Name |
Opened |
Closed |
Gauge |
Location |
Notes |
APCM Alpha Works |
1934 ? |
1959 |
2 ft (610 mm) |
Cliffe-at-Hoo, England |
Extensive diesel-hauled chalk pit railway. |
APCM Bevan Works |
? |
after 1962 |
2 ft (610 mm) |
Northfleet, England |
Short line operating on a riverside wharf |
APCM Harbury Works[1] |
? |
after 1961 |
3 ft (914 mm) |
Harbury, England |
Quarry line worked with a rare Fowler 2-4-0 diesel locomotive |
APCM Holborough Works[2] |
1923 |
1969 |
3 ft (914 mm) |
Snodland, England |
Steam- and diesel- hauled railway at the Associated Portland Cement Manufacturer Ltd's cement plant at Holborough. |
APCM Murston Works |
before 1898 |
after 1963 |
2 ft (610 mm) |
Sittingbourne, England |
Internal brickworks railway |
APCM Rodmell Works[3] |
before 1910 |
1975 |
2 ft (610 mm) |
Rodmell, England |
Short line serving a cement works |
APCM Sittingbourne Works[1] |
? |
1971 |
4 ft 3 in (1 295 mm) |
Sittingbourne, England |
Cement works line with the last narrow gauge steam locomotive in that industry. |
APCM Stone Works[2] |
1877 |
1927 |
3 ft 9½ in (1156 mm) |
Greenhithe, England |
Steam-hauled railway at the Associated Portland Cement Manufacturer Ltd's cement plant at Greenhithe. |
APCM Sundon Works[4] |
? |
after 1969 |
3 ft (914 mm) |
Luton, England |
Cement works line. |
British Standard Cement Works |
1912 |
1932 |
2 ft (610 mm) |
Rainham, England |
Notable as the only industrial line in Britain to use an ex-WDLR Baldwin locomotive. |
Broom Bank |
1933 |
1962 |
4 ft 3 in (1295 mm) |
Lower Twydall, England |
Steam hauled cement works and clay pit line |
Chinnor Cement & Lime[5] |
|
1962 |
2 ft (610 mm) |
Chinnor, England |
Locomotive and cable worked lines serving the chalk quarry and washmills. |
Smeed Dean & Co. |
1900 |
1949 |
3 ft 7½ in (1105 mm) |
Lower Twydall, England |
Chalk pit line |
Francis & Co. |
1871 |
1920 |
3 ft 8½ in (1130 mm) |
Cliffe, England |
Steam-worked chalk quarry railway |
Gillingham Portland Cement Co. |
1870s? |
1910 |
3 ft 6 in (1067 mm) |
Gillingham, England |
Early cement works line |
I.C. Johnson & Co. |
before 1872 |
1928 |
3 ft 9½ in (1156 mm) |
Greenhithe, England |
Internal steam hauled railway, replaced by a standard gauge line. |
J.B. White & Bros - Swanscombe Works[6] |
1825 |
1929 |
3 ft 5½ in (1054 mm) |
Swanscombe, England |
Steam locomotive worked from 1875 onwards. Internal works line with rare outside flanged rolling stock |
Knight, Bevan & Sturge |
1873 ? |
1928 |
2 ft 8½ in (825 mm) |
Northfleet, England |
Extensive chalk quarry system, eventually superseded by a standard gauge line |
Queensborough Cement Works |
1896 |
1930? |
unknown |
Queensborough, England |
Line worked by two Aveling and Porter steam locomotives |
RPCM Barrington Cement Works[7] |
|
by 1979 |
2 ft (610 mm) |
Barrington, England |
Short locomotive-worked line |
RPCM Halling Works |
? |
1952 |
2 ft (610 mm) |
Halling, England |
Extensive cement works railway |
RPCM Southam Works[8] |
? |
1956 |
2 ft (610 mm) |
Southam, England |
Steam locomotive worked railway |
Tolhurst & Sons |
1860s |
before 1948 |
3 ft 6 in (1067 mm) |
Gravesend, England |
Large internal chalk quarry system |
