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
Standard gauge
- Colne Valley Railway, Castle Hedingham, Essex
- Epping Ongar Railway, Ongar, Essex
- Mid-Norfolk Railway, Dereham, Norfolk
- Mid Suffolk Light Railway, Brockford, Suffolk
- Nene Valley Railway, Wansford, Cambridgeshire
- North Norfolk Railway, Sheringham, Norfolk
Railway centres and museums
- Bressingham Steam and Gardens, Diss, Norfolk
- East Anglian Railway Museum, Chappel & Wakes Colne Station, Essex
- Mangapps Railway Museum, Burnham-on-Crouch, Essex
- Railworld Wildlife Haven, Peterborough, Cambridgeshire
- Whitwell & Reepham Railway, Reepham, Norfolk
Narrow gauge
- Bressingham Steam and Gardens, Diss, Norfolk
- Great Whipsnade Railway, ZSL Whipsnade Zoo, Bedfordshire
- Leighton Buzzard Light Railway, Bedfordshire
- Southend Pier Railway, Southend-on-Sea, Essex
- Waltham Abbey Royal Gunpowder Mills, Essex
- Yaxham Light Railway, Norfolk – private site
Miniature gauge
- Audley End Railway, Essex
- Bure Valley Railway, Aylsham, Norfolk
- , Bushey, Hertfordshire
- East Herts Miniature Railway, Ware, Hertfordshire
- Eaton Park Miniature Railway, Norwich, Norfolk
- Fancott Miniature Railway, Bedfordshire
- Rex Express, Paradise Wildlife Park, Hertfordshire
- Great Woburn Railway, Woburn, Bedfordshire
- Museum of Power, Langford, Essex
- Wells & Walsingham Light Railway, Wells-next-the-Sea, Norfolk
- Wells Harbour Railway, Wells-next-the-Sea, Norfolk
Tramways
- East Anglia Transport Museum, Lowestoft, Suffolk
East Midlands
Standard gauge
- Battlefield Line, Shackerstone, Leicestershire
- Ecclesbourne Valley Railway, Wirksworth, Derbyshire
- Great Central Railway, Loughborough, Leicestershire
- Great Central Railway, Ruddington, Nottinghamshire
- Lincolnshire Wolds Railway, Ludborough, Lincolnshire
- Midland Railway, Butterley, Derbyshire
- Northampton & Lamport Railway, Pitsford and Brampton, Northamptonshire
- Northants Ironstone Railway, Hunsbury Hill, Northamptonshire
- Peak Rail, Matlock, Derbyshire
- Rushden, Higham & Wellingborough Railway, Rushden, Northamptonshire
- Rutland Railway, Cottesmore, Rutland
Railway centres and museums
- Appleby Frodingham Railway, Scunthorpe, Lincolnshire
- Barrow Hill Railway Centre, Barrow Hill nr Chesterfield, Derbyshire
- Nottingham Transport Heritage Centre, Ruddington, Nottinghamshire
- Rushden Transport Museum, Northamptonshire
Narrow gauge
- Billing Aquadrome Miniature Railway, Great Billing, Northamptonshire
- Crowle Peatland Railway, Crowle, North Lincolnshire
- Derbyshire Dales Narrow Gauge Railway, Rowsley, Derbyshire
- Golden Valley Light Railway, Butterley, Derbyshire
- Greenlea Light Railway, Burbage, Leicestershire - private site
- Irchester Narrow Gauge Railway Museum, Irchester, Wellingborough, Northamptonshire
- Lincolnshire Coast Light Railway, Skegness, Lincolnshire
- North Ings Farm Railway, Lincolnshire
- Steeple Grange Light Railway, Wirksworth, Derbyshire
- Wicksteed Park Railway, Kettering, Northamptonshire
Miniature gauge
- Cleethorpes Coast Light Railway, Lincolnshire
- Mablethorpe Miniature Railway, Queens Park, Mablethorpe, Lincolnshire
- Stapleford Miniature Railway, near Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire
Tramways
- National Tramway Museum, Crich, Derbyshire
North England
Standard gauge
- Aln Valley Railway, Alnwick, Northumberland
