List of British heritage and private railways

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This is a list of heritage, private and preserved railways in the United Kingdom and the Channel Islands that are privately owned, kept or preserved, built, constructed and run for railway heritage and/or profit, not necessarily providing a meaningful public transportation service. For rail museums, see List of British railway museums.

Many of the standard-gauge railways (thus including former ex-branch lines and former ex-mainline routes) listed were originally closed by British Railways (later shortened to British Rail) under the Beeching Cuts in the 1960s, although lines closed in subsequent decades have also been subject to restoration and operation as private or preserved heritage lines. A smaller number of lines were formerly industrial or colliery railways.

Many of these preserved railways, heritage lines and railway centres alike are popular tourist attractions and make significant contributions to their local economies.

England[edit]

Standard gauge[edit]

GWR Earl of Berkeley at Horsted Keynes Station, Bluebell Railway
Mixed train on the Mid-Suffolk Light Railway
Goathland station on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway
Arley station on the Severn Valley Railway
A general view of the Swanage Railway
Steam locomotive (number 80136) with carriages at station platform.
Bishops Lydeard station on the West Somerset Railway

Railway centres and museums[edit]

The engine sheds at Didcot Railway Centre

Narrow gauge[edit]

Restored Victorian coach at the Lynton & Barnstaple Railway
The Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway in 1981
Trains on the Romney, Hythe & Dymchurch Railway
The Volks Electric Railway

Miniature railways[edit]

This list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.
The Beer Heights Light Railway
The Wells and Walsingham Light Railway
The North Bay Railway

Tramways[edit]

Dudley tram No. 5 of 1920 at Black Country Museum
A 1931 Leeds tram seen at Crich Tramway Village in 2004

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.

In addition, preserved trams operate at:

Proposed[edit]

Northern Ireland[edit]

Standard gauge[edit]

Narrow gauge[edit]

  • TBA

See List of heritage railways in Northern Ireland.

Scotland[edit]

Standard gauge[edit]

Railway centres[edit]

Narrow gauge[edit]

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

Miniature railways[edit]

Tramways[edit]

Proposed[edit]

TBA

Wales[edit]

Standard gauge[edit]

Narrow gauge[edit]

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

Miniature railways[edit]

Tramways[edit]

Proposed[edit]

Isle of Man[edit]

See List of heritage railways in the Isle of Man.

Channel Islands[edit]

Alderney[edit]

Jersey[edit]

See also[edit]

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

References[edit]

  1. ^ [1]
  2. ^ http://leistonworksrailwaytrust.onesuffolk.net/
  3. ^ http://www.southwoldrailway.co.uk/index.php
  4. ^ [2]
  5. ^ [3]
  6. ^ Orme Tramway
  7. ^ Immrco Ltd

External links[edit]
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=List_of_British_heritage_and_private_railways&oldid=604740571"