Name |
Opened |
Closed |
Gauge |
Location |
Notes |
Barn Hill Quarry railway[9] |
1928 |
1938 |
1 ft 8 in (508 mm) |
Chipping Sodbury, England |
800-yard long locomotive worked line; locomotive transferred to Penlee Quarry railway in 1947 |
Black Rock Quarry[10] |
before 1919 |
1949 |
2 ft (610 mm) |
Portishead, England |
Steam locomotive worked tramway connecting the Black Rock and Nightingale quarries with the Weston, Clevedon and Portishead Railway |
British Quarrying Co Ltd Allington Quarry railway[9] |
1928 |
1956 |
2 ft (610 mm)? |
Maidstone, England |
Locomotive worked internal quarry system |
British Quarrying Co Ltd Borough Green Quarry railway[9] |
before 1921 |
1956 |
1 ft 8 in (508 mm) |
Borough Green, England |
Internal quarry system for "Kentish Ragstone". Originally horse worked, Simplex locomotive introduced in 1921 |
Brockham Lime Works[11] |
1870s (?) |
1936 |
2 ft (610 mm) |
Dorking, England |
Lime pits and works railway, later home of the Brockham Museum |
Buriton Lime Works[12] |
before 1897 |
after 1936 |
3 ft (914 mm) and 2 ft (610 mm) |
Buriton, England |
Diesel locomotive worked railway |
Butserhill Lime Works[12] |
before 1932 |
by 1945 |
|
Butser Hill, England |
|
Caldon Low Quarry |
before 1906 |
1933 |
3 ft 6 in (1067 mm) |
Waterhouses, England |
Limestone quarry with an internal steam-worked railway system |
Dorking Greystone Lime Co.[11] |
1880 |
1954 |
3 ft 2¼ in (970 mm) and 2 ft (610 mm) |
Betchworth, England |
Well-known steam hauled internal limeworks line. |
Dunball Quarry[10] |
before 1930 |
1954 |
2 ft (610 mm) |
Dunball, England |
Steam locomotive worked tramway connecting the Dunball quarry with the lime works |
Little Ormes Head Quarry tramway[13] |
1889 |
1931 |
3 ft (914 mm) |
Porth Dyniewyd, Wales |
Internal limestone quarry railway. |
Oxstead Greystone Lime Co.[1][11] |
before 1912 |
1971 |
2 ft (610 mm) |
Oxstead, England |
Internal railway of lime quarry and works. |
Peak Forest Tramway |
1794 |
1923 |
4 ft 2 in (1 270 mm) |
Chapel en le Frith, England |
Early tramway that was horse and chain hauled throughout its life. |
Whitehaven Quarry |
1932 |
1953 |
4 ft (1219 mm) |
Oswestry, Wales |
A series of rope-hauled inclines and steam locomotive worked tramways. |
Name |
Opened |
Closed |
Gauge |
Location |
Notes |
A. Hone & Sons Ltd. Ewhurst Brickworks[11] |
|
after 1971 |
2 ft (610 mm) |
Cranleigh, England |
Diesel and battery-electric locomotive worked line |
Albrook Brickworks[12] |
before 1939 |
after 1968 |
2 ft (610 mm) |
Eastleigh, England |
Diesel locomotive worked line |
Alne Brick Co. Ltd. Alne Brickworks[7] |
|
after 1979 |
2 ft (610 mm) |
Easingwold, England |
Locomotive-worked brickworks railway. |
Alne Brick Co. Ltd. Hemingbrough Brickworks[7] |
|
after 1979 |
2 ft (610 mm) |
Selby, England |
Locomotive-worked brickworks railway. |
Baxters Brickworks railway[3] |
1888 |
1969 |
2 ft (610 mm) |
Bexhill, England |
Short line serving the clay pit and brickworks. |
Bilsthorpe Brick Co. Bilsthorpe Brickworks[7] |
|
after 1979 |
3 ft (914 mm) and 2 ft 81⁄2 in |
Bilsthorpe, England |
Two lines serving the brickworks |
Buckley Tramroad[14] |