxfordshire
- East Kent Railway, Shepherdswell, Kent
- Fawley Hill Railway, Buckinghamshire
- Isle of Wight Steam Railway, Havenstreet, Isle of Wight
- Kent & East Sussex Steam Railway, Tenterden, Kent
- Lavender Line, Isfield, East Sussex
- Mid Hants Railway, New Alresford, Hampshire
- Rother Valley Railway, Robertsbridge, East Sussex (land purchases in progress)
- Spa Valley Railway, Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent
Railway Centres and Museums
The engine sheds at Didcot Railway Centre
- Buckinghamshire Railway Centre, Quainton Road, Buckinghamshire
- Didcot Railway Centre, Didcot, Oxfordshire
- London Transport Museum, London
- Southall Railway Centre, Southall, West London
Narrow Gauge
Trains on the Romney, Hythe & Dymchurch Railway
- Amberley Museum Railway, Amberley, Sussex
- Bredgar & Wormshill Light Railway, Kent
- Exbury Gardens Railway, Hampshire
- Hayling Seaside Railway, Hampshire
- Hollycombe Steam Collection, Hampshire
- Hythe Pier Ferry Railway, Hampshire
- Kew Bridge Steam Museum, London
- London Post Office Railway - Proposed
- Romney, Hythe & Dymchurch Railway, Kent
- Sittingbourne & Kemsley Light Railway, Kent
- Volk's Electric Railway, Brighton, East Sussex
Minimum Gauge
- Bekonscot Light Railway, Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire
- Blenheim Park Railway, Blenheim Palace, Oxfordshire
- Eastleigh Lakeside Steam Railway & Country Park, Hampshire
- Frimley Lodge Park Railway, Surrey
- Great Cockcrow Railway, Chertsey, Surrey
- Ickenham Miniature Railway, Ickenham, Greater London
- Malden District Society of Model Engineers, Thames Ditton, Surrey
- Royal Victoria Country Park, Southampton, Hampshire
- Ruislip Lido Railway, Ruislip, Greater London
- South Downs Light Railway, Pulborough, West Sussex
- Woking Miniature Railway, Knaphill, Surrey
South West
Bishops Lydeard station on the West Somerset Railway
A general view of the Swanage Railway
Standard Gauge
- Avon Valley Railway, Bitton, Gloucestershire
- Bideford & Instow Railway, Bideford, Devon
- Bodmin & Wenford Railway, Bodmin, Cornwall
- Bristol Harbour Railway, Bristol
- Dartmoor Railway, Okehampton, Devon
- Dartmouth Steam Railway, Paignton, Devon
- East Somerset Railway, Cranmore, Somerset
- Helston Railway, Prospidnick, Cornwall
- Plym Valley Railway, Marsh Mills, Devon
- Somerset & Dorset Railway, Midsomer Norton, Somerset
- South Devon Railway, Buckfastleigh, Devon
- Swanage Railway, Swanage, Dorset
- Swindon & Cricklade Railway, Blunsdon, Wiltshire
- West Somerset Railway, Minehead, Somerset
Railway Centres and Museums
- Bideford Railway Heritage Centre, Devon
- STEAM - Museum of the Great Western Railway, Swindon, Wiltshire
- Yeovil Railway Centre, Yeovil, Somerset
Narrow Gauge
Restored Victorian coach at the Lynton & Barnstaple Railway
- Bicton Woodland Railway, Devon
- Devon Railway Centre, Bickleigh, Devon
- Exmoor Steam Railway, Devon - private site
- Gartell Light Railway, Somerset
- Launceston Steam Railway, Launceston, Cornwall
- Lynbarn Railway, Devon
- Lynton & Barnstaple Railway, Devon
- Morwellham Quay Open Air Museum, Devon
Minimum Gauge
- Beer Heights Light Railway, Devon
