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Friday, 18 July 2025

NGRUK Home Page

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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      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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