There were more than a thousand British narrow-gauge railways ranging from large, historically significant common carriers to small, short-lived industrial railways. Many notable events in British railway history happened on narrow-gauge railways including the first use of steam locomotives, the first public railway and the first preserved railway.

History

Early railways: before 1865

The earliest narrow-gauge railways were crude wooden trackways used in coal mines to guide wooden tubs. Because of the restricted loading gauge of the tunnels and the need for the tubs to be small enough to be pushed by one man, these railways were almost all narrow gauge. These underground lines often had short above-ground sections as well.

After the start of the Industrial Revolution it became possible to create railways with iron tracks and wheels, which reduced the friction involved in moving wagons and made longer horse-hauled trains possible. These could move more material over longer distances, allowing the construction of railways from mines and quarries to transshipment points on rivers, canals and the coast. The earliest narrow-gauge railways that were more than internal mine or quarry systems were all horse-drawn industrial railways. Prominent examples include: the 3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm) gauge Little Eaton Gangway of 1793; the 3 ft 4+3⁄4 in (1,035 mm) gauge Lake Lock Rail Road of 1796; the 2 ft 1⁄2 in (622 mm) gauge Penrhyn Railroad of 1801; and the 4 ft 2 in (1,270 mm) gauge Surrey Iron Railway of 1803. The Lake Lock Rail Road is recognized as the world's first public railway.^[1]

Meanwhile, the development of the stationary steam engine was proceeding to the point where early steam locomotives were being proposed. In 1804, Richard Trevithick demonstrated the first locomotive-hauled railway in the world: the 4 ft (1,219 mm) gauge Penydarren Tramway in south Wales. Although this first use of locomotives was a limited and short-lived experiment, in 1812, the 4 ft 1 in (1,245 mm) gauge Middleton Railway in Leeds became the first in the world to make commercial use of steam locomotives.^[2]

Steam technology developed rapidly in the early 19th century, allowing smaller locomotives to haul more goods. The horse-drawn Ffestiniog Railway opened in 1836 to connect the slate quarries at Blaenau Ffestiniog with the coastal port of Porthmadog. The traffic on the line quickly grew to the point where the horses could no longer haul the empty slate wagons back to the quarries quickly enough to meet demand. In 1863, steam locomotives were introduced on the 1 ft 11+1⁄2 in (597 mm) gauge railway, with passenger services following in 1865. This was the first steam operated railway providing both freight and passenger services on such a small gauge and it proved the model for the introduction of narrow-gauge railways across the world.^[3]

In 1846, the British Parliament passed the Gauges Act that established 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) as the standard gauge for Britain.^[4] After the Gauges Act, most of the railway track laid in Great Britain was to standard gauge. However many minor railways, both public and industrial, were built to narrower gauges. These lines either followed local traditions or were built in locations where the smaller size of the railway proved more economical.

The boom years: 1865–1914

The success of the Ffestiniog Railway triggered a boom in the construction of narrow-gauge railways, not just in Britain but around the world.^[5] In the United Kingdom, the centre of narrow gauge construction was North Wales. The mountains of the north held large quantities of slate and their narrow valleys and steep hillsides meant that the smaller narrow-gauge railways were cost effective. The major slate mining regions at Bethesda, Llanberis, Blaenau Ffestiniog and Corris all developed multiple railways to serve the quarries. Some of these lines, like the Ffestiniog Railway, the Corris Railway and the Talyllyn Railway were common carriers, while others like the Penrhyn Quarry Railway and the Padarn Railway were industrial lines.

Outside Wales, other industries started to use narrow-gauge railways to move freight, notably ironstone, limestone, china clay, brick clay and metals. Many common carrier lines were built: most of the railways on the Isle of Man were narrow gauge – mostly 3 ft (914 mm) gauge. A number of railways were built to connect standard gauge railways with smaller towns, including the Southwold Railway, the Wolverton and Stony Stratford Tramway and the famous Lynton and Barnstaple Railway in Devon. These lines allowed communities that did not merit a full railway service to connect to the mainline network at low cost.

The 1880s were the high point of British narrow-gauge railways as traffic on many of these lines reached its peak volume and new lines were built across the country.^{[citation needed]}

In 1896, the Light Railways Act was passed which allowed the construction of railways to less stringent standards than had previously been allowed. This led to a short resurgence in the building of narrow-gauge railways, especially in rural locations. In Wales, the Welshpool and Llanfair Light Railway was built to serve farming communities and the Vale of Rheidol Light Railway was a tourist line that also served lead mines; in England the Leek and Manifold Valley Light Railway served similar purposes in the Staffordshire Moorlands.

The 1904 Railway Clearing House Railway Atlas showed the major narrow gauge railways:

Decline of the narrow gauge: 1914–1950

After the First World War, rail traffic declined with the widespread adoption of motor vehicles and public narrow gauge lines in Britain began to struggle financially.^[6] Most of these railways were built to serve marginal traffic that would not support a larger line. As road competition increased, many existing lines fell into decline and fewer new railways were built.

The 1920s saw a brief resurgence of the narrow gauge as surplus equipment from the War Department Light Railways (WDLR) became available. Several industrial railways were built using second-hand WDLR equipment, notably the Leighton Buzzard Light Railway. Other lines such as the Glyn Valley Tramway and the Snailbeach District Railways were able to replace ageing locomotives relatively cheaply and continue to operate on shoestring budgets. Even the famed Ffestiniog Railway acquired a Baldwin locomotive to shore up the fleet working the Welsh Highland Railway which it now owned.

