Other Heritage Railways (Standard Gauge)
This section is divided into two parts:
(A) Heritage Railways Operating From A Single Station (with timetabled trains)
(B) Other Heritage Railway Stations and Railways
(A) Heritage Railways Operating From A Single Station (with timetabled trains)
Features:
- Colne Valley Railway
- Eden Valley Railway
- Kirkby Stephen East (Stainmore Railway Company)
- Mid Suffolk Light Railway
- Northampton & Lamport Railway
- Ribble Steam Railway and Museum
- Royal Deeside Railway
- Rushden Higham & Wellingborough Railway
- Somerset & Dorset Railway Heritage Trust
Note that we have defined a ‘heritage railway’ as one that operates trains along at least one mile of railway between at least two stations.
A number of railway operations run standard gauge heritage trains from a single station site, sometimes from a preserved station with attached attractions, such as a museum. They typically operate trains up to a mile from the station site, often on a timetabled basis. Many aspire to extend in due course including the opening of a second station.
The Railway Club Directory separately lists such railways. For further information, you can click into the given website address to be diverted to the website of the relevant railway entity.
1. Colne Valley Railway
RCD Overview: One mile operating from Castle Hedingham station. With museum, open
signal box, picnic areas, shops: well worth a visit.
Operates from: Castle Hedingham Station
Address: Yeldham Road, Castle Hedingham, Essex, CO9 3DZ
Operating Season: April to October (Santa specials December)
Support Group: Support is via direct membership of the Railway
Membership: Annual fee is £22
Membership Benefits: Unlimited half price entry to railway and 10% discount in shop.
Website: www.colnevalleyrailway.co.uk
Email: info@colnevalleyrailway.co.uk
Locomotives
Steam Locomotives:
- Hunslet Engine Co - No. 5
- Lake & Elliot - ‘Henry’
- Ruston & Hornsey - No. 281266
- Austerity locomotive - WD 190 (awaiting overhaul)
- Austerity locomotive - WD 200 (under restoration)
- Robert Stephenson and Hawthorn - ‘Jupiter’ (under restoration)
- Avonside Engine Co - ‘Barrington’ (Stored)
- Hawthorn Leslie - No. 1 (static)
Diesel Locomotives/ DMUs
- BR Class 03 shunters - D2041 & D2184
- Heritage DMU - M55033
- Heritage DMU - W51339 & W51382
- Class 43 High Speed Train
2. Eden Valley Railway
RCD Overview: Currently operates about two miles from Warcop station. This railway has aspirations to extend to Appleby, and even to the Stainmore Railway at Kirkby Stephen. Has a small collection of diesel locomotives and DEMUs.
Operates from: Warcop Station
Address: Warcop, Appleby, Cumbria, CA16 6PR
Operating Season: April to October
Support Group: Eden Valley Railway Trust
Membership: Annual fee is £28
Website: www.evr-cumbria.org.uk
Email: enquiries@evr-cumbria.org.uk
Locomotives
- BR Class 37 - 37042 (awaiting restoration)
- BR Class 47 - 47799 (undergoing re-wiring/ out of action)
- DEMU ‘Thumper’ two car unit - 1109 (205009)
- Motor Luggage Vans (S68003, S68005 and S68010)
- Collection of diesel shunters
3. Kirkby Stephen East (Stainmore Railway Company)
RCD Overview: Has the feel of a ‘living museum’ with historic steam locomotives and carriages at a well-preserved station site (Kirkby Stephen East). Trains run a short distance out of station.
Operates from: Kirkby Stephen East Station
Address: South Road, Kirkby Stephen, Cumbria, CA17 4LA
Operating Season: Easter to December
Support Group: Through its entity, Stainmore Railway Company
Membership: Can be a shareholder - £10 / Can subscribe to SRC quarterly newsletter - £15
Website: www.kirkbystepheneast.co.uk
Email: kseonlineshop@gmail.com
Steam Locomotives:
- North Eastern Railway express engine - No. 910 (locomotive on loan from NRM)
- North Eastern Railway J21 freight locomotive - No.876 (later 65033) (being restored)
- Peckett : Four-wheeled industrial steam engine - ‘FC Tingey’
- Peckett : Four-wheeled industrial steam engine - ‘Lytham St. Annes’
- Hunslet 0-6-0 - No.68009 (under-restoration)
4. Mid Suffolk Light Railway
RCD Overview: A railway on the former Laxfield branch, which gives a good feel of a rural light railway. Has a small collection of steam and diesel locomotives.