- Bowes Railway, Tyne and Wear
- Derwent Valley Light Railway, Murton, North Yorkshire
- East Lancashire Railway, Bury, Greater Manchester
- Eden Valley Railway, Warcop, Cumbria
- Elsecar Heritage Railway, South Yorkshire
- Embsay and Bolton Abbey Steam Railway, Embsay, North Yorkshire
- Keighley & Worth Valley Railway, Haworth, West Yorkshire
- Lakeside & Haverthwaite Railway, Haverthwaite, nr Staveley, Cumbria
- Middleton Railway, Hunslet, West Yorkshire
- North Tyneside Steam Railway, North Shields, Tyne and Wear
- North Yorkshire Moors Railway, Pickering, North Yorkshire
- Ribble Steam Railway, Preston, Lancashire
- Stainmore Railway, Kirkby Stephen, Cumbria
- Tanfield Railway, Marley Hill, County Durham
- Weardale Railway, Stanhope, County Durham
- Wensleydale Railway, Leeming Bar, North Yorkshire
- Yorkshire Wolds Railway, Sledmere–Fimber, East Yorkshire
Railway centres and museums
- Astley Green Colliery Museum, Lancashire
- Beamish Museum & Railway Centre, County Durham
- Carnforth Railway Centre, Carnforth, Lancashire
- Crewe Heritage Centre, Crewe, Cheshire
- Darlington Railway Centre and Museum, Darlington, County Durham
- Haig Colliery Mining Museum, Cumbria
- Leeds Industrial Museum, Armley, West Yorkshire
- Locomotion, Shildon, County Durham
- Monkwearmouth Station Museum, Sunderland
- National Railway Museum, York, North Yorkshire
- Stephenson Railway Museum, West Chirton, Tyne and Wear
Narrow gauge
- Eaton Hall Railway, Cheshire – private site
- Heatherslaw Light Railway, Northumberland
- South Tynedale Railway between Alston, Cumbria and Slaggyford, Northumberland
- Threlkeld Quarry and Mining Railway, Cumbria
- West Lancashire Light Railway, Hesketh Bank, Lancashire
- Woodhorn Narrow Gauge Railway, Ashington, Northumberland
Miniature gauge
- All in one Miniature Railway, Knutsford nr Allostock, Cheshire
- Blackpool Zoo Railway, Blackpool, Lancashire
- Brookside Miniature Railway, Poynton, Cheshire
- Dragon Miniature Railway, Marple, nr Stockport, Greater Manchester
- High Legh Miniature Railway, High Legh, Cheshire
- Kirklees Light Railway, Clayton West, West Yorkshire
- Knowsley Safari Park Railway, Knowsley, Merseyside
- Halton Miniature Railway, Runcorn, Cheshire
- Lakeside Miniature Railway, Pleasureland Southport, Merseyside
- North Bay Railway, Scarborough, North Yorkshire
- Pleasure Beach Express, Blackpool Pleasure Beach, Lancashire
- Pugneys Light Railway, Wakefield, West Yorkshire
- Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway, Cumbria
- Wirral Model Engineering Society, Royden Park, Wirral, Merseyside
- Saltburn Miniature Railway, Saltburn, North Yorkshire
- South Park Miniature Railway, Cheadle Hulme, Greater Manchester
- Walton Park Miniature Railway, Sale, Greater Manchester
- Woodhorn Narrow Gauge Railway, Ashington, Northumberland
- Windmill Farm Railway, Bursough, Lancashire
Tramways
- Beamish Museum, County Durham
- Bradford Industrial Museum, Eccleshill,, West Yorkshire
- Heaton Park Tramway, Manchester, Greater Manchester
- Shipley Glen Tramway, Shipley, West Yorkshire
- South Yorkshire Transport Museum, Aldwarke, Rotherham, South Yorkshire
- Wirral Transport Museum and Heritage Tramway, Birkenhead, Merseyside
South East
Standard gauge
- Bluebell Railway, Sheffield Park, Sussex
- Chatham Historic Dockyard Railway, Kent