The last narrow-gauge commercial carrier in Britain was the Ashover Light Railway,^{[citation needed][dubious – discuss]} opened in 1925 using surplus war equipment. This was the epitome of cheaply constructed light railways and was one of several minor railways owned by Colonel Stephens.

Meanwhile, the use of narrow-gauge railways in industry continued to flourish. Many small railways were built to serve sand and gravel pits, cement works and the peat and timber extraction industries, often using ex-WDLR equipment.

The continued development of road transport and the economic crises of the 1930s saw a slow decline in the use of narrow-gauge railways across the country. The Second World War pushed many struggling enterprises into bankruptcy as labour and materials were diverted to the war effort. During and immediately after the war, the majority of the remaining lines closed: between 1946 and 1950 the Ffestiniog, Corris, Ashover Light, Rye and Camber and Eaton Hall railways all closed. Many industrial lines did not survive the war years.

The narrow gauge after 1950

The use of narrow-gauge railways in Britain declined throughout the first half of the 20th century. This decline accelerated after the Second World War as improved road transport displaced railways in industry and for passenger service.^[7]

In 1951 however, a group of railway enthusiasts, alarmed at the loss of this part of British industrial heritage, stepped in to save the failing Talyllyn Railway. This became the first railway to be run entirely by volunteers and sparked a movement to preserve many railways, both narrow and standard gauge as tourist attractions. Since then many lines have been preserved as working museums, and new narrow-gauge railways are being constructed for the tourist industry.

In the 21st century a very few industrial and common carrier lines survive. Notable among the latter are the Glasgow Subway, an underground metro line that operates on a 4 ft (1,219 mm) gauge, and the Manx Electric Railway on the Isle of Man.

Significant lines

Amongst the most well-known narrow-gauge lines in Britain are the Ffestiniog, the oldest independent railway company in the world, the Talyllyn, the world's first preserved railway of any gauge, and the Welshpool & Llanfair in Wales; and the Lynton & Barnstaple in England. Unique among British railways is the rack-and-pinion Snowdon Mountain Railway which climbs to just below the summit of Wales' highest peak.

Several significant lines operate on the Isle of Man. The 3 ft (914 mm) gauge Isle of Man Steam Railway operates as a tourist attraction. The 3 ft (914 mm) Manx Electric Railway has the two oldest operating electric trams in the world.^[8] The 3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm) gauge Snaefell Mountain Railway climbs the island's main peak and is the sole operating Fell system railway in the world.

The narrow-gauge railways of Britain and the Isle of Man

Public railways

These are narrow-gauge railways that ran public passenger trains for a significant portion of their existence. In 1951 the Talyllyn Railway was the first railway in the world to be taken over and preserved by volunteers. This was the start of the heritage railway movement, which has flourished in Britain and around the world in the years since. As a result, many of these lines passed from being common carriers and were preserved as heritage railways after their demise. Where this has happened their heritage existence is included as a second row.