- Berkeley Light Railway, Gloucestershire
- Gorse Blossom Farm Railway, Devon
- Lappa Valley Steam Railway, Cornwall
- Moors Valley Railway, Ashley Heath, Dorset
Tramways
- Seaton Tramway, Seaton, Devon
West Midlands
Arley station on the Severn Valley Railway
Standard Gauge
- Cambrian Heritage Railways, Oswestry and Llynclys, Shropshire
- Chasewater Railway, Staffordshire
- Churnet Valley Railway, Cheddleton, Staffordshire
- Dean Forest Railway, Norchard, Gloucestershire
- Foxfield Light Railway, Blythe Bridge, Staffordshire
- Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway, Toddington, Gloucestershire and Broadway, Worcestershire
- Kingfisher Line. Titley, Herefordshire - private site
- Rowden Mill & Fencote Railway, Herefordshire - private site
- Severn Valley Railway, Bridgnorth, Shropshire
- Telford Steam Railway, Horsehay, Shropshire
Railway Centres and Museums
- Electric Railway Museum, Warwickshire
- Tyseley Railway Centre, Tyseley, Warwickshire
Narrow Gauge
- 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 - private site
Minimum Gauge
- Broomy Hill Railway, Herefordshire
- Downs Railway Colwall, Ledbury, Herefordshire
- Echills Wood Railway, Kingsbury Waterpark, Warwickshire
- Weston Park Railway, Shropshire
Tramways
- Black Country Living Museum, Dudley, West Midlands
Tramways
Tramway operation in Britain ceased almost entirely in the 1950s. Once Glasgow had disposed of its lines, the sole survivor was the Blackpool Corporation Tramways, although considerably reduced in size. In the late 20th century there was a tramway revival, notably in Manchester, Nottingham, Sheffield, the West Midlands and Croydon.
Proposed
East of England
- Leiston Works Railway, Leiston, Suffolk (currently under construction)[1]
- Southwold Railway, Southwold, Suffolk (Proposed)[2]
- Wisbech and March Railway, Waldersea, Cambridgeshire (Proposed)
North of England
- Poulton and Wyre Railway, Thornton–Cleveleys, Lancashire (currently under restoration)
South of England
- Combe Rail, Mortehoe-Woolacombe, Devon (Proposed)
- Folkestone Harbour Railway, Kent (Proposed)
- North Dorset Railway, Shillingstone, Dorset (Currently under construction)
- North Somerset Railway, Radstock, Somerset (Proposed)
- Tarka Valley Railway, Torrington, Devon (Proposed, currently under construction)[citation needed]
Defunct
- Ashford Steam Centre, Willesborough, Kent - closed in 1976.
- Abbey Light Railway, Kirkstall, West Yorkshire - closed in 2012.
- Buxton Steam Centre, Derbyshire - closed in 1987, as Peak Rail relocated, to its present location.
- Cadeby Light Railway, Cadeby, Leicestershire - closed in 2005.
- Dinting Railway Centre, Derbyshire - closed in 1991, (Society now located at Ingrow (West) station on the KWVR, West Yorkshire.)
- 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)
- North Downs Steam Railway, Dartford, Kent - closed in 1995, (merged with Spa Valley Railway)
- Snibston Railway, Coalville, Leicestershire. - closed on 31 July 2015, (as with the Discovery Museum, itself)
- Southport Railway Museum,Southport, Lancashire - closed in 1999, (Society relocated to Preston Docks as Ribble Steam Railway).