- Chinnor & Princes Risborough Railway, Chinnor, Oxfordshire
- Cholsey & Wallingford Railway, Wallingford, Oxfordshire
- East Kent Railway, Shepherdswell, Kent
- Fawley Hill Railway, Buckinghamshire
- Isle of Wight Steam Railway, Havenstreet, Isle of Wight
- Kent & East Sussex Steam Railway, Tenterden, Kent
- Lavender Line, Isfield, East Sussex
- Mid Hants Railway, The Watercress Line, New Alresford, Hampshire
- Rother Valley Railway, Robertsbridge, East Sussex
- Spa Valley Railway, Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent
Railway centres and museums
- Buckinghamshire Railway Centre, Quainton Road, Buckinghamshire
- Didcot Railway Centre, Didcot, Oxfordshire
- Finmere railway station, Buckinghamshire
- London Transport Museum, Covent Garden, Central London
- London Transport Museum Depot, Acton, West London
- Southall Railway Centre, Southall, West London
Narrow gauge
- Amberley Museum Railway, Amberley, West Sussex
- Great Bush Railway, Tinkers Park, Hadlow Down, East Sussex
- Bredgar & Wormshill Light Railway,near Sittingbourne, Kent
- Exbury Gardens Railway, Beaulieu, Hampshire
- Hayling Seaside Railway, Hayling Island, Hampshire
- Hollycombe Steam Collection, near Liphook, Hampshire
- Hythe Pier Ferry Railway, Hampshire
- Old Kiln Light Railway, Rural Life Centre, Reeds Road, Tilford, Farnham, Surrey
- Hampton & Kempton Waterworks Railway, Hanworth/Hampton, London.
- London Museum of Water & Steam, Kew Bridge, Brentford, London
- Mail Rail, short section of the former London Post Office Railway opened to public since 2017
- Romney, Hythe & Dymchurch Railway, Kent
- Sittingbourne & Kemsley Light Railway, Kent
- Volk's Electric Railway, Brighton, East Sussex
Miniature gauge
- Bekonscot Light Railway, Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire
- Blenheim Park Railway, Blenheim Palace, Oxfordshire
- Beech Hurst Park Miniature Railway, Haywards Heath, West Sussex
- Crowborough Miniature Railway, Crowborough, East Sussex
- Eastleigh Lakeside Steam Railway, Hampshire
- Frimley Lodge Park Railway, Surrey
- Great Cockcrow Railway, Chertsey, Surrey
- Harlington Locomotive Society, Hayes, Middlesex
- Hastings Miniature Railway, Hastings Seafront, East Sussex
- Ickenham Miniature Railway, Ickenham, London
- Malden District Society of Model Engineers, Thames Ditton, Surrey
- Marwell Zoo Railway, Colden Common, Hampshire
- Moors Valley Railway, near Ringwood, Hampshire
- Reading Society of Model Engineers, Reading Berkshire
- Royal Victoria Country Park, Southampton, Hampshire
- Ruislip Lido Railway, Ruislip, London
- South Downs Light Railway, Pulborough, West Sussex
- Watford Miniature Railway, Cassiobury Park, Watford, Hertfordshire
- Woking Miniature Railway, Knaphill, Surrey
South West
Standard gauge
- Avon Valley Railway, Bitton, Gloucestershire
- Bodmin & Wenford Railway, Bodmin, Cornwall
- Bristol Harbour Railway, Bristol
- Dartmoor Railway, Okehampton, Devon
- Dartmouth Steam Railway, Paignton, Devon
- Dean Forest Railway, Norchard, Gloucestershire
- East Somerset Railway, Cranmore, Somerset
- Helston Railway, Prospidnick, Cornwall
- Plym Valley Railway, Marsh Mills, Devon
- Somerset & Dorset Railway, Midsomer Norton, Somerset
- South Devon Railway, Buckfastleigh, Devon
- Swanage Railway, Swanage, Dorset
- Swindon & Cricklade Railway, Blunsdon, Wiltshire