Name	Years of operation	Gauge	Length	Location	Image	Notes
Abbey Light Railway[9]	1978–2012	2 ft (610 mm)	0.75 mi (1.21 km)	Kirkstall Abbey, Leeds, England		From opposite the shopping zone into the Abbey grounds. Industrial diesels, used to run most Sundays in summer. Dismantled in 2013 after death of owner.
Alford and Sutton Tramway[10][11]	1884–1889	2 ft 6 in (762 mm)	7 miles (11.3 km)	Alford, England		Steam-hauled street tramway.
Alford Valley Railway[9]	1979–present	2 ft (610 mm)	0.84 miles (1.4 km)	Alford, Scotland		Built on the old standard gauge branch from Upper Donside to Kintore Junction
Almond Valley Light Railway[12]	1993–present	2 ft 6 in (762 mm)	0.25 miles (0.4 km)	Livingston, Scotland		Short line at a heritage museum featuring diesel locomotives from armaments factories
Ashover Light Railway[13][14]	1925–1950	2 ft (610 mm)	7.5 miles (12.1 km)	Clay Cross, England		Mineral and passenger line owned by the Clay Cross Company built using ex-WDLR equipment
Bala Lake Railway[9]	1972–present	1 ft 11+1⁄2 in (597 mm)	4.5 miles (7.2 km)	Llanuwchllyn, Wales		Steam-hauled tourist railway built on the trackbed of the standard gauge Ruabon–Barmouth line.
Birmingham Corporation Tramways	1872-1953	3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm)	80.5 miles (129.6 km)	Birmingham		A large network of tramways running through Birmingham and the Black Country. Originally steam- and horse- hauled, converted to electricity from 1901
Brecon Mountain Railway[9]	1980–present	2 ft (610 mm)	5 miles (8 km)	Merthyr Tydfil, Wales		Steam-hauled tourist railway built on the trackbed of the standard gauge Brecon & Merthyr Railway.
Bredgar and Wormshill Light Railway[9]	1975–present	2 ft (610 mm)	0.5 miles (0.8 km)	Hollingbourne, England		A one-half-mile (0.8 km) long private steam railway that holds regular open days
Camborne and Redruth Tramways[15]	1902–1934	3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm)	3.5 miles (5.6 km)	Redruth, England		Cornwall's only electric tramway. As well as a passenger service, mineral traffic was carried behind electric locomotives.
Campbeltown and Machrihanish Light Railway[16][17]	1877–1932[14]	2 ft 3 in (686 mm)	6 miles (9.7 km)	Mull of Kintyre, Scotland		Remote line serving coal mines and passengers on the Kintyre peninsula.
Corris Railway	1859–1948	2 ft 3 in (686 mm)	12.25 miles (19.7 km)[14]	Machynlleth, Wales		Built to carry slate from the Corris district. Closed after flooding of the Afon Dyfi.
	1967–present	2 ft 3 in (686 mm)	1 mile (1.6 km)	Corris, Wales		Heritage railway revival of the Corris Railway. Reopened in 2002.
Devon Railway Centre	1997–present	2 ft (610 mm)	Unknown	Tiverton, England		A tourist railway and locomotive collection.
Fairbourne Railway	1895–1916	2 ft (610 mm)	2 miles (3.2 km)	Fairbourne, Wales		A horse-drawn tramway carrying building materials for Fairbourne village.
	1916-1986	15 in (381 mm)	2 miles (3.2 km)	Fairbourne, Wales		A minimum gauge railway replacing the horse-drawn tramway, for carrying tourists.
	1986–present	12+1⁄4 in (311 mm)	2 miles (3.2 km)	Fairbourne, Wales		Passenger carrying miniature railway running from Fairbourne village to Penrhyn Point. From 2012 onwards, some 15 in (381 mm) track has been reinstated.
Festiniog and Blaenau Railway[18]	1868–1883	1 ft 11+1⁄2 in (597 mm)	3.5 miles (5.6 km)	Blaenau Ffestiniog, Wales		Independent line feeding the Ffestiniog Railway to which it was connected. Converted to a standard gauge branch of the Great Western Railway in 1883.
Ffestiniog Railway[18]	1836[14] -1946	1 ft 11+1⁄2 in (597 mm)	13.5 miles (21.7 km)	Porthmadog, Wales		Built to carry slate from the Blaenau Ffestiniog district to the coast.
	1954–present	1 ft 11+1⁄2 in (597 mm)	13.625 miles (21.9 km)	Porthmadog, Wales		Heritage revival of the original company. Longer route due to the spiral.
Foxdale Railway	1886–1905	3 ft (914 mm)	2.5 miles (4.0 km)	Foxdale, Isle of Man		Carried lead and silver ore from mines at Foxdale to St John's for onward transport to Ramsey via the Manx Northern Railway who operated the line.
Gartell Light Railway	1990–Present	2 ft (610 mm)	0.75 miles (1.2 km)	Yenston, Somerset, England		Built partly along the track of the old Somerset and Dorset Joint Railway.
Glasgow Subway	1896–present	4 ft (1,219 mm)	6.5 miles (10.5 km)	Glasgow, Scotland		Underground cable-hauled metro line, converted to third rail operation in 1935[19] and modernised 1977–1980. Still in operation as a common carrier.
Glyn Valley Tramway[20]	1873–1935	2 ft 4+1⁄2 in (724 mm)	8.75 miles (14.1 km)[14]	Chirk, Wales		Carried granite and passengers along the Ceriog Valley, much of the length as a roadside tramway.
	2007–present	2 ft 3 in (686 mm)	0.1 miles (0.2 km)	Chirk, Wales		Glyn Valley Tramway Trust based at Chirk Station. Has planning permission for a 1 mile running line.[21]
	1989–present	2 ft 4+1⁄2 in (724 mm)	0.1 miles (0.2 km)	Chirk, Wales		New Glyn Valley Tramway & Industrial Heritage Trust based at Glyn Ceriiog station
Great Laxey Mine Railway	2004–present	19 in (483 mm)	0.25 miles (0.4 km)	Laxey, Isle of Man		Replica locomotives running passenger trains on the original trackbed of the Laxey mines railway.
Great Orme Tramway	1902–present	3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm)	1.25 miles (2 km)	Llandudno, Wales		Cable-hauled tourist railway carrying passengers to the top of the Great Orme headland.
Groudle Glen Railway	1896–1962	2 ft (610 mm)	0.75 miles (1.2 km)	Isle of Man		Tourist railway along the clifftops at Groudle Glen
	1986–present	2 ft (610 mm)	Unknown	Isle of Man		Tourist railway along the clifftops at Groudle Glen Restored by the Isle of Man Steam Railway Supporters' Association
Hampton & Kempton Waterworks Railway	1916-1945, 2013–present	2 ft (610 mm)	0.18 miles (0.3 km)	Hampton, London		A short line near the site of the original industrial railway serving Hampton Waterworks.
Hayling Seaside Railway	2003–present	2 ft (610 mm)	1.1 miles (1.8 km)	Hayling Island		Runs along Hayling Island sea front
