Narrow Gauge Railways
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The Railway Club Directory has divided Narrow Gauge Railways into two distinct categories:
(A) Narrow Gauge Railway Lines
(B) Narrow Gauge Railway Centres and Attractions
Note that 'society run' miniature railways (typically gauge of around 10 inches or less) can be found in the 'Model Engineering Society' section of this RCD Website.
Note that 'society run' garden railways are located in accordance with the society type that runs them (typically model railway clubs or model engineering clubs),
Note the RCD is a directory of railway societies and related railways, not purely commercial rail related businesses. Accordingly we do not list, for example, (i) private railways not frequently open to the public, (ii) cliff railways, (iii) harbour/beach/pier railways, (iv) railways which are accessed through other venues such as country houses/adventure centres/activity centres or museums, or (v) railways which are essentially ancillary to other attractions.
A ‘Narrow Gauge Railway Line’ is a railway that travels between at least 2 stations not within the confines of a park or some other form of restricted area.
A ‘Narrow Gauge Railway Centre’ is a railway centre dedicated to the narrow gauge, and a ‘Narrow Gauge Railway Attraction’ is a tourist attraction featuring a narrow gauge railway within a complex or restricted area including parks and mountains. For completeness, we have included commercial operations within this section.
(A) Narrow Gauge Railway Lines
The following comprises our list of narrow gauge railways within our definition of that term.
Note that this list contains the UK's most well known narrow gauge railways, including the Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway, the Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch Railway, the Talyllyn Railway, the Welsh Highland Railway and the Ffestiniog Railway, amongst many others.
England
1. Bure Valley Railway
Address: Aylsham Station, Norwich Road, Aylsham, Norfolk NR11 6BW
Length of Line: 9 miles
Destinations: Wroxham (with connections with national rail) to Aylsham
Opened: 1990
Background: Runs along part of former Great Eastern Railway from Wroxham to County School
Gauge: 15 inch
Railway website: www.bvrw.co.uk
Name of Support Group: 'Friends of the Bure Valley Railway'
https://www.bvrw.co.uk/membership
2. Lappa Valley Railway
Address: St Newlyn East, Newquay, Cornwall, TR8 5LX
Length of Line: 1 mile
Destinations: Benny Halt to East Wheal Rose
Opened: 1974
Background: Runs along part of former Newquay to Chasewater railway
Gauge: 15 inch
Support group is integral part of the railway
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3. Launceston Steam Railway
Address: St Thomas’ Road, Launceston, Cornwall, PL15 8DA
Length of Line: 2.5 miles
Destinations: Launceston to Newmills
Opened: 1983
Background: Runs along part of former North Cornwall Railway from Halwill Junction to Wadebridge
Gauge: 1 foot 11+1⁄2 inch
Support group is integral part of the railway
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4. Leighton Buzzard Railway
Address: Page’s Park Station, Billington Road, Leighton Buzzard, LU7 4TG
Length of Line: 3 miles
Destinations: Page's Park to Stonehedge Works
Opened: 1969
Background: Runs along route of former industrial sand quarry lines out of Leighton Buzzard
Gauge: 2 foot
Railway website: www.buzzrail.co.uk
Name of Support Group: 'Leighton Buzzard Narrow Gauge Railway Society'
https://www.buzzrail.uk/help-us/membership/
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5. Lynton and Barnstaple Railway
Address: Woody Bay Station, Martinhoe Cross, Parracombe, near Barnstaple, EX31 4RA
Length of Line: 1 mile
Destinations: Woody Bay to Killington Lane
Opened: 2004
Background: Runs along part of former Barnstable to Lynton Railway
Gauge: 1 foot 11+5⁄8 inch
Railway website: www.lynton-rail.co.uk
Name of Support Group: 'Lynton & Barnstaple Railway Trust'
https://www.lynton-rail.co.uk/membership
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6. Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway
Address: Ravenglass Station, Cumbria, CA18 1SW
Length of Line: 7 miles
Destinations: Ravenglass to Dalegarth Station (Boot)
Opened in current form: 1960
The railway was originally 3 feet gauge and converted to 15 inch and re-opened in 1916 (it never closed again). As a 15 inch public railway it carried passenger, tourists, goods and quarry traffic. In 1960 it was bought by a preservation society to save it. In 1961 there was a split, with the Railway now owned by a private family company, which is supported by an independent and separate preservation society.