- West Somerset Railway, Minehead, Somerset
Railway centres and museums
- Bideford Railway Heritage Centre, Devon
- Shillingstone Railway Project, Shillingstone, Dorset
- Steam – Museum of the Great Western Railway, Swindon, Wiltshire
- Yeovil Railway Centre, Yeovil, Somerset
Narrow gauge
- Bicton Woodland Railway, Devon
- Devon Railway Centre, Bickleigh, Devon
- Exmoor Steam Railway, Devon – private site
- Gartell Light Railway, Templecombe, Somerset
- Launceston Steam Railway, Launceston, Cornwall
- Lea Bailey Light Railway. Gloucestershire / Herefordshire border
- Lynbarn Railway, Devon
- Lynton & Barnstaple Railway, Woody Bay, Devon
- Morwellham Quay Open Air Museum, Devon
- Westonzoyland Pumping Station Museum, Somerset
Miniature gauge
- Beer Heights Light Railway, Devon
- Berkeley Light Railway, Gloucestershire
- Gorse Blossom Farm Railway, Devon
- Lappa Valley Steam Railway, Cornwall
- Longleat Railway, Wiltshire
- Moors Valley Railway, Ashley Heath, Dorset
- Perrygrove Railway, Coleford, Gloucestershire
- Porterswick Junction Light Railway, Cornwall
- Bickington Steam Railway, Trago Mills, Devon
Tramways
- Seaton Tramway, Seaton, Devon
West Midlands
Standard gauge
- Cambrian Heritage Railways, Oswestry and Llynclys, Shropshire
- Chasewater Railway, Staffordshire
- Churnet Valley Railway, Cheddleton, Staffordshire
- Foxfield Light Railway, Blythe Bridge, Staffordshire
- Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway, Toddington, Gloucestershire and Broadway, Worcestershire
- Kingfisher Line. Titley, Herefordshire – private site
- Rowden Mill & Fencote Railway, Herefordshire – private site
- Severn Valley Railway, Bridgnorth, Shropshire
- Telford Steam Railway, Horsehay, Shropshire
Railway centres and museums
- Coleford Great Western Railway Museum, Coleford, Gloucestershire
- Tyseley Railway Centre, Tyseley, Warwickshire
- Winchcombe Railway Museum, Winchcombe, Gloucestershire
Narrow gauge
- Amerton Railway, Staffordshire
- Apedale Valley Light Railway, Chesterton, Newcastle Under Lyme, Staffordshire
- Bromyard and Linton Light Railway, Bromyard, Herefordshire – private site
- Moseley Railway Trust, Chesterton, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire
- North Gloucestershire Railway, Toddington, Gloucestershire
- Perrygrove Railway, Gloucestershire
- Rudyard Lake Steam Railway, Rudyard, Staffordshire
- Statfold Barn Railway, Tamworth, Staffordshire – private site
Miniature gauge
- Broomy Hill Railway, Herefordshire
- Downs Light Railway, Colwall, Worcestershire
- Echills Wood Railway, Kingsbury Waterpark, Warwickshire
- Evesham Vale Light Railway, Evesham Country Park, Worcestershire
- Weston Park Railway, Shropshire
Tramways
- Black Country Living Museum, Dudley, West Midlands
Proposed
East of England
- Leiston Works Railway, Leiston, Suffolk
- Southwold Railway, Southwold, Suffolk
- Wisbech and March Railway, Waldersea, Cambridgeshire\
North of England
- Poulton and Wyre Railway, Thornton–Cleveleys, Lancashire
South West
- Combe Rail, Mortehoe-Woolacombe, Devon
- Remembrance Line, Folkestone, Kent
- North Somerset Railway, Radstock, Somerset
- Shillingstone Railway Project, Shillingstone, Dorset
- Tarka Valley Railway, Torrington, Devon
- Vale of Berkeley Railway, Sharpness, Gloucestershire
Defunct
- Ashford Steam Centre, Willesborough, Kent – closed in 1976.