Herne Bay Pier Railway	1896–1939	3 ft 4+1⁄2 in (1,029 mm)[22]	0.75 miles (1.2 km)	Herne Bay, England		Pier construction railway that was retained for passenger use.
Hythe Pier Railway[23][24]	1879–present	2 ft (610 mm)	0.33 miles (0.53 km)	Hythe, England		Originally hand operated. Relaid and converted to third rail electric operation in 1922. Forms part of an integrated rail and ferry transport link from Hythe to Southampton.
Isle of Man Steam Railway	1873–present	3 ft (914 mm)	46 miles (74 km)	Douglas, Isle of Man		An extensive network of lines covering the island. Now reduced to one main line that is principally a steam-hauled tourist railway.
Jersey Railway[20]	1870–1936	3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm)	8.5 miles (13.7 km)	Saint Helier, Jersey		Passenger and goods services in the island of Jersey.
Lake Lock Rail Road[25]	1798-1846	3 ft 4+3⁄4 in (1,035 mm)		Stanley, England		Early narrow-gauge railway serving collieries and stone quarries near Wakefield
Launceston Steam Railway[15]	1983–present	1 ft 11+1⁄2 in (597 mm)	2.5 miles (4.0 km)	Launceston, England		Steam-hauled tourist railway built on the trackbed of the standard gauge North Cornwall Railway
Leadhills and Wanlockhead Railway	1986–present	2 ft (610 mm)	0.75 miles (1.2 km)	Leadhills, Scotland		Passenger carrying tourist line built on a standard gauge trackbed.
Leek and Manifold Valley Light Railway[20][26]	1904–1934	2 ft 6 in (762 mm)	8.5 miles (13.7 km)[14]	Hulme End, England		Agricultural and passenger service for the Manifold valley in the Staffordshire Moorlands
Leighton Buzzard Railway[9]	1968–present	2 ft (610 mm)	3 miles (4.8 km)	Leighton Buzzard, England		Heritage railway operating over the tracks of the Leighton Buzzard Light Railway
Lincolnshire Coast Light Railway[9]	1958–1985, 2009–present	600 mm (1 ft 11+5⁄8 in)	1 mile	Humberston, England later Skegness Water Leisure Park, England		Tourist line built using ex-Nocton Potato Estate railway equipment at Humberstone. The rolling stock and track were moved to Skegness Water Park, and the railway was reopened in 2009 on the new site.
Little Eaton Gangway[9]	1795-1908	3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm) and 4 ft (1,219 mm)	5 miles	Little Eaton, England		One of the earliest iron railways in the world, this narrow-gauge wagonway was built by Benjamin Outram and survived over 100 years hauling coal from Denby to the Erewash Canal.
Llanberis Lake Railway[9]	1972–present	1 ft 11+1⁄2 in (597 mm)	2.5 miles (4 km)	Llanberis, Wales		Tourist railway running along part of the trackbed of the Padarn Railway using equipment from the Dinorwic quarry railway.
Lynton and Barnstaple Railway[27]	1898–1935	1 ft 11+1⁄2 in (597 mm)	19.25 miles (31.0 km)	Barnstaple, England		Carried passengers and general freight for 20 miles (32 km) of rugged countryside around Exmoor, Devon. Part of the line is now being restored as a heritage railway, and reopened to passengers in 2004. The line was extended to just over 1-mile (1.6 km) in May 2006.
	2003–present	1 ft 11+5⁄8 in (600 mm)	1 mile (1.6 km)	Woody Bay, England		Restoration of the Lynton and Barnstaple railway, on the trackbed of the original line
Manx Electric Railway	1893[14] -present	3 ft (914 mm)	17 miles (27 km)	Douglas, Isle of Man		An electric tramway running from Douglas to Ramsey along the east coast of the Isle of Man.
Manx Northern Railway	1879–1905	3 ft (914 mm)	16.75 miles (27.0 km)	Ramsey, Isle of Man		Steam railway from St John's to Ramsey on the Isle of Man. Incorporated into the Isle of Man Railway in 1905.
Margam Park Railway	2002–present	2 ft (610 mm)	1.04 miles (1.7 km)	Margam Country Park		Operates in Margam Country Park, not open in winter.
Middleton Railway	1758-1881	4 ft 1 in (1,245 mm)	0.96 miles (1.5 km)	Middleton, England		Early railway, that ran the first successful steam locomotives starting in 1812. Converted to standard gauge in 1881, it exists in 2016 as a preserved railway.
North Gloucestershire Railway	1985–present	2 ft (610 mm)	0.2 miles (0.32 km)	Toddington, England		A short railway laid beside the Gloucestershire and Warwickshire Railway, replacing the Dowty Railway Society
North Wales Narrow Gauge Railways[18]	1877–1916	1 ft 11+1⁄2 in (597 mm)	12.25 miles (19.7 km)[14]	Dinas, Wales		One of the precursors to the WHR. Carried passengers, slate and general freight.
Perrygrove Railway[23]	1995–present	15 in (381 mm)	1+1⁄2 miles (2.4 km)	Royal Forest of Dean, England		A steam hauled tourist railway.
Plynlimon and Hafan Tramway[14]	1897–1899	2 ft 3 in (686 mm)	7 miles (11.3 km)[14]	Talybont, Wales		Short-lived line serving the Hafan stone quarry and Talybont village with a rail link at Llanfihangel (now Llandre).
Portmadoc, Beddgelert and South Snowdon Railway[18]	1901–1908	1 ft 11+1⁄2 in (597 mm)	Unknown	Porthmadog, Wales		An attempt to connect Porthmadog to Beddgelert and the NWNGR. Although it never opened to traffic, much of the trackbed was built and formed part of the WHR.
Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway[14][20]	1875–1913	3 ft (914 mm)	6.75 miles (10.9 km)[14]	Ravenglass, England		A line serving the iron ore mines and local passengers in the western Lake District. Closed to passengers in 1908, but freight continued until 1913.
	1915–present	15 in (381 mm)	6.75 miles (10.9 km)	Ravenglass, England		A 15 in (381 mm) minimum gauge railway which is still in operation, with a mixture of steam and diesel locomotives.
Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch Railway	1927–present	15 in (381 mm)	13.75 miles (22.1 km)	Kent, England		Running a mixture of steam and diesel trains; mainly operates as a tourist attraction but has also provided local services including secondary school transport, shoppers trains, and freight services including fish and commercial ballast transportation.
Rothesay and Ettrick Bay Light Railway	1879–1936	4 ft (1,219 mm), converted to 3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm) in 1902	4.75 miles (7.6 km)	Rothesay, Scotland		A horse tramway, converted to an electric tramway in 1902.
