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Tuesday, 30 June 2026

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Snap of Prince and Blanche at Tan-y-Bwlch in the mid 1960s
I have been fascinated by narrow gauge railways for at least the past 50 years - since a family holiday in North Wales when I was a youngster and quite by chance we camped beside the Festiniog Railway. Over the years I have visited several preserved narrow gauge railways and tramped the trackbeds of many abandoned lines. Having just retired from full time work I decided it was time I catalogued more fully my interests and my various wanderings. This blog aims to encapsulate an accumulation of information, images and video clips.

Over the coming years I intend to visit (and re-visit) the sites of narrow gauge railways in the UK accessible to the public and record the outcome of my visits and researches. The outcome will no doubt be idiosyncratic and completely partial - I am, after all, only human!

The accepted definition of 'narrow gauge' includes railways with a gauge of less than 4' 8½". This should therefore include miniature railways. However, as there are nearly 500 railways in the UK which fit this description I have decided initially to concentrate on passenger carrying and commercial railways with a gauge between 12" and 4' 8½".

Below you will find a list of the railways which fit my parameters outlined above. I think I have listed the passenger carrying and commercial lines which have existed or do exist in the UK (with a gauge greater than 12") - however, I have found it is quite difficult to find a definitive list - railways seem to come and go at will. In addition, I have plotted all the railways on a Google Map, to help me plan my visits.

View Narrow Gauge Railways in a larger map


You will notice that this list has around fifty 'live' entries so far out of just over 200 possible railways. I am intending to start from scratch - visiting and revisiting each railway but, this time, being more systematic in the information, images and videos I collect.

 Narrow Gauge Railways in England
Narrow Gauge Railways Railways in Wales

Narrow Gauge Railways in Scotland
  • Alford Valley Railway (2')
  • Almond Valley Heritage Centre (2' 6")
  • Campbeltown and Machrihanish (2’3”)
  • Clyde Valley Railway (2')
  • Craigtoun Park Railway (15")
  • East Links Railway (2')
  • Glasgow Underground Railway (4')
  • Leadhills & Wanlockhead Railway (2')
Narrow Gauge Railways in Ireland
  • Arigna Mines Experience (2')
  • Ballymena, Cushendall & Red Bay (3’)
  • Ballymena & Larne (3’)
  • Ballycastle  (3’)
  • Castlerigg & Victoria Bridge Tramway (3’)
  • Cavan & Leitrim Railway (3')
  • Clogher Valley tramway (3’)
  • Cork, Blackrock & Passage (3’ (originally 5’3”))
  • Cork & Muskerry Light Railway (3’)
  • County Donegal Railway (3’3”)
  • Difflin Lake Railway (15")
  • County Donegal  (3’) 
  • Fintown & Glenties Railway (3')
  • Giants Causeway & Bushmills Railway (3')
  • Irish Steam Preservation Society (3')
  • Lartigue Monorail and Museum (0')
  • Leisureland Funworld Express (2')
  • Londonderry & Lough Swilly (3’)
  • Peatlands Park (3')
  • Schull & Skibbereen (3’) 
  • Stradbally Railway  (Railway Preservation Society of Ireland) (3')
  • Sunshine Peat Co. (2' 6")
  • Tralee & Blennerville Railway (3')
  • Tralee & Dingle (3’)
  • Tramore Miniature Railway (15")
  • Waterford & Suir Valley Railway (3')
  • West Clare Railway (3')
  • West Clare  (3’)
  • Westport House (15")
Narrow Gauge Railways elsewhere
Isle of Man
Channel Islands
    • Jersey Railway (3’6”)
    • Pallot Steam Museum (2' ??)

      Background research
      To inform my visits I have been conducting more generalised background research on the history and development of narrow gauge railways in the UK and Ireland. From time to time I will share the outcome of my researches here:

      Progress Reports
      Over time I will keep posting general progress reports in addition to the postings on railways I have visited. These will be presented here in chronological order.

      You may also be interested in my other two blogs which are slightly interrelated:
      • Swiss Railway Tour - A ten day trip I organised in 2007 to travel on what I considered to be the most well known railways in Switzerland
      • Peckforton Garden Railway - My 15mm scale garden railway depicting a fictional three foot narrow gauge railway supposedly situated in the Cheshire countryside.

