Map
Interactive map of standard gauge heritage railways in Great Britain.
Map
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.

England

East of England

Mixed train on the Mid-Suffolk Light Railway
Restored double track section on the Mid-Norfolk Railway

Standard gauge

Railway centres and museums

Narrow gauge

Miniature gauge

The Wells and Walsingham Light Railway

Tramways

East Midlands

Standard gauge

Great Central Railway (heritage railway).

Railway centres and museums

Narrow gauge

Miniature gauge

Tramways

A 1931 Leeds tram seen at Crich Tramway Village in 2004

North England

Goathland station on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway

Standard gauge

Railway centres and museums

Narrow gauge

The Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway in 1981

Miniature gauge

The North Bay Railway
Miniature Railway in Royden Park

Tramways

Wirral Tramway

South East

GWR Earl of Berkeley at Horsted Keynes Station, Bluebell Railway

Standard gauge

Railway centres and museums

The engine sheds at Didcot Railway Centre

Narrow gauge

Trains on the Romney, Hythe & Dymchurch Railway
The Volks Electric Railway

Miniature gauge

South West

Steam locomotive (number 80136) with carriages at station platform.
Bishops Lydeard station on the West Somerset Railway
A general view of the Swanage Railway

Standard gauge

Railway centres and museums

Narrow gauge

Restored Victorian coach at the Lynton & Barnstaple Railway
Exmouth Miniature Railway

Miniature gauge

The Beer Heights Light Railway

Tramways

West Midlands

Arley station on the Severn Valley Railway

Standard gauge

Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway

Railway centres and museums

Narrow gauge

Miniature gauge

Tramways

Dudley tram No. 5 of 1920 at Black Country Museum

Proposed

East of England

North of England

South of England

Defunct

This is a list of former heritage railway attractions that are sadly defunct.

Northern Ireland

See List of heritage railways in Northern Ireland

Irish standard gauge

Railway centres and museums

Narrow gauge

Defunct

Scotland

Standard gauge

Central Highlands

East Coast of Scotland

Scottish Borders

Railway centres and museums

Narrow gauge

Craignure station on the 260 mm gauge Isle of Mull railway

Miniature railways

Tramways

Proposed

Defunct

Wales

North Wales

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

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

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[9] 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)[10] c. 2011[11]
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[12]
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

North Wales

Standard gauge
Narrow gauge

South Wales

Standard gauge

Defunct

Crown dependencies

Isle of Man

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

See Rail transport in the Isle of Man.

Channel Islands

British Overseas Territories

Falkland Islands

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Heritage railways in the United Kingdom.

References

  1. ^ "One Suffolk". leistonworksrailwaytrust.onesuffolk.net. Archived from the original on 13 June 2013. Retrieved 3 April 2018.
  2. ^ "Norfolk Orbital". https://norfolk-orbital-railway.co.uk/. Retrieved 3 January 2023. ((cite web)): External link in |work= (help)
  3. ^ "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.
  4. ^ "Peatlands Park". Discover Northern Ireland. Retrieved 2 January 2023.
  5. ^ "ScottishIndustrialRailwayCentre". www.scottishindustrialrailwaycentre.org.uk. Retrieved 3 April 2018.
  6. ^ "The Ferryhill Railway Heritage Trust Incorporating Ferryhill Men's Shed - Welcome Page". www.frht.org.uk. Retrieved 3 April 2018.
  7. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 1 July 2016. Retrieved 9 November 2015.((cite web)): CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  8. ^ . 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)
  9. ^ "About Our Project". llanellirailway. Retrieved 12 September 2022.
  10. ^ "The Train". www.margamcountrypark.co.uk. Retrieved 12 September 2022.
  11. ^ Rik, Ge (30 April 2014). "Narrow Gauge Railways UK: Margam Park Railway". Narrow Gauge Railways UK. Retrieved 12 September 2022.
  12. ^ Till.Tech. "Cefn Mably Farm Park | Full Steam Ahead!". Cefn Mably Farm Park. Retrieved 12 September 2022.

External links

Heritage railways, museums and preservation societies in England
Heritage railways, museums and preservation societies in Northern Ireland
Heritage railways, museums and preservation societies in Scotland
Heritage railways, museums and preservation societies in Wales
Heritage railways, museums and preservation societies in the Isle of Man
Heritage railways, museums and preservation societies in the Channel Islands
Categories