List of British heritage and private railways

This is a list of heritage, private and preserved railways throughout the United Kingdom and the Channel Islands whether operational or former, for charitable purposes or shareholder profit. Some also provide a local economic transport purpose. 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 closed by British Railways (later shortened to British Rail) under the Beeching Axe of the 1960s. Others later or earlier closed. All ceased their public financing with up-to-date rolling stock and often avoided electrification and electronic signals to be restored and operated as heritage lines. A smaller number of lines were formerly both industrial and colliery railways.

Many of these preserved railways and railway centres such as stations, engineering workshops and collections of old locomotives are mentioned in national and international tour guides, and visits may form part of a school curriculum and centres of other studies including in civil engineering, mechanics, social, economic and political history, visual arts and drama.

England

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

Miniature Gauge

The Beer Heights Light Railway

Tramways

East of England

Mixed train on the Mid-Suffolk Light 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 of 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

Tramways

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

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

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

North of England

South and West of England

Defunct

Northern Ireland

See List of heritage railways in Northern Ireland

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 10 1⁄4 in (260 mm) gauge Isle of Mull railway

Miniature railways

Tramways

Proposed

TBA

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

North Wales

Narrow Gauge

South Wales

Standard Gauge

Defunct

Isle of Man

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.

References

  1. ↑ http://leistonworksrailwaytrust.onesuffolk.net/
  2. ↑ http://www.southwoldrailway.co.uk/index.php
  3. ↑ http://www.invergarrystation.org.uk
  4. ↑ http://www.scottishindustrialrailwaycentre.org.uk/
  5. ↑ http://www.shed47.org/index.html
  6. ↑ http://web.archive.org/web/20091027060737/http://geocities.com/summerleetrams/
  7. ↑ Orme Tramway
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