Ireland
Northern Ireland
Standard gauge
- Downpatrick and County Down Railway, County Down
Narrow gauge
- Giant's Causeway and Bushmills Railway, County Antrim
- Peatlands Park Railway, County Armagh
See List of heritage railways in Northern Ireland
Republic of Ireland
See List of heritage railways in the Republic of Ireland
Scotland
Standard gauge
Central Highlands
- Keith & Dufftown Railway, Dufftown, Banffshire and Keith, Morayshire
- Strathspey Railway, Aviemore, Highland
East Coast of Scotland
- Bo'ness & Kinneil Railway, Bo'ness, Falkirk
- Fife Heritage Railway, Leven, Fife
- Caledonian Railway, Brechin, Angus
- Royal Deeside Railway, Milton of Crathes, Aberdeenshire
Scottish Borders
- Border Union Railway, Whitrope, Roxburghshire
Railway centres and museums
- Invergarry & Fort Augustus Railway Museum [3]
- Fife Heritage Railway, Levenmouth, Fife [4]
- Scottish Industrial Railway Centre, Ayrshire
- Shed 47 railway, Lathalmond, Fife [5]
Narrow gauge
- Alford Valley Railway, Aberdeenshire
- Leadhills and Wanlockhead Railway, South Lanarkshire
Miniature railways
- Kerr's Miniature Railway, Arbroath
- Ness Islands Railway, Inverness
- Sanday Light Railway
Tramways
- Summerlee Heritage Park,[6] Coatbridge, North Lanarkshire
Proposed
TBA
Defunct
- Isle of Mull Railway, Inner Hebrides - closed in 2011.
- Lochty Private Railway, Fife - closed in 1992.
- Sanday Light Railway, Braeswick, Orkney - closed in 2006.
Wales
North Wales
Standard Gauge
- Llangollen Railway, Llangollen, Denbighshire
Narrow Gauge
- Bala Lake Railway, Llanuwchllyn, Gwynedd
- Ffestiniog Railway, Porthmadog, Gwynedd
- Llanberis Lake Railway, Gwynedd
- Snowdon Mountain Railway, Gwynedd
- Talyllyn Railway, Tywyn, Gwynedd
- Welsh Highland Heritage Railway, Gwynedd
- Welsh Highland Railway, Caernarfon, Gwynedd
Miniature railways
- Conwy Valley Railway Museum Miniature Railway, Betws-y-Coed
- Fairbourne Railway, Gwynedd
- Rhyl Miniature Railway, Rhyl
Tramways
- Great Orme Tramway, Llandudno[7]
- Conwy Valley Railway Museum Tramway, Betws-y-Coed
Mid Wales
Narrow Gauge
- Corris Railway, Gwynedd
- Welshpool & Llanfair Railway, Powys
- Vale of Rheidol Railway, Aberystwyth, Ceredigion
Miniature railways
- Rhiw Valley Light Railway, Berriew, Powys
South Wales
Standard Gauge
- Barry Tourist Railway, Vale of Glamorgan, Glamorganshire
- Gwili Railway, Bronwydd Arms, Carmarthenshire
- Pontypool & Blaenavon Railway, Monmouthshire
Narrow gauge
- Brecon Mountain Railway, Pant, near Merthyr Tydfil
- Margam Park Railway, Margam
- Teifi Valley Railway, Henllan near Newcastle Emlyn, Ceredigion
Proposed
North Wales
Narrow Gauge
- Glyn Valley Tramway, (Proposed)
- Penrhyn Quarry Railway, (Proposed)
South Wales
Standard Gauge
- Garw Valley Railway, Pontycymer, Bridgend
- Llanelli and Mynydd Mawr Railway, Cynheidre, Carmarthenshire
Defunct
- Swansea Vale Railway, Pentrechwyth - closed in 2007, (most of the track and rolling stock are now located on the Gwili Railway).
Isle of Man
- Great Laxey Mine Railway, Laxey
- Groudle Glen Railway, Lhen Coan
- Isle of Man Railway, Douglas
- Manx Electric Railway, Derby Castle
- Snaefell Mountain Railway, Laxey
See Rail transport in the Isle of Man.
Channel Islands
Alderney
Jersey
See also
 |
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
- Mountain railway
- Preserved main line steam locomotive support in the United Kingdom
- Rail transport in the United Kingdom
- Ridable miniature railway
References
- ↑ http://leistonworksrailwaytrust.onesuffolk.net/
- ↑ http://www.southwoldrailway.co.uk/index.php
- ↑ http://www.invergarrystation.org.uk
- ↑ http://www.fifeheritagerailway.com/index.html/
- ↑ http://www.shed47.org/index.html
- ↑ http://web.archive.org/web/20091027060737/http://geocities.com/summerleetrams/
- ↑ Orme Tramway