Gauge: 15 inch
Railway website: www.ravenglass-railway.co.uk
Name of Preservation Society: The Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway Preservation Society
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7. Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch Railway
Address: 2 Littlestone Road, New Romney, Kent TN28 8PL
Length of Line: 13.5 miles
Destinations: Hythe , Dymchurch, St. Mary's Bay, New Romney, Dungeness
Opened: 1927
Background: Purpose built narrow gauge railway by millionaire racing drivers Captain Jack Howey and Count Louis Zborowski in 1920s
Gauge: 15 inch
Railway website: www.rhdr.org.uk
Name of Support Group: 'Romney, Hythe & Dymchurch Railway Association'
https://www.rhdr.org.uk/railway-association-membership/
8. Sittingbourne & Kemsley Light Railway
Address: The Wall, Sittingbourne Retail Park, Mill Way, Sittingbourne, Kent, ME10 2XD
Length of Line: 2 miles
Destinations: Sittingbourne Viaduct to Kemsley Down
Opened: 1970 (initially by the Locomotive Club of Great Britain)
Background: A former industrial railway to transport paper between Ridham Dock, on the River Swale, and paper mills at Sittingbourne
Gauge: 2 foot 6 inch
Railway website: www.sklr.net
Support group is integral part of the railway
https://www.sklr.net/about-us/membership/
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9. South Tynedale Railway
Address: Station Road, Alston, Cumbria CA9 3JB
Length of Line: 5 miles
Destinations: Alston to Slaggyford
Opened: 1983
Background: Runs along part of former Alston to Haltwhistle branch line
Gauge: 2 foot
Railway website: www.south-tynedale-railway.org.uk
Name of Support Group: 'South Tynedale Railway Preservation Society'
https://www.south-tynedale-railway.org.uk/membership/
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10. Wells & Walsingham Light Railway
Address: Stiffkey Road, Wells-next-the-Sea, Norfolk, NR23 1QB
Length of Line: 4 miles
Destinations: Wells to Walsingham
Opened: 1982
Background: Runs along part of former Wells to Norwich branch line
Gauge: 10+1⁄4 inch
Support group is integral part of the railway
Isle of Man
11. Groudle Glen Railway
Address: Groudle Glen, Onchan Isle of Man
Length of Line: 1 mile
Destinations: Lhen Coan Station to Sea Lion Rocks
Opened: 1986
Background: Late Victorian railway linking Groudle Glen with Manx Electric Railway
Gauge: 2 foot
Railway website: www.ggr.org.uk
Name of Support Group: 'Friends of Groudle Glen Railway'
https://www.ggr.org.uk/friends-of-ggr
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12. Isle of Man Steam Railway
Address: Douglas Railway Station, Banks Hill, Douglas, Isle of Man
Length of Line: 15 miles
Destinations: Douglas to Castletown and Port Erin
Opened: 1870
Background: Remaining part of once extensive Isle of Man steam railways
Gauge: 3 foot
Support group is integral part of the railway
13. Manx Electric Railway
Address: Derby Castle, Strathallan Crescent, Douglas
Length of Line: 17 miles
Destinations: Douglas to Laxey and Ramsey
Opened: 1893
Background: Electric tram. Oldest electric tram line in the world with original rolling stock is use
Gauge: 3 foot
Support group is integral part of the railway
Northern Ireland
14. Giant's Causeway & Bushmills Railway
Address: 6 Runkerry Road, Bushmills BT57 8SZ
Length of Line: 2 miles
Destinations: Giant's Causeway to Bushmills, County Antrim
Opened: 2002
Background: Runs along former Portrush and Giant's Causeway line
Gauge: 3 foot
Support group is integral part of the railway
www.causewaycoast.holiday/locations/giants-causeway-railway
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Scotland
15. Leadhills and Wanlockhead Railway
Address: The Station, Station Road, Leadhills, ML12 6XS
Length of Line: 0.6 miles
Destinations: Leadhills to Glengonnar
Opened: 1986
Background: Runs along former Leadhills and Wanlockhead branch of the Caledonian Railway
Gauge: 2 foot
Railway website: www.leadhillsrailway.co.uk
Name of Support Group: 'Lowthers Railway Society Limited'
https://leadhillsrailway.co.uk/about/join-us-2/
Wales
16. Bala Lake Railway
Address: The Station, Llanuwchllyn, Bala, Gwynedd LL23 7DD
Length of Line: 4.5 miles
Destinations: Llanuwchllyn to Bala Halt
Opened: 1972