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      The Old Kiln Light Railway

      In a nutshell

      Gauge:        2'

      Length:      ½ mile (0.8km)

      Opened:     1982 (at present site) 1971 (as Wey Valley Light Railway)

      Location:   Old Kiln Light Railway
                          Rural Life Living Museum
                          Reeds Road
                          Tilford
                          Farnham
                          GU10 2DL




      Web:          https://oklr.org/
      Email:         info@oklr.org

      Date of visit:     21 June 2026

      Key Facts

      • Located at the Rural Life Living Museum in Tilford, near Farnham in Surrey.
      • It was originally founded in the early 1970s as the 150 yard long Wey Valley Light Railway which ran around the grounds of the Moor Park Venture Scout Unit.
      • The track and equipment were moved to the Old Kiln Museum, now known as the Rural Life Centre in 1982 when the land at the original site was sold for housing.
      • The line has since lengthened around the centre
      • A small stretch of track serves the museum's heritage timber yard demonstration area
      • The railway has two steam locomotives and currently a third is on loan from the Moors Valley Railway
      • It also has sixteen internal combustion powered locomotives and an other on loan
      • It has six coaches and around a dozen wagons, mostly former RNAD or RAF stock.
      • It is run by a team of dedicated volunteers and received the "Surrey Industrial History Group Conservation" award in 1994
      • It has four stations: Reeds Road, Old Kiln Halt, Oatlands and Mills Wood 

      Route



      My Impressions

      The 21 June 2026 was one of the hottest days of the year and so when we arrived, we made immediately for the café and sat with a soft drink under the trees.

      Source: Simon Burchell

       After a brief tour of the museum we settled down to watch the Berkshire Bedlam Morris Dancers who were staging a performance for visitors. The railway had suspended the running of trains while the morris dancers were performing. The quality of the morris dancing was superb - a series of Fieldtown dances some of which were very complex.

       While the dancers were resting, I was able to grab a quick train ride, down and back up the line. I was the only passenger.

       The dancing resumed and then a few more train rides were organised, one of which was a special train for the morris side and their families.

      The line travels around three sides of the site, mostly through woodland ......

      ........ and then between a campsite and the edge of the museum grounds. 

      There are extensive workshops and sheds housing most of the railway's collection of stock which can be glimpsed through the open doorways as the train passes by.

       The two through stations are request stops, but most of the passengers were content to travel from one end of the line to the other.

      The staff were very friendly and informative, willing to answer questions and demonstrate their knowledge of the railway and its stock.

       Unfortunately, there were only sandwiches and cakes available in the café during our visit as the cook was on holiday, but I understand there is usually a fairly comprehensive menu of hot meals available in addition to hot beverages and cold drinks.

       The exhibits around the site are interesting and well laid out. Often there are demonstrations of, for example, blacksmithing. It would be advisable to check what events are planned before making a visit.

      Source: https://www.visitsoutheastengland.com

       There are play areas for children and plenty of places undercover and outside for picnics.


      Video

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      Friday, 18 July 2025

      Lincolnshire Coast Light Railway

       

      In a nutshell

      Gauge:         61cm

      Length:      ¾ mile

      Opened:     1960 / 2009 (on present site)

      Location:

         

       Skegness Water Leisure Park 
      Walls Lane 
             Ingoldmells
      Lincolnshire
      PE25 1JF


       

      Date of visit:     16 July 2025

       

      Key Facts

      • The railway was originally located at Humberston near Cleethorpes, where it opened in 1960
      • It closed there in 1985 and reopened on its present site on 3 May 2009
      • It originally used equipment from the Nocton Potato Estate railway and operated there until 1985. 
      • It was the first heritage railway in the world to be built on a greenfield site.
      • The first services used a Motor Rail "Simplex" locomotive and a bogie carriage converted from a wagon
      • The line now has seven Simplex locos of various vintages and a Peckett 0-6-0T steam loco, Jurassic.
      • In addition to its original bogie coach, it has two former Ashover Railway coaches (one in the process of renovation) and a coach from the Sand Hutton Railway (also undergoing renovation)
      • It also has several former WD wagons which have been beautifully restored under the auspices of the LCLR Heritage Vehicles Trust

       

      Route



      My Impressions

      After making my way through the barrier to the Caravan Park (there is no entrance fee BTW), I parked up outside the station building and bought my modestly priced (£2.00 GBP) ticket. 

      The train was already awaiting its passengers, and so I boarded. 

       

      I opted for the open carriage which is basically an ex-WD bogie open wagon equipped with seats.

       

      Before long, we set off, passing the railway's workshops where the line's Peckett steam loco, Jurassic was parked with one of the railway's ex-Ashover Railway coaches.


       Passing behind the hangars for the airfield ......


       .... we soon struck out into open countryside.


       The track skirts the airfield ......


        ..... and eventually arrives at the line's second station.
       

      This has recently been completely rebuilt and now houses information about the line's history and other memorabilia. Meanwhile, our loco, 1940 vintage Simplex 7481 No. 4 Wilton, formerly at Humberston Brickworks, was running around our train.

       

      After a short while, we began our return journey, this time with a close-upview of the loco and its driver.



      Passing Jurassic once more......


       ..... we coasted back into the main terminus.

      .... where I alighted and watched the loco running round its train of appreciative passengers.


       After chatting with the staff, I was given the privilege of having a guided tour of the workshops, where I was provided with detailed information about the railway's stock and its present and planned renovations.

      The railway's impressive Peckett loco wasn't in steam during my visit, but it is usually in operation at weekends and open days during the summer.  It certainly is a beauty and, one day, I will return to see it in action - though its boiler is scheduled for renewal soon.

