List of British heritage and private railways

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.

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

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
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

Miniature gauge
The Beer Heights Light Railway

Tramways

West Midlands
Arley station on the Severn Valley Railway

Standard gauge

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
  • Poulton and Wyre Railway, Thornton–Cleveleys, Lancashire (currently under restoration)

South West
  • Combe Rail, Mortehoe-Woolacombe, Devon (Proposed)
  • Remembrance Line, Folkestone, Kent (Proposed)
  • North Somerset Railway, Radstock, Somerset (Proposed)
  • Shillingstone Railway Project, Shillingstone, Dorset (Currently under construction)
  • Tarka Valley Railway, Torrington, Devon (Display museum at former station house, public house only)
  • Vale of Berkeley Railway, Sharpness, Gloucestershire (Proposed)

Defunct

Northern Ireland

See List of heritage railways in Northern Ireland

Broad gauge

Railway centres and museums

Narrow gauge

Defunct
  • Shanes Castle Railway, County Antrim – closed 1994 (stock moved to Giants Causeway and Bushmills Railway.)

Scotland

Standard gauge

Central Highlands

East Coast of Scotland

Scottish Borders

West Coast of Scotland

Railway centres and museums

Narrow gauge
Craignure station on the 10 1⁄4 in (260 mm) gauge Isle of Mull railway

Miniature railways

Tramways
  • Summerlee Heritage Park,[6] Coatbridge, North Lanarkshire

Proposed

Defunct

Wales

North Wales

Standard gauge

Railway centres and museums

Narrow gauge
The Llanberis Lake Railway
The Snowdon Mountain Railway
The Welsh Highland Railway

Miniature railways

Tramways

Mid Wales

Narrow gauge

Miniature railways

South Wales

Standard gauge

Narrow gauge

Proposed

North Wales
Standard gauge
  • Dolgarrog Railway, Conwy (under construction)
  • Bala & Ffestiniog Railway Heritage Trust, Maentwrog Road, Gwynedd (currently under restoration)
Narrow gauge

South Wales
Standard gauge

Defunct
  • 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
  • Swansea Vale Railway, Pentrechwyth – closed in 2009, (most of the track and rolling stock are now located on the Gwili Railway).
  • Trawsfynydd and Blaenau Ffestiniog Railway, Closed and replaced by Bala & Ffestiniog Railway Heritage Trust

Crown dependencies

Isle of Man

See Rail transport in the Isle of Man.

Channel Islands

British Overseas Territories

Falkland Islands

See also

References
  1. "One Suffolk". leistonworksrailwaytrust.onesuffolk.net. Archived from the original on 13 June 2013. Retrieved 3 April 2018.
  2. "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.
  3. "ScottishIndustrialRailwayCentre". www.scottishindustrialrailwaycentre.org.uk. Retrieved 3 April 2018.
  4. "The Ferryhill Railway Heritage Trust Incorporating Ferryhill Men's Shed - Welcome Page". www.frht.org.uk. Retrieved 3 April 2018.
  5. http://www.shed47.org/index.html
  6. "Wayback Machine". 27 October 2009. Archived from the original on 27 October 2009. Retrieved 3 April 2018.
  7. Orme Tramway
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