Background: Runs along former Great Western Railway Ruabon to Barmouth railway
Gauge: 1 foot 11+5⁄8 inch
Railway website: www.bala-lake-railway.co.uk
Name of Support Group: 'Bala Lake Railway Society'
https://bala-lake-railway.co.uk/society/
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17. Brecon Mountain Railway
Address: Pant Station, Pant, Merthyr Tydfil, CF48 2DD
Length of Line: 5 miles
Destinations: Pant to Torpantau
Opened: 1980
Background: Runs along former Great Western Railway Brecon and Merthyr Railway
Gauge: 1 foot 11+3⁄4 inch
Support group is integral part of the railway
18. Corris Railway
Address: Station Yard Corris, near Machynlleth, Powys, SY20 9SH
Length of Line: 0.75 miles
Destinations: Corris and Maespoeth
Opened: 2002
Background: Former quarry line from Corris and Aberllefenni via Dulas Valley to Machynlleth
Gauge: 2 foot 3 inch
Railway website: www.corris.co.uk
Name of Support Group: 'Corris Railway Society'
https://www.corris.co.uk/membership-application/
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19. Fairbourne Railway
Address: Beach Road, Fairbourne LL38 2EX
Length of Line: 2 miles
Destinations: Fairbourne to Barmouth Ferry
Opened: 1895 (converted 1915)
Background: Originally narrow gauge horse-drawn tramway for building materials, later converted for holidaymakers
Gauge: 12+1⁄4 inch
Railway website: www.fairbournerailway.com
Name of Support Group: 'Fairbourne Railway Preservation Society '
http://www.fairbournerailway.com/preservation%20society.html
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20. Ffestiniog Railway
Address: Harbour Station, Porthmadog, Gwynedd LL49 9NF
Length of Line: 13.5 miles
Destinations: Porthmadog to Blaenau Ffestiniog
Opened: 1955
Background: Formerly an industrial railway transporting slate from quarries around Blaenau Ffestiniog to the harbour at Porthmadog with subsequent seasonal passenger traffic.
Gauge: 1 foot 11+1⁄2 inch
Railway website: www.festrail.co.uk
Name of Support Group: 'The Ffestiniog Railway Society'
http://www.ffestiniograilway.org.uk/
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21. Llanberis Lake Railway
Address: Gilfach Ddu, Padarn Country Park, Llanberis, Gwynedd, LL55 4TY
Length of Line: 2.5 miles
Destinations: Llanberis to Pen Llyn
Opened: 1971
Background: Runs along part of the defunct Padarn Railway connecting local quarry with Port Dinorwic on the Menai Straits
Gauge: 1 foot 11+1⁄2 inch
Support group is integral part of the railway
22. Talyllyn Railway
Address: Wharf Station, Neptune Road, Tywyn, Gwynedd LL36 9EY
Length of Line: 7.25 miles
Destinations: Tywyn to Nant Gwernol (near Abergynolwyn)
Opened: 1951
Background: Industrial railway to carry slate from the quarries at Bryn Eglwys to Tywyn, with subsequent passenger traffic added.
Gauge: 2 foot 3 inch
Railway website: www.talyllyn.co.uk
Name of Support Group: 'Talyllyn Railway Preservation Society'
https://www.talyllyn.co.uk/support/trps-membership/
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23. Vale of Rheidol Railway
Address: Park Avenue, Aberystwyth, Ceredigion SY23 1PG
Length of Line: Approx. 12 miles
Destinations: Aberystwyth to Devil's Bridge
Opened: 1902 (privatised 1989)
Background: Initially industrial railway to carry timber and lead ore from the Rheidol Valley to the sea and main railway network at Aberystwyth, with subsequent passenger traffic.
Gauge: 1 foot 11+3⁄4 inch
Support group is integral part of the railway
24. Welsh Highland Railway
Address: Harbour Station, Porthmadog, Gwynedd LL49 9NF
Length of Line: 25 miles
Destinations: Caernarfon to Porthmadog
Opened: In stages 1997 to 2011
Background: Runs along former WHL railway created in 1922 by merger of 2 railways, with new link between them, to form complete line between Porthmadog and Dinas (with LNWR connection to Caernarfon)
Gauge: 1 foot 11+1⁄2 inch
Railway website: www.festrail.co.uk
Name of Support Group: 'Welsh Highland Railway Society'
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25. Welshpool and Llanfair Light Railway
Address: The Station, Pool Road, Llanfair Caereinion, Powys SY21 0SF
Length of Line: 8.5 miles
Destinations: Welshpool to Llanfair Caereinion
Opened: 1963
Background: Former Cambrian Railways line built for passengers and freight under Light Railways Act.