      I was particularly impressed with the renovated Ashover coach. It has been sensitively restored, retaining as much of the original as possible and mounted on appropriate ex-WD bogies.


      Inside the workshop, was the line's Sand Hutton coach, awaiting refurbishment, together with a fine collection of ex-WD wagons which have been painstakingly restored to their former glory


      The railway's second Ashover coach is currently receiving attention and looks like it may soon be entering service. I was informed it will have First Class upholstered accommodation. Another reason to return.....

       The various Simplex locos were much in evidence, some with cabs and some without. I must admit to preferring the uncabbed versions, but then, I don't have to drive them!

      Outside the shed, a privately owned Simplex was having a test run (or three). I find there is something very atmospheric about hearing the pom-pom sound of their two cylinder motors in action. 

       Overall, I can thoroughly recommend a visit to the LCLR. It's a great little railway with a great deal to interest both railway enthusiasts and those who just like stepping back in time.

      The staff and volunteers - though I suspect everyone is a volunteer - were clearly very proud of what they have achieved and were eager to share their experiences with visitors. I can honestly say, without a shadow of doubt, that this is one of the most welcoming and helpful railway visits I have encountered since I have started my quest to visit all the (12"+) narrow gauge railways in the UK and Ireland.

      It is definitely on my list for a return visit - maybe when Jurassic is in steam.

      Video

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      Thursday, 7 July 2022

      Cleethorpes Coast Light Railway

       

      In a nutshell

      Gauge:       15" (38.1cm)

      Length:      1,150 yards (1,050 m) or 2,130 yards (1,950 m)

      Opened:     1948 - Original 10¼" gauge railway opened
                          1949 - Railway extended
                          1972 - Line extended and changed to 14¼" gauge
                          1991 - Gauge changed to 15" and refurbished
                          2007 - Railway extended 

      Location:   



      Cleethorpes Coast Light Railway
      Lakeside Station
      Kings Road
      Cleethorpes
      North East Lincolnshire
      DN35 0AG


      Web:      http://www.cclr.co.uk/
      Email:    info@cclr.co.uk


      Date of visit:     3rd July 2022


      Key Facts

      • The original line opened in 1948 as the Cleethorpes Miniature Railway in 1948 as a 10¼" miniature railway. It was relocated to its present site and extended in 1949.
      • It was re-gauged to 14½" in 1972 and provided with two steam outline locos built by Severn Lamb
      • In 1991 the railway was privatised, renamed the Cleethorpes Coast Light Railway and regauged to 15". A National Lottery grant led to the acquisition of stock from the Sutton Miniature Railway, including the original 1907 Bassett-Lowke locomotive 'Mighty Atom'. The Sutton locos have now been sold to the Windmill Hill Railway in Lancashire
      • A new 800 yard (730m)  extension from Lakeside Station to Humberston North Sea Lane was opened in 2007,
      • The railway now has five steam locomotives including a replica of Effie, an Arthur Heywood minimum gauge loco which ran on the Duffield Bank Railway in 1874
      • The railway is open every day from April to October
      • There are shops at both termini and hot food, beverages and alcoholic drinks available at Lakeside Station


      Route



      My Impressions

      There is an enormous Pay and Display car park adjacent to the main Lakeside Station and so, after parking the car, I made my way to the station to buy a ticket. A train was just departing and so I had twenty-five minutes to kill. As it was lunchtime, bought a cup of tea and a hot dog from the food outlet.

      By the time I had finished, the train had returned and so I made my way to the platform to board it. On the leading end of the train, ex Fairbourne Railway 0-6-0DM Rachel was ticking over awaiting the signal to depart.

      We soon set off with around half the seats full. Within a short while we passed the storage sheds for the locos and stock .......

      .... before passing through the sea wall and out on to the promenade.

      We chugged along beside the prom for around half a mile ......

      ..... before passing through the sea wall once more .....

      ..... and crossing over the boating lake.

      Within a short while we pulled into Cleethorpes Kingsway Station.

      Rather than using my return ticket, I decided to stroll back alongside the line. After watching the departure of the train, hauled this time by a heavily disguised 1944 Lister 0-4-0DM loco.

      Around twenty five minutes later, the train returned ......

      .... so I made my way towards Lakeside Station to await its next passing.

      At Lakeside, I was able to peruse the shop and bought a couple of informative and well illustrated booklets about the Sutton Miniature Railway.

      I was intrigued by the extension which, during my visit, was not in use. I understand that it usually comes into operation during the school holidays when the railway also runs at least one of its steam locomotives. It looks like I may have to make a return visit.

      With its interesting history and heritage, this is a railway well worth a visit. Even at the time of year I visited, the railway was well patronised - mostly by families with young children. The staff seemed to be very friendly and the railway well-run and, with plenty of nearby attractions and with food and drink available on-site, it is a place well worth a visit.


      Video




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