Operates from: Brockford Station
Address: Wetheringsett, Stowmarket, Suffolk, IP14 5PW
Operating Season: April to September (Santa specials December)
Support Group: Support is via direct membership of the Railway
Membership: Annual fee is £12
Membership Benefits: Discounted entry to museum / Quarterly magazine ‘Making Tracks’
Website: www.mslr.org.uk
Email: enquiries@mslr.org.uk
Locomotives
Steam Locomotives:
- North Eastern Railway Y7 0-4-0T - LNER no.985 (undergoing restoration)
- Bagnall 0-4-0ST - No. 2565 (out of ticket)
- Cockerill 0-4-0VBWT tram - No. 2525
Diesel shunters
- Ruston & Hornsby 165 0-4-0DM
- Ruston & Hornsby 48DS 0-4-0
5. Northampton & Lamport Railway
RCD Overview: A railway on a section of the former Northampton - Harborough main line. Has a collection of industrial steam locomotives and an operating line out of Pitsford and Brampton Station. In process of exceeding to Broughton to give a 2-mile line.
Operates from: Pitsford & Brampton Station
Address: Pitsford Road, Chapel Brampton, NN6 8BA
Operating Season: Late March to October (Santa specials December)
Support Group: Support is via direct membership of the Railway
Membership: Annual fee is £20
Membership Benefits: 50% off the published fares/ ‘Premier Line’ magazine/ Member only Special Offers in platform shop (specific times only)/ Opportunity to become a volunteer
Website: www.nlr.org.uk
Email: enquiries@nlr.org.uk
Locomotives
Steam Locomotives:
- GWR Class 2884 2-8-0 - 3862 (awaiting restoration)
- GWR Hall Class 4-6-0 - 5967 ‘Bickmarsh Hall’ (under restoration)
Industrial
- Hawthorn Lesley - 3718 ‘Swanscombe No.4’ (operational)
- Andrew Barclay - 776 ‘Firefly’ (under restoration)
- Peckett - 1378 ‘Westminster’ (under restoration)
- Peckett R4 Class - 2104 (withdrawn)
- Andrew Barclay - 2323 ‘Irchester Quarries No.9’ (under restoration)
- Hunslet Austerity - 3193
Diesel Locomotives
- BR Class 31 - 31 289 (D5821) ‘Phoenix’ (operational)
- BR Class 47 - 47205 (under overhaul)
- Ruston & Hornsby - No. 53 ‘Sir Alfred Wood’
- Ruston & Hornsby - No. 764 ‘Sir Gyles Isham’
6. Ribble Steam Railway and Museum
RCD Overview: Both a railway museum and an operating heritage line. The museum has an impressive collection of locomotives, mostly steam. The line operates out of the museum along the Preston Docks area. Well worth a visit.
Operates from: The Museum Station
Address: Chain Caul Rd, Riversway, Preston, PR2 2PD
Operating Season: Late March to September (Santa specials December)
Support Group: Support is via direct membership of the Railway
Membership: Annual fee is £15
Membership Benefits: Discounter fares/ Magazine, ‘Ribble Pilot’
Website: www.ribblesteam.org.uk
Email: enquiries@ribblesteam.co.uk
Frequently Operating Steam Locomotives:
- Furness Railway (Sharp Stewart & Co) - No.20
- Hawthorn Leslie 0-6-0 - 3931 (1938) ‘Linda’
- Grant Ritchie 0-4-0ST - 272 (1894)
- Bagnall 0-6-0ST - 2680 (1942) ‘Courageous’
Other Steam locomotives (some seen in the museum):
- GWR Hall Class - 4979 ‘Wootton Hall’
- GWR 0-6-2T - 5643 (out on loan)
- Andrew Barclay: 7
- Avonside: 3
- Bagnall: 1
- Borrows: 2
- Hunslet: 5
- LNWR: 1
- LYR: 1
- Peckett: 6
- RSH: 1
- Sentinel: 2
together with many industrial diesel shunters
7. Royal Deeside Railway
RCD Overview: This heritage railway runs along part of the former Aberdeen to Ballater railway. Currently it operates about 1 mile of track from a re-built station at Milton of Crathes to Birkenbaud Crossing. It is in the process of extending the line slightly further to a new station to be called Riverside Halt, one mile short of the former Banchory railway station.