Rye and Camber Tramway[20][28]	1895–1946	3 ft (914 mm)	2.5 miles (4.0 km)	Rye, England		Passenger railway serving the seaside resorts and golf courses around Rye.
Seaton Tramway	1969–present	2 ft 9 in (838 mm)	3 miles (4.8 km)	Seaton, Devon, England		Operates over a former axed British Rail branch line.
Shipley Glen Tramway	1895–present	20 in (508 mm)	0.2 miles (0.3 km)	Saltaire, England		Rope-hauled inclined tourist railway.
Sittingbourne & Kemsley Light Railway[9][10]	1969–present	2 ft 6 in (762 mm)	3.5 miles (5.6 km)	Sittingbourne, England		Heritage railway founded by the Locomotive Club of Great Britain, operating over part of the Bowater Light Railway.
Snaefell Mountain Railway	1895–present	3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm)	5 miles (8 km)	Laxey, Isle of Man		Steeply graded electric-powered Fell railway climbing to the summit of Snaefell, the Isle of Man's highest peak.
Snowdon Mountain Railway[18]	1896–present	800 mm (2 ft 7+1⁄2 in)	5 miles (8 km)	Llanberis, Wales		Britain's only rack railway, built to carry passengers to the top of Wales' highest mountain.
Steep Grade Railway	1897–1909	3 ft (914 mm)	Unknown	Brighton, England		A tourist funicular railway climbing the South Downs.
South Tynedale Railway	1983–present	2 ft (610 mm)	5 miles (8.0 km)	Alston, England		Steam-hauled line running on part of the trackbed of the standard gauge Newcastle and Carlisle Railway's Haltwhistle to Alston Branch.
Southend Pier Railway[29]	1830–1978	3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm)	1.34 miles (2.2 km)	Southend, England		Pier construction railway later used for passenger haulage, firstly horse-drawn, then electric.
	1986–present	3 ft (914 mm)	1.34 miles (2.2 km)	Southend, England		Pier railway later using modern diesel-powered stock.
Southport Pier Tramway[30]	1863–2015	3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm) (1 ft 11+1⁄2 in / 597 mm between 1950 and 2002)	0.68 miles (1.1 km)	Southport, England		Pier tramway, originally built for baggage and later used for passenger haulage. Variously operated by cable, electric, diesel and (currently) battery traction.
Southwold Railway	1879–1929	3 ft (914 mm)	8.75 miles (14.1 km)	Southwold, England		Steam-hauled line connecting Southwold with Halesworth along the Suffolk coast. There are ongoing plans to relay part of the line.
Steeple Grange Light Railway[31]	1988–present	18 in (457 mm)	Unknown	Wirksworth, England		Passenger-hauling minimum gauge railway running on the trackbed of the Killer's Branch of the standard gauge Cromford and High Peak Railway.
Surrey Iron Railway[32]	1802-1846	4 ft 2 in (1,270 mm)	9 miles (14.5 km)	Coulsdon, England		A horse-drawn plateway that linked Wandsworth and Croydon via Mitcham, the Surrey Iron Railway was the first public railway in the world, being established by Act of Parliament in 1801.
Talyllyn Railway[14]	1865–present	2 ft 3 in (686 mm)	7.25 miles (11.7 km)	Tywyn, Wales		Built to carry slate from Bryneglwys quarry to the coast. First heritage railway in the world to be preserved and run by volunteers.
Teifi Valley Railway	1986–present	2 ft (610 mm)	1.20 miles (1.9 km)	Henllan, Wales		A steam-hauled tourist railway on the trackbed of a standard gauge GWR branch to Carmarthen.
Torrington and Marland Railway[33]	1880–1971	3 ft (914 mm)	6.25 miles (10.1 km)	Torrington, England		Built to carry clay from the pits at Marland.
Tunnel Railway	Unknown-1965	2 ft (610 mm)	Unknown	Ramsgate, England		Steeply graded tourist line running mainly in a tunnel under Ramsgate
Twyford Waterworks[34]	Unknown-present	2 ft (610 mm)	Unknown	Twyford, England		Short industrial narrow-gauge railway line
Vale of Rheidol Railway[14]	1902–present	1 ft 11+3⁄4 in (603 mm)	11.75 miles (18.9 km)	Aberystwyth, Wales		Originally built to serve the lead mines of the Vale of Rheidol and the tourist trade, now a purely heritage line.
Volks Electric Railway	1883–present	2 ft 8.5 in (826 mm)	1.25 miles (2 km)	Brighton, England		Britain's first electric railway, running along the beachfront at Brighton.
Welsh Highland Railway[18]	1922–1937	1 ft 11+1⁄2 in (597 mm)	22 miles (35 km)	Porthmadog, Wales		An ambitious but short lived project to create Britain's longest narrow-gauge railway. Now rebuilt.
Welsh Highland Railway	1997–present	1 ft 11+1⁄2 in (597 mm)	25 miles (40.2 km)	Caernarfon, Wales		Restoration of the main line of the Welsh Highland Railway.
Welsh Highland Heritage Railway[9]	1964–present	1 ft 11+5⁄8 in (600 mm)	0.75 miles (1.2 km)	Porthmadog, Wales		Concentrating on the heritage aspects of the Welsh Highland Railway, including a museum and miniature railway. Uses a section of the original trackbed that the WHR Caernarfon line deviated from to connect to Porthmadog station on the Ffestiniog Railway.
Welshpool and Llanfair Light Railway[10][35]	1903–1956	2 ft 6 in (762 mm)	9 miles (14.5 km)[14]	Welshpool, Wales		Agricultural and passenger services in the Welsh borders.
	1963–present	2 ft 6 in (762 mm)	8 miles (12.9 km)	Welshpool, Wales		Heritage revival of the line.
West Lancashire Light Railway[9]	1966–present	2 ft (610 mm)	0.43 miles (0.69 km)	Hesketh Bank, England		Developed as a private railway, now operating as a tourist line with ex-industrial steam and diesel locomotives.
Whistlestop Valley (Formerly Kirklees Light Railway)	1991-present	15 in (381 mm)	3.5 miles (5.6 km)	Kirklees, West Yorkshire		Built atop the trackbed of the Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway's former branch line, from Clayton West via Skelmanthorpe to Shelley Woodhouse.
Wolverton and Stony Stratford Tramway	1886–1926	3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm)	4.5 miles (7.2 km)	Milton Keynes, England		Steam-hauled roadside tramway.
Woodhorn Narrow Gauge Railway	1993–Present	2 ft (610 mm)	0.62 miles (1.0 km)	Ashington, England		Passenger-carrying narrow-gauge tourist railway
Yaxham Light Railway[9]	1967–present	2 ft (610 mm)	360 yards (329 m)	Yaxham, England		Steam-hauled passenger line at the former GER railway station at Yaxham.