- Abbey Light Railway, Kirkstall, West Yorkshire – closed in 2012.
- Brockham Museum Trust, Dorking, Surrey – closed 1982
- Bolebroke Castle Miniature Railway, East Sussex – closed 2012
- Buxton Steam Centre, Derbyshire – closed in 1987, as Peak Rail moved to Darley Dale.
- Cadeby Light Railway, Cadeby, Leicestershire – closed in 2005.
- Creekmoor Light Railway, Poole, Dorset – closed in 1973
- Dinting Railway Centre, Derbyshire – closed in 1991,
- Dowty Railway Centre, Ashchurch, Gloucestershire – closed in the 1980s
- Eastbourne Tramway, East Sussex – closed 1969,
- Electric Railway Museum, Warwickshire - closed in October 2017,.
- Great Yorkshire Railway Preservation Society, Starbeck, North Yorkshire – closed in 1989
- Lincolnshire Coast Light Railway, Humberston, Lincolnshire – closed 1985 - Rebuilt 2009 in Skegness.
- Markeaton Park Light Railway, Rowsley, Derbyshire - closed in 2016, track lifted in 2017.
- Museum of British Transport, Clapham, South London – closed in 1973 Some exhibits moved first to Syon Park, West London and subsequently to Covent Garden to form London Transport Museum. Some exhibits moved to N.R.M. York
- North Downs Steam Railway, Dartford, Kent – closed in 1995
- North Woolwich Old Station Museum, East London – closed in 2008
- Queen Mary's Hospital Miniature Railway, Carshalton, South London - Closed in 1997
- Ramsgate Tunnel Railway, Ramsgate, Kent – closed in 1965
- Snibston Railway, Coalville, Leicestershire – closed on 31 July 2015
- Southport Pier Tramway, Southport, Merseyside - closed 2015
- Southport Railway Museum, Southport, Lancashire – closed in 1999,.
- Stevington & Turvey Light Railway, Turvey, Bedfordshire – private site - closed in 2014.
- Transperience, Low Moor, Bradford, Yorkshire – closed in 1997
- Westerham Valley Railway Association, Westerham, Kent – closed 1965
Northern Ireland
Broad gauge
- Downpatrick and County Down Railway, County Down
Railway centres and museums
- Railway Preservation Society of Ireland, Whitehead, County Antrim
- Ulster Folk and Transport Museum, Cultra
Narrow gauge
- Foyle Valley Railway, County Londonderry
- Giant's Causeway and Bushmills Railway, County Antrim
- Peatlands Park Railway, County Armagh
Defunct
- Shanes Castle Railway, County Antrim – closed 1994
Scotland
Standard gauge
Central Highlands
- Keith & Dufftown Railway, Dufftown, Banffshire and Keith, Morayshire
- Strathspey Railway, Aviemore, Highland
East Coast of Scotland
- Bo'ness & Kinneil Railway, Bo'ness, Falkirk
- Fife Heritage Railway, Leven, Fife
- Caledonian Railway, Brechin, Angus
- Royal Deeside Railway, Milton of Crathes, Aberdeenshire
Scottish Borders
- Waverley Route Heritage Association, Whitrope, Roxburghshire
West Coast of Scotland
- Doon Valley Railway, Dunaskin - Waterside, East Ayrshire
Railway centres and museums
- Ferryhill Railway Heritage Centre
- Glasgow Museum of Transport
- Invergarry & Fort Augustus Railway Museum
- Scotland's Military Railway, Lathalmond, Fife
Narrow gauge
- Alford Valley Railway, Alford, Aberdeenshire
- Leadhills and Wanlockhead Railway, South Lanarkshire
Miniature railways
- Craigtoun Miniature Railway, St Andrews, Fife
- Kerr's Miniature Railway, Arbroath
- Ness Islands Railway, Inverness
- Vogrie Park Miniature Railway, Gorebridge, nr Edinburgh
Tramways
- Summerlee Heritage Park, Coatbridge, North Lanarkshire
Proposed
- North East of Scotland Railway -
- Farming and Railway Visiting Centre, Fife -
Defunct
- Isle of Mull Railway, Inner Hebrides – closed in 2011.