Gauge: 2 foot 6 inch
Support group is integral part of the railway
(B) Narrow Gauge Railway Centres and Attractions
England
1. Amerton Railway
Address: Amerton Railway, Stowe-by-Chartley, near Stafford, ST18 0LA
Nature of Railway: Purpose built. One-mile circular
Gauge: 2 foot
2. Apedale Valley Light Railway
Address: Loomer Road, Chesterton, Newcastle-under-Lyme Staffordshire ST5 7LB
Nature of Railway: Purpose built. Under one mile
Gauge: 2 foot
3. Bredgar and Wormshill Light Railway
Address: The Warren, Stanton Street, Sittingbourne ME9 8AT
Nature of Railway: Purpose built. Under one mile
Gauge: 2 foot
4. Cleethorpes Coast Light Railway
Address: Lakeside Station, Kings Road, Cleethorpes, Lincolnshire, DN35 0AG
Nature of Railway: Purpose built tourist railway. One mile (Cleethorpes Kingsway station to Lakeside)
Gauge: 15 inch
5. Evesham Vale Light Railway
Address: The Valley, Evesham Country Park, Twyford, Evesham, Worcestershire WR11 4DS
Nature of Railway: In Evesham Country Park. One mile
Gauge: 15 inch
6. Gartell Light Railway
Address: Common Lane, Yenston, near Templecombe, Somerset BA8 0NB
Nature of Railway: Runs along part of former S&D Railway (newly created stations named Common Lane, Pinesway Junction, Park Lane and Tower View). 0.75 miles.
Gauge: 2 foot
7. Hampton Kempton Waterworks Railway
Address: Snakey Lane, Hanworth, Middlesex, TW13 6XH
Nature of Railway: Runs along part of former Metropolitan Water Board Railway (wharf on River Thames to regional water supply's pumping station). 0.18 miles
Gauge: 2 foot
www.hamptonkemptonrailway.org.uk
8. Heatherslaw Light Railway
Address: Ford Forge, Heatherslaw, Cornhill on Tweed, Northumberland, TD12 4TJ
Nature of Railway: Purpose built (Heatherslaw to Etal Village). 2.25 miles
Gauge: 15 inch
www.heatherslawlightrailway.co.uk
9. Lincolnshire Coast Light Railway
Address: Skegness Water Leisure Park, Walls Lane, Ingoldmells, Skegness PE25 1JF
Nature of Railway: Purpose built. From Skegness Water Park
Gauge: 2 foot
10. North Bay Railway
Address: Burniston Road, Scarborough YO12 6PF
Nature of Railway: Purpose built (Peasholm Park to Scalby Mills). One mile
Gauge: 20 inch
11. Statfold Barn Railway
Address: Ashby Road, Tamworth, Staffordshire B79 0BU
Nature of Railway: Purpose built (Statfold Farm). 1.5 miles with balloon loop
Gauge: 2 foot
12. West Lancashire Railway
Address: Station Road, Hesketh Bank, near Preston PR4 6SP
Nature of Railway: Purpose built narrow gauge line around clay pits at former Alty's Brickworks Gauge: 2 foot
13. Whistlestop Valley (formerly Kirkless Light Railway)
Address: Park Mill Way, Clayton West, Huddersfield, HD8 9XJ
Nature of Railway: Runs along part of former Clayton West branch line
Gauge: 2 foot
Isle of Man
14. The Great Laxey Mine Railway
Laxey Valley Garden, Laxey
Nature of Railway: Converted former lead mine railway located in Laxey. 0.25 miles
Gauge: 19 inch
15. Snaefell Mountain Railway
Laxey Station, Laxey, Isle of Man
Nature of Railway: Mountain railway using Fell Incline System centre rail for braking. 5.5 miles
Gauge: 3 foot 6 inch
Wales
16. Snowdon Mountain Railway
Llanberis, Gwynedd LL55 4TT
Nature of Railway: Rack and pinion mountain railway. 4.7 miles
Gauge: 2 foot 7+1⁄2 inch
www. snowdonrailway.co.uk
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