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Showing posts with label trains. Show all posts
Showing posts with label trains. Show all posts

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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      Tuesday, 16 June 2015

      Devon Railway Centre

      In a nutshell

      Gauge:         2' (and 7¼")

      Length:      approx 1/3 mile

      Opened:     1998

      Location:    


      Devon Railway Centre Limited
      Bickleigh
      Tiverton
      Devon
      EX16 8RG

      Email:   matthew@devonrailwaycentre.co.uk
      Tel:        01884 855671   

       

      Date of visit:     6 June 2015

       

      Key Facts

      • The Centre is built on the site of Bickleigh Station on the South Devon Railway
      • The station closed to rail traffic in 1963 as part of the Beeching Plan
      • The station was bought in 1997 by the Gicquel family who has developed it into the Devon Railway Centre with a group of volunteers.
      • In addition to the 2' narrow gauge railway there is a 7¼" gauge miniature railway, a model village, model funfair, picnic areas, children's play areas, a drive your own train ride, a car ride, cafe, shop and a very fine collection of model railway layouts housed in a former mainline railway carriage
      • The Centre possesses eight narrow gauge locomotives (diesel and steam) and rolling stock.
      • It also has several standard gauge carriages, goods stock and a locomotive.

      Route




      My Impressions

      I was not sure what to expect before I visited the Centre as the website suggests it is geared primarily for parents and children. However, I was pleasantly surprised by the way it has been organised and the range of exhibits on display. There was more than enough to keep a railway enthusiast of pensionable age interested.

      My main objective was to view and ride on the 2' narrow gauge railway, which was served by its own platform and station shelter.

      The open coaches were quite spacious and appropriate for the service they provided.

      Our locomotive on this occasion was Ivor - a modified plate frame Simplex originally constructed in 1944 and now equipped with a Perkins diesel engine and a steam outline superstructure.

      We boarded the train and shortly departed, passing the former goods shed which was now in use as a play barn and also an engine shed for the 2' gauge stock.

       Behind the shed. some rolling stock was being stored, including another plate frame Simplex in its original condition.

      After passing behind the model funfair, we set off up the Exe Valley with the 7¼" railway running alongside.

       We then turned to the left, revealing the picnic area beside the river.

       Entering the balloon loop, we paused at Riverside Halt to be given a short history of the mainline railway and the station site on which the Centre is built.

      We then returned along the original line to arrive back at the main station.

      After running round the train, the loco prepared for another departure. The services run quite frequently and the entry ticket permits as many journeys on the railway as you wish.

      Beside the 2' gauge station, is the station for the 7¼" railway - which again ran virtually continuously regardless of the number of passengers.

      I was particularly interested in viewing the Centre's collection of small industrial diesels, as I was in the process of finishing off a 16mm scale model of a plate frame Simplex. Having discussed this with one of the staff, I was given a private tour to see their unmodified Simplex, so I could take some photos of its finer details.

      Other examples of locos are on public display, such as this 1966 Simplex.....

      ..... this 1939 Hibberd......

      .... and these Hudson skips.

      I took a great number of closeup photos of many of the exhibits to act as inspiration for my modelling (see Peckforton Light Railway). Of great interest to me was the collection of model railways which were housed in a BR Mk1 carriage beside the original station building, in which is located the Centre's cafe. The standard of modelling was high, and a range of scales was impressive. What impressed me even more was that, unlike other model railway displays I have visited, every button pressed resulted in a working model.

      The models on display ranged from 00 modern image.......

      .... through Thomas the Tank Engine ..........

      ...... to representations of miniature railways........

      ...... narrow gauge .........

       ...... and a minimum gauge estate railway.

       They even house what for me is the foremost 2mm finescale model - Chiltern Green.


       (Apologies for the quality of these photos, they are extracted from video recordings)

      There are more railway layouts than is depicted here. Unfortunately, I was pressed for time as we were passing through on our way down to Cornwall and so I was unable to spend as long as I would have wished exploring the rest of the Centre to the full. Sounds to me like a jolly good reason for a return visit, which I will relish.

      Video

      [In preparation] 



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      Monday, 2 September 2013

      Threlkeld Quarry and Mining Museum

      In a nutshell

      Gauge:          2'

      Length:        Approx 1 mile

      Opened:     Originally - 1880s (closed 1940s)
                          Museum railway - 2010

      Location:   


      View Narrow Gauge Railways in a larger map

       

      Date of visit:     27 July 2013

      Key Facts

      • The quarry in which the railway is situated was first opened in 1870s to provide granite chippings for railway construction
      • It was extended in 1892 by the addition of a paving slab manufacturing company
      • In 1936 company was amalgamated with the Cumberland Granite Company to form the Keswick Granite Co.. Threlkeld Quarry was closed in 1937, but was re-opened in 1949 after modernisation.
      • Originally the granite was blasted from the quarry with black powder and the rock transferred to the crushing plant on wagons by gravity. When further quarry workings were opened along the valley, the railway was extended and operated by steam locomotives. However, after the second world war the railway was dismantled and transportation of the rock was replaced by motor vehicles.
      • The quarry finally closed in 1982 and much of the hardware sold off. 
      • It became the site of the Lakeland Mines and Quarries Trust museum in 1992 and in 2004 became the home of the Vintage Excavator Trust.
      • The museum now includes exhibits on mining and quarrying and walking tours of the mine workings are provided to visitors
      • My visit coincided with the annual steam gala and included visiting locomotives from Amerton, Statfold Barn, Leighton Buzzard and the West Lancs Light Railway.

      Route

       

      My Impressions

      Having stayed overnight in Keswick, I was able to watch preparations for the day's steaming before the museum officially opened for visitors. There was considerable activity going-on at the main shed.