- Lochty Private Railway, Fife – closed in 1992.
- Sanday Light Railway, Braeswick, Orkney – closed in 2006.
Wales
North Wales
Standard gauge
- Llangollen and Corwen Railway, Llangollen, Denbighshire
Railway centres and museums
- Conwy Valley Railway Museum, Betws-y-Coed, Conwy
- Narrow Gauge Railway Museum, Tywyn, Gwynedd
- Penrhyn Castle Railway Museum, Bangor, Gwynedd
Narrow gauge
- Bala Lake Railway, Llanuwchllyn, Gwynedd
- Ffestiniog Railway, Porthmadog to Blaenau Ffestiniog, Gwynedd
- Llanberis Lake Railway, Llanberis, Gwynedd
- Penrhyn Quarry Railway, Bethesda, Gwynedd
- Snowdon Mountain Railway, Llanberis, Gwynedd
- Welsh Highland Heritage Railway, Porthmadog, Gwynedd
- Welsh Highland Railway, Caernarfon to Porthmadog, Gwynedd
Miniature railways
- Conwy Valley Railway Museum Miniature Railway, Betws-y-Coed
- Fairbourne Railway, Gwynedd
- Rhyl Miniature Railway, Rhyl
- West Shore Miniature Railway, Llandudno
Tramways
- Great Orme Tramway, Llandudno
- Conwy Valley Railway Museum Tramway, Betws-y-Coed
Mid Wales
Narrow gauge
- Corris Railway, Gwynedd
- Talyllyn Railway, Tywyn, Gwynedd
- Welshpool & Llanfair Railway, Powys
- Vale of Rheidol Railway, Aberystwyth, Ceredigion
Miniature railways
- Rhiw Valley Light Railway, Berriew, Powys
South Wales
Standard gauge
- Barry Tourist Railway, Vale of Glamorgan, Glamorganshire
- Gwili Railway, Bronwydd Arms, Carmarthenshire
- Llanelli and Mynydd Mawr Railway, Cynheidre, Carmarthenshire
- Pontypool & Blaenavon Railway, Monmouthshire
Narrow gauge
- Brecon Mountain Railway, Pant, near Merthyr Tydfil
- Margam Park Railway, Margam
- Teifi Valley Railway, Henllan near Newcastle Emlyn, Ceredigion
Proposed
North Wales
Standard gauge
- Dolgarrog Railway, Conwy
- Bala & Ffestiniog Railway Heritage Trust, Maentwrog Road, Gwynedd
Narrow gauge
- Glyn Valley Tramway, Chirk, Denbighshire
South Wales
Standard gauge
- Garw Valley Railway, Pontycymer, Bridgend
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,.
- Trawsfynydd and Blaenau Ffestiniog Railway, Closed and replaced by Bala & Ffestiniog Railway Heritage Trust
Crown dependencies
Isle of Man
- Great Laxey Mine Railway, Laxey
- Groudle Glen Railway, Lhen Coan
- Isle of Man Railway, Douglas
- Manx Electric Railway, Derby Castle
- Snaefell Mountain Railway, Laxey
- Crogga Valley Railway, Port Soderick railway station
Channel Islands
Falkland Islands
- Camber Railway, Stanley