Operates from: Milton of Crathes Station
Address: Milton of Crathes, Banchory AB31 5QH
Operating Season: April to August (also some trains in October)
Support Group: Royal Deeside Railway Preservation Society
Membership: Annual fee is £25
Membership Benefits: Opportunity to become a volunteer
Website: www.deeside-railway.co.uk
Email: info@deeside-railway.co.uk
Locomotives
Steam Locomotives:
- Andrew Barclay steam engine ‘Bon-Accord’.
Diesel shunters
- BR Class 03 shunter – 03 094
- BR Class 03 shunter – 03 134
Special Vehicle
- British Rail experimental two-car battery electric multiple unit (BEMU)
8. Rushden Higham & Wellingborough Railway (Rushden Transport Museum & Railway)
RCD Overview: A heritage railway operated by the Rushden Historical Transport Society in the town of Rushden on the former Wellingborough - Higham Ferris branch line. Currently operates over quarter of a mile with plans to extend.
Operates from: - Rushden Station
Address: Station Approach, Rushden, Northamptonshire, NN10 0AW
Operating Season: April to September (Santa specials December)
Support Group: Rushden Historical Transport Society
Membership: Annual fee is £25
Membership Benefits: Periodical issues of ‘Olde Wheels’/ 10% discount at station bar
Website: www.rhts.co.uk
Email: secretary@rhts.co.uk
Locomotive:
- Class 142 ‘Pacer’ diesel multiple unit
9. Somerset & Dorset Railway Heritage Trust
RCD Overview: The only part of the former Somerset and Dorset railway that still has standard gauge passenger trains running on it, a very good reason in itself to support and visit this railway. Has run well attended galas with interesting range of visiting steam locomotives.
Operates from: Midsomer Norton Station
Address: Silver Street, Midsomer Norton, Somerset, BA3 2EY
Operating Season: March to early November (Santa specials December)
Support Group: Support is via direct membership of the Trust
Membership: Annual fee is £20
Membership Benefits: Access to all areas /Three issues of the Trust magazine per year / Volunteering opportunities
Website: www.sdjr.co.uk
Email: general@sdjr.co.uk
Locomotives
Steam Locomotive:
- Sentinel Steam locomotive - 7109 ‘Joyce’
Diesel shunters/DMU
- BR Class 03 shunter - D2128
- BR Class 08 shunter - D4095
- English Electric DH648A shunter - D1120
- Heritage Class 107 DMU: SC52006 and SC52025
(B) Other Heritage Railway Stations/ Lines
This is a catch-all category for those standard gauge railway operations which are not yet substantive enough to be classified as a ‘heritage railway’ as we have defined that term (although many aspire to be so), but which nonetheless warrant entry in a directory of this nature. These do not have regular timetabled trains but many do operate trains on some basis, some within restricted confines at selected times, some within parks or centres. For further information, you can click into the given website address to be diverted to the website of the relevant entity.
Alderney Railway
Operates from: St Anne’s, Braye Road, Alderney Island
Original purpose of the railway: Old quarry line carrying stone for construction of Alderney breakwater.
Current use: When operating, carries passengers from breakwater to the quarry
Trains operating: None at present
Support Group: Alderney Railway Society
Appleby Frodingham Railway
Operates from: Brigg Road, Scunthorpe, DN16 1BP
Original purpose of the railway: Internal railway of Scunthorpe Steelworks
Current use: Includes railtours around parts of the Scunthorpe Steelworks site
Trains operating: About 9 operating days per year
Support Group: Appleby Frodingham Railway Preservation Society
Barry Tourist Railway
Operates from: Barry Island Station (Station Approach Road, Barry Island, CF62 5TH)
Original purpose of the railway: Part of Barry Docks system
Trains operating: None at present (formerly operating about 30 days per year over 1.5 miles)
Operator: Cambrian Transport
www.visitthevale.com/attractions/BarryTouristRailway
Border Union Railway.
