Wikipedia

List of British heritage and private railways

(Redirected from British railway preservation movement)

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.

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

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

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Northern England

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Goathland station on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway

Standard gauge

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Railway centres and museums

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Narrow gauge

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The Threlkeld Quarry Railway in 2013
 
The Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway in 1981

Miniature

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The North Bay Railway
 
Miniature Railway in Royden Park

Tramways

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Wirral Tramway

East of England

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

Standard gauge

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Railway centres and museums

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Narrow gauge

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Miniature

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The Wells and Walsingham Light Railway

Tramways

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East Midlands

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Standard gauge

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Great Central Railway (heritage railway).

Railway centres and museums

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Narrow gauge

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Miniature

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Tramways

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A 1931 Leeds tram seen at Crich Tramway Village in 2004

South East

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GWR Earl of Berkeley at Horsted Keynes Station, Bluebell Railway

Standard gauge

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Railway centres and museums

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The engine sheds at Didcot Railway Centre

Narrow gauge

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

Miniature

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South West

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Bishops Lydeard station on the West Somerset Railway
 
A general view of the Swanage Railway

Standard gauge

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Railway centres and museums

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Narrow gauge

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

Miniature

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The Beer Heights Light Railway

Tramways

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West Midlands

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Arley station on the Severn Valley Railway

Standard gauge

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Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway

Railway centres and museums

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Narrow gauge

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Miniature

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Tramways

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Dudley tram No. 5 of 1920 at Black Country Museum

Proposed

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East of England

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North of England

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South of England

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Defunct

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

Northern Ireland

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See List of heritage railways in Northern Ireland

Irish standard gauge

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Railway centres and museums

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Narrow gauge

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Defunct

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Scotland

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Standard gauge

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Central Highlands

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East Coast of Scotland

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South West Scotland

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Railway centres and museums

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Narrow gauge

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Craignure station on the 260 mm gauge Isle of Mull railway

Miniature railways

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Proposed

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Defunct

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Wales

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North Wales

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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

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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

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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

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North Wales

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Standard gauge
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Narrow gauge
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South Wales

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Standard gauge
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Defunct

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Crown dependencies

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Isle of Man

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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

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See Rail transport in the Isle of Man.

Channel Islands

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British Overseas Territories

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Falkland Islands

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See also

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

References

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  1. ^ Greenbank, Tony (10 August 2015). "An abandoned industrial site hiding a wildlife haven". The Guardian.
  2. ^ "One Suffolk". leistonworksrailwaytrust.onesuffolk.net. Archived from the original on 13 June 2013. Retrieved 3 April 2018.
  3. ^ "Norfolk Orbital". https://norfolk-orbital-railway.co.uk/. Retrieved 3 January 2023. {{cite web}}: External link in |work= (help)
  4. ^ "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.
  5. ^ "Peatlands Park". Discover Northern Ireland. Retrieved 2 January 2023.
  6. ^ "ScottishIndustrialRailwayCentre". www.scottishindustrialrailwaycentre.org.uk. Retrieved 3 April 2018.
  7. ^ . 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)
  8. ^ "About Our Project". llanellirailway. Retrieved 12 September 2022.
  9. ^ "The Train". www.margamcountrypark.co.uk. Retrieved 12 September 2022.
  10. ^ Rik, Ge (30 April 2014). "Narrow Gauge Railways UK: Margam Park Railway". Narrow Gauge Railways UK. Retrieved 12 September 2022.
  11. ^ Till.Tech. "Cefn Mably Farm Park | Full Steam Ahead!". Cefn Mably Farm Park. Retrieved 12 September 2022.
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