Estate railways

Narrow-gauge railways serving private estates. These were often minimum-gauge railways.

Name	Years of operation	Gauge	Length	Location	Image	Notes
Ardkinglas Railway[36]	before 1879-early 20th century	2 ft (610 mm)	Unknown	Ardkinglas Estate, Scotland		Private estate railway
Dalmunzie Railway[37]	1920–1978	2 ft 6 in (762 mm)	2.5 miles (4 km)	Dalmunzie Hotel, Scotland		Estate railway serving the grouse shooting moors and stone quarry above the hotel
Dodington House Railway	?–1983	2 ft (610 mm)	?	Tormarton, England		Built as a private line, with the intention to become a tourist attraction. Used two Hudson Hunslet diesel locomotives. Stock went to the Groudle Glen Railway after closure.
Duchal Moor Railway	1922–1970s	2 ft (610 mm)	7 miles (11.3 km)	Duchal Moor, Scotland		Estate railway serving the grouse shooting moors
Duffield Bank Railway	1874–1916	15 in (381 mm)	Unknown	Duffield, Derbyshire		Private demonstration estate railway built by Sir Arthur Heywood
Eaton Hall Railway[14]	1896–1947	15 in (381 mm)	3.75 miles (6 km)	Eaton Hall, Cheshire		Estate railway connecting Eaton Hall to the GWR at Balderton partially reconstructed as the Eaton Park Railway
St Michael's Mount Tramway[38]	1912–present	1,372 mm (4 ft 6 in)	200 m (656 ft)	St. Michael's Mount, Marazion, Cornwall		Funicular used only for freight, linking quay with castle, running mainly in tunnel
Sand Hutton Light Railway[14]	1912–1932	18 in (457 mm)	7 miles (11.3 km)	Warthill, England		Passenger and general freight line serving the Sand Hutton estate.