Operates from: Whitrope Sidings (on the B6399 about half way between Hawick and Newcastleton)
Original purpose of the railway: Part of Edinburgh to Carlisle ‘Waverley’ main line
Trains operating: A short distance from Whitrope Sidings (about 6 days per year)
Support Group: Waverley Route Heritage Association
Derwent Valley Light Railway
Operates from: Murton Farm Living Museum (Murton Lane, York YO19 5UF)
Original purpose of the railway: Predominantly freight line from York to Cliffe Common (near Selby).
Current use: A railway comprising part of the Murton Farm Living Museum
Trains operating: Every Sunday and bank holiday Monday (Easter to end September)
Doon Valley Railway (formerly, Scottish Industrial Railway Centre)
Operates from: Former Dunaskin Ironworks in Waterside, Patna (Dunaskin Bridge, Dalmellington Road, Waterside, Patna, Ayr KA6 7JH)
Original purpose of the railway: Predominantly freight line linking mines around Dalmellington to Ayr.
Trains operating: Various open days (Easter to September) with trains in confines of the site
Support Group: Ayrshire Railway Preservation Group
Fife Heritage Railway
Operates from: Kirkland Yard, Leven, Fife KY8 4RB
Original purpose of the railway: Former Kirkland railway marshalling yard
Trains operating: Last Sunday of the month (about 7 per year) with trains in confines of the site
Support Group: The Kingdom of Fife Railway Preservation Society
Garw Valley Railway
Operates from: Pontycymer, Bridgend CF32 8AZ
Original purpose of the railway: Predominantly a freight line linking Brynmenyn and Pontycymer with the wider rail network at Tondu.
Current use: Limited operations within the Pontycymer station site
Trains operating: None at present (aims to operate from Pontycymer and Brynmenyn)
Support Group: Supporters can become members of the railway company
Llanelli & Mynydd Mawr Railway
Operates from: Cynheidre Heritage Centre (former Cynheidre Colliery site), Gwynfryn Terrace, Cynheidre, Llanelli SA15 5DQ.
Original purpose of the railway: A freight line linking the Mynydd Mawr area around Tumble and Cross Hands to Llanelli via the Gwendraeth valley (closed in 1989).
Trains operating: Yes, about 0.25 miles from its station site (open about 8 days per year)
Support Group: Friends of the LMMR
North Dorset Railway
Original purpose of the railway: Station on the former Somerset and Dorset Railway
Operates from: Shillingstone Station, near Blandford Forum.
Current use: Limited operations within the station site
Trains operating: None at present
Support Group: Supporters can be members of the railway company
Rother Valley Railway
Operates from: Site adjacent to Robertsbridge Station (Station Road, Robertsbridge, TN32 5DG)
Original purpose of the railway: Southern section of Kent and East Sussex Railway, which ran between Robertsbridge, Tenterden and Headcorn
Current use: Currently has a Visitor Centre at Robertsbridge station
Trains operating: None at present
Support Group: Rother Valley Railway Supporters' Association
Tanat Valley Light Railway
Operates from: Nant Mawr Visitor Centre (Nantmawr Bank, Nantmawr, Oswestry SY10 9HW)
Original purpose of the railway: Freight line for limestone and mineral traffic, up the Tanat Valley from a junction with Cambrian Railways (at Blodwell Jct).
Current use: Has a site at Nant Mawr Visitor Centre (the former lime kilns in Nantmawr)
Trains operating: Yes, about a third of a mile from its station site (open about 7 days per year)
Aims: To operate trains from its Nantmawr site initially to Blodwell Junction (to connect with intended terminus of Cambrian Heritage Railway), and then proceed up the Tanat Valley as far as Llanrhaeadr-ym-Mochnant
Support Group: Supporters can become members of the railway company
Whitwell and Reepham Railway
Operates from: Whitwell and Reepham station (Whitwell Road, Reepham, Near Norwich NR10 4GA)
Original purpose of the railway: Part of M&GN Joint Railway from Norwich to Melton Constable.
Trains operating: Yes, within the confines of the station site
Support Group: Whitwell & Reepham Railway Preservation Society
Yorkshire Wolds Railway
Operates from: Fimber Halt (Beverley Road, Fimber, Driffield YO25 3HG)
Original purpose of the railway: Malton to Driffield branch railway
Current use: Has a visitor’s centre (called Fimber Halt) near to the site of the former Fimber and Sledmere station
Trains operating: Yes, on a short demonstration line from Fimber Halt
Support Group: Supporters can become members of the railway company
www.yorkshirewoldsrailway.org.uk