      Kerr Stuart Wren class 0-4-0 loco, Peter Pan, which is privately owned but often runs on the Leighton Buzzard Railway was receiving some last minute attention .......

      ...... as was Kerr Stuart 0-6-2 Joffre from West Lancs and Hudswell Clarke 0-6-0 Lautoka Mill No 19 from Statfold Barn.


      Quarry Hunslet 0-4-0, Sybil Mary, also from Statfold Barn was also steaming quietly on the main line ....

      ..... while vertical boilered, Paddy, often seen on the Amerton Railway, as being prepared on the shed road.
       

       And of course, not forgetting Threlkeld's own 0-4-0 Bagnall locomotive,  Sir Tom,

      ...... which is housed in the line's main engine shed beside the lower station.

      The day's proceedings were kicked-off by the quarry Hunslet, Sybil Mary, putting in a spirited performance as she stormed up the gradient towards the upper station with her throttle wide open.

      The rest of the day ensued with an extremely busy programme of trains making their way up and down the line from the lower station yard....

      ..... where there is a  platform and various buildings housing the loco and some of the rolling stock. The passenger carriages have a distinct utilitarian feel about them, ideally suited to the museum's location.

      Facilities at the upper station are fairly limited, with evidence that construction is still very much work-in-progress.

      But its location in the heart of the quarry makes it ideal as a setting for the former industrial locos such as the vertical-boilered De Winton inspired, Paddy.......

       ....... and the quarry Hunslet, Sybil Mary.

      The stiff climb up the quarry provided an excellent opportunity for the locos to demonstrate their prowess. Here we see Sybil Mary breasting the summit of the climb ......

      ..... and similarly Peter Pan with a light load.

      At each of the stations, there was some shunting in evidence as trains were run-round and new trains were assembled.

      Peter Pan about to descend to the lower station........

      ...... pursued later by Joffre.

      The lower station is perched on the hillside above the community of Threlkeld; the valley providing an excellent backdrop to the museum and its railway.

      Statfold Barn's Husdwell Clarke 0-6-0 Lautoka Mill No 19 was clearly enjoying the challenge which the stiff gradients provided..........

      .... as was her sister engine, Sybil Mary.

      The museum's own loco, Sir Tom was not left out of the proceedings and did sterling work on passenger duties in between the non-stop freight workings.

       I can thoroughly recommend a visit to Threlkeld. Although, I did not take the opportunity to participate in a mine tour, I did spend some time browsing through the museum exhibits which are very well laid-out and comprehensively explained. Clearly, the steam gala is a particular attraction for those interested in industrial railways. I spent the majority of the day there and still felt I could have stayed longer.

      The catering facilities at the museum are fairly basic at the moment, but it is early days and I would imagine that once the major works have been completed thoughts will turn to enhancing this aspect of the museum's offerings - which for those interested in this aspect of our industrial heritage are already impressive, particularly the collection of excavators and associated machinery.

      There is even an opportunity for budding prospectors to pan for gold!


      Video

      [In preparation] 



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      Friday, 21 October 2011

      Progress Report 1

      The 'Vintage Train' in 2010 on the Welshpool & Llanfair Light Railway

      The first progress report for this new blog. As you may have seen from the home page that it is my intention to visit as many of the narrow gauge railways of the UK as possible over the next few years. Having had a fascination with this mode of transport for at least the last 50 years and visited and travelled on many railways, I decided it was time to be a little more systematic and organised in my travels.

      River Irt at Ravenglass in 2010

       Three days ago, I happened to spend a few days in Cumbria and inevitably found my way to the Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway. Having visited this railway on two previous occasions and taken a few random and miscellaneous photos I pondered on how else I could mark my return visit. Over a cup of coffee in the cafe at Ravenglass Station, my partner and I speculated on how many narrow gauge railways there were left in the UK for me to visit. I guessed there were around 200 (including miniature railways). On my return home I did a little background research and on the Narrow Gauge Railway Society website discovered their Guide to Narrow Gauge Railways in the UK which revealed there were nearly 500 narrow gauge and miniature railways - and this did not include those which had closed down such as the Southwold and Leek and Manifold.

      The Southwold Railway trackbed at Tinkers' Covert
      Image copyright Ashley Dace - reproduced under Creative Commons

      A plan started to emerge. I decided to visit (or revisit) all the railways listed in the guide, plus the sites of defunct  narrow gauge railways. However, I needed to prioritise. I decided to draw the line at miniature railways with a gauge less than 12" and only those which were open to public access. This was a purely arbitrary and pragmatic decision - but still left me with around 180 railways to visit, plus the sites of defunct railways.

      The North Bay Miniature Railway, Scarborough

       My next decision centred on what sort of information I needed to gather during my visits. Clearly this would be dependent on what was available to see on the day. I may use my first few visits to fine tune the sorts of evidence I will accumulate but I'm trying to consider the needs and interests of my intended audience - ie people like me who want a bit of background information and a few enticing images before they visit the railway themselves. In addition to some historical information and some factual stuff on what is there, I will include some personal impressions of my visit - what I noticed, what I felt and how much I enjoyed what I did there on the day.

      'Vale of Ffestiniog' Funkey Diesel at Blaenau Ffestinog in 2002

      Probably, the end of October is not the best time to start a project like this as many railways close down or run a much reduced (and often diesel powered) service during the winter months. Furthermore, we shall probably be using our trailer tent for accommodation and somehow this loses its appeal between October and April. However, this initial lull will give me time to do some more background research and to start planning our various journeys around the country.

      Over the next few months, I will post updates on my planning and include my first few postings of visits to railways which are within easy travelling distance and which are still running winter services.
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