Museums

Museums devoted to narrow-gauge railways

Name	Opened	Closed	Gauge	Length	Location	Image	Notes
Albany Steam Museum Forest Road Light Railway[23]	before 1973	unknown	2 ft (610 mm)	Unknown	Newport, England		Steam and diesel locomotives on the site of a planned railway. Closed due to lack of planning permission for the site.
Amberley Working Museum[9]	1979	Present	mainly 2 ft (610 mm)	800 yards (732 m)	Amberley, England		Large industrial museum with extensive narrow-gauge railway collection, mainly from lines in the southeast of England.
Armley Mills Industrial Museum	?	Present	various	60 yards (55 m)	Leeds, England		Industrial museum highlighting the industrial heritage of Leeds. Has a significant collection of Leeds-built locomotives and a short demonstration line.
Blists Hill Clay Mine Railway	2009	present	2 ft (610 mm)	235 yards (215 m)	Telford, Shropshire		Operates at Blists Hill Victorian Town
Brockham Museum[9][39]	1962	1983	various	?	Dorking, England		Large collection of narrow-gauge railway equipment from the south-east of England. The collection moved to the Amberley Chalk Pits Museum
Bursledon Brickworks Museum[23]	About 1964[40]	November 2019[40]	2 ft (610 mm)	?	Bursledon, England		Steam-railway run by the Hampshire Narrow Gauge Railway Society
China Clay Industry Museum[9]	?	Present	4 ft 6 in (1,372 mm)	?	St Austell, England		Static display of ex-Lee Moor tramway locomotive
Conwy Valley Railway Museum[9]	1965 (?)	Present	Various	?	Betws-y-Coed, Wales		Small railway museum including a number of narrow-gauge artifacts
Dowty Railway Preservation Society[9]	1962	1985	various	?	Tewkesbury, England		Society of railway enthusiasts from the Dowty Group of companies with a substantial collection of narrow-gauge locomotives. See the North Gloucestershire Railway entry.
Durley Light Railway[23]	1968	2015	2 ft (610 mm)	?	Durley, England		Collection of steam and diesel locomotives originally located at Stoke Park sand pit from 1962, moved to Durley in 1968 where a railway was established.
The Narrow Gauge Railway Centre at Gloddfa Ganol[9]	1978[41]	1997	2 ft (610 mm)	1⁄2 mile (0.80 km)	Blaenau Ffestiniog, Wales		Then the largest collection of narrow-gauge locomotives in Britain, with over 70 present; housed in the former Oakeley slate quarry.
Golden Valley Light Railway	Late 1980s	Present	2 ft (610 mm)	Just under 1-mile (1.6 km)	Butterley, England		Scenic passenger line laid on the old Butterley works tramway, running to Newlands Inn through the country park. Large collection of working narrow-gauge locomotives and rolling stock housed within a large purpose-built shed at the Midland Railway – Butterley.
Herefordshire Waterworks Museum	1982	Present	2 ft (610 mm)	?	Hereford, England		Short demonstration line.
Hollycombe Steam Collection[9]	1968	Present	2 ft (610 mm)	?	Liphook, England		Working steam museum
Irchester Narrow Gauge Railway Museum	1980s	Present	1,000 mm (3 ft 3+3⁄8 in)	?	Irchester, England		Collection of rolling stock from Midlands ironstone railways and a short demonstration line.
Kew Bridge Steam Museum[9][39]	1986	Present	2 ft (610 mm)	400 yards (366 m)	London, England		Waterworks museum with a short demonstration line, run since 1992 by the Hampshire Narrow Gauge Railway Society
Klondyke Steam Museum[9]	1981	1982	1 ft 11+1⁄2 in (597 mm)	?	Draycott-on-the-clay, England		A proposed steam museum using the Ffestiniog Railway locomotive Palmerston. Never opened
Llechwedd Slate Caverns[9]	1972	present	Various	Unknown	Blaenau Ffestiniog, Wales		Passenger carrying railway operated with battery-electric locomotives, mainly underground in the Llechwedd slate mine; separate funicular that takes passengers into deeper portions of the mine also present
Monkton Farleigh Mine Museum[42]	before 1987	1990	2 ft (610 mm)	?	Bath, England		4wDM locomotive at a mining museum in an abandoned quarry.
Morwellham Open Air Museum[9]	?	Present	2 ft (610 mm)	?	Tavistock, England		Passenger-carrying tourist railway at the museum
Moseley Industrial Narrow Gauge Tramway and Museum Tumblydown Farm railway[15][43]	2001	Present	2 ft (610 mm)	600 yards (549 m)	Tolgus Mount, England		Part of the original Moseley Tramway collection now relocated to Cornwall.
Moseley Railway Trust[9]	1968	Present	mainly 2 ft (610 mm)	?	Newcastle-under-Lyme, England		A significant collection of industrial locomotives currently in store, but due to re-open at the Apedale Heritage Center in 2006.
Narrow Gauge Railway Museum[9]	1956	Present	Various	?	Tywyn, Wales		Static exhibits at the Talyllyn Railway's Tywyn Wharf station.
North Western Museum of Science and Industry[9]	before 1981	Present	3 ft (914 mm)	?	Liverpool, England		Static exhibit of ex-Isle of Man Railway No. 3 Pender
Penrhyn Castle Railway Museum	1951	Present	various	?	Bangor, Wales		Collection of industrial narrow-gauge locomotives and artifacts
Purbeck Mineral and Mining Museum[44][45]	2004	Present	various	?	Norden, England		Collection of narrow-gauge rolling stock from the Purbeck clay mining industry. A demonstration railway is under construction.
Radstock Light Railway[44]	1995	present	2 ft (610 mm)	Unknown	Radstock, England		Equipment on the Somerset and Avon Railway Association's site, mostly from the former Vobster Railway.
Tolgus Tin Mine Museum[9]	?	?	2 ft 2 in (660 mm)	?	Redruth, England		Static display of mining locomotive
Welland Valley Vintage Traction Club[9]	?	?	3 ft (914 mm)	?	Market Harborough, England		Ex-ironstone quarry railway equipment on static exhibition, including Kettering Ironstone Railway No. 8[46]
Westonzoyland Pumping Station Museum[9][44]	?	2004	2 ft (610 mm)	?	Westonzoyland, England		Small industrial museum at restored pumphouse with a short demonstration railway.

Visitor attractions

Narrow-gauge railways that operate as part of a larger tourist attraction, such as an estate or theme park.

Name	Years of operation	Gauge	Length	Location	Image	Notes
Alton Towers Park Railway	1953–1996	2 ft (610 mm)	Unknown	Farley, Staffordshire, England		A narrow-gauge railway at the Alton Towers amusement park.
Lappa Valley Steam Railway	1974–present	15 in (381 mm)	1 mi (1.6 km)	Newquay, Cornwall, England		A narrow-gauge railway and family entertainment park built on the trackbed of the GWR Newquay to Chacewater line, between Benny Halt and East Wheal Rose.
Amerton Railway[47]	1990–present	2 ft (610 mm)	0.5 mi (0.8 km)	Amerton, England		A steam-hauled passenger line running round the Amerton Working Farm.
Battersea Park, Far Tottering and Oyster Creek Railway[39]	1951–1953	15 in (381 mm)	0.5 mi (0.8 km)	Battersea, England		A whimsical attraction at the Festival of Britain Pleasure Gardens built to the designs of the Punch cartoonist Emett.
Bicton Woodland Railway	1963–present	18 in (457 mm)	Unknown	Budleigh Salterton, England		A tourist railway running round Bicton Gardens, originally equipped with stock from the Woolwich Arsenal Railway.
Blenheim Palace Railway	1990s?-present	15 in (381 mm)	Unknown	Blenheim Palace, Oxfordshire		The line runs between car park and palace, through parkland surrounding the ancestral home of the Dukes of Marlborough. The steam-outline diesel locomotive, built by Alan Keef, is named after Winston Churchill, who was born at Blenheim in 1874.
Bressingham Steam and Gardens (Bressingham Steam Museum)	1970s-present	2 ft (610 mm)	2.5 mi (4 km)	Diss, Norfolk		Short passenger carrying line around the famous Bloom gardens at Bressingham; part of a larger steam collection.
Camelot Theme Park	1983–1986	2 ft (610 mm)	Unknown	Charnock Richard, England		Short tourist line at an amusement park in Lancashire
Chessington World of Adventures, Chessington Railroad[39]	1987–1996	2 ft (610 mm)	Unknown	Chessington, England		Passenger carrying tourist line in Chessington World of Adventures that was built to replace the 12 in (305 mm) miniature railway Chessington Zoo Railway.
Cotswold Wildlife Park Railway	1975-present	2 ft (610 mm)	Unknown	Burford, England		Passenger carrying tourist line around the wildlife park.
Doddington Park Light Railway	?-present	2 ft (610 mm)	Unknown	Chipping Sodbury, England		A tourist railway in the grounds of Doddington House stately home.
Drusillas Park Railway	1946–present	2 ft (610 mm)	Unknown	Alfriston, England		Short tourist line around an amusement park.
Gardner's Pleasure Resort[39]	1893–1934	Unknown	Unknown	Riddlesdown, England		Early pleasure railway with home-built steam locomotive which survived until 1948.
Knebworth Park and Winter Green Railway	1972–1990	2 ft (610 mm)	1.5 mi (2.4 km)	Knebworth, England		Steam-hauled passenger line in the grounds of Knebworth House.
Legoland Windsor, Hill Train	1991–present	3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm)	300 m (0.2 mi)	Windsor, Berkshire, England		A funicular. Opened when the park was still known as Windsor Safari Park.
Margam Train[48]	?-present	2 ft (610 mm)	Unknown	Margam Country Park, Wales		Tourist railway round the Country Park hauled by a steam-outline diesel locomotive.
Old Kiln Light Railway[49][39]	1982–present	2 ft (610 mm)	Unknown	Tilford, England		Short steam-hauled railway at the Rural Life Centre.
Overstone Solarium Light Railway	1969-?	2 ft (610 mm)	Unknown	Sywell, England		A short line running as a tourist attraction round the Overstone Solarium amusement park.
Pleasure Beach Express	1933–present	21 in (533 mm)	Unknown	Blackpool, England		Short tourist line running around the perimeter of the south half of Pleasure Beach Blackpool.
RANG (Royal Arsenal Narrow Gauge) railway[50]	2019–present	2 ft (610 mm)	350 yd (320 m)	Crossness Pumping Station, Thamesmead, England		The line transports visitors to the Victorian Pumping Station. The locomotive Bazalgette is a Severn-Lamb 0-4-0DH.
Seaton Tramway	1971–present	2 ft 9 in (838 mm)	3 mi (4.8 km)	Seaton, England		Electric tramway using half-scale trams.
Telford Town Tramway[9][51]	1980–mid 1980s, then 1989-present	2 ft (610 mm)	Unknown	Telford, England		A steam-hauled tramway in Telford new town, it closed in the mid 1980s and was then moved to the Telford Horsehay Steam Trust, where it continues to run.
Thorpe Park, Canada Creek Railway[39]	1989–2011	2 ft (610 mm)	Unknown	Chertsey, England		Short tourist line at an amusement park in Surrey. From 1989 to 2006 this train carried guests to and from Thorpe Farm. The railway then had a shortened closed circuit around the Canada Creek area of the park beginning in 2007 until its closure.
Thorpe Park, Treasure Island Railway[39]	1984–1992	2 ft (610 mm)	Unknown	Chertsey, England		Short tourist line at an amusement park in Surrey. A small train based attraction around an Island featuring live actors and audience participation loosely based on the novel Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson.
Waltham Abbey Royal Gunpowder Mills Railway[50]	?–present	2 ft 6 in (762 mm)	Unknown	Waltham Abbey, England		700 yards (640 m) long demonstration railway.
Wey Valley Light Railway[9][49][39]	before 1971-1982	2 ft (610 mm)	Unknown	Farnham, England		Passenger-carrying railway run by Farnham District Scouts. Became the Old Kiln Light Railway
Whipsnade Zoo Great Whipsnade Railway[10]	1970–present	2 ft 6 in (762 mm)	Unknown	Dunstable, England		Steam-hauled passenger line running around the grounds of Whipsnade Zoo. Rolling stock came from the Bowater Light Railway.
Woburn Safari Park Great Woburn Railway[52]	1973–present[53]	2 ft (610 mm). Later converted to 20 in (508 mm)	1⁄4 mile (0.40 km)	Woburn, England		Passenger line running around the grounds of Woburn Safari Park.
Yafford Mill Railway[23]	1994–2000	2 ft 6 in (762 mm)	0.75 mi (1.2 km)	Newport, England		Short-lived passenger railway using ex-MOD diesel locomotives and stock built by Alan Keef.

Private railways

These are private lines or collections owned by individuals or small groups and generally not open to the public.

Industrial railways

Great Britain was home to many industrial narrow-gauge railways, ranging from temporary hand-powered lines a few yards long to significant locomotive-worked complexes of lines that served substantial industrial concerns.

Military railways

Many British military establishments and former UK Government-owned explosives sites used narrow-gauge railways. These locations were often subject to the Official Secrets Act and other government restrictions, so many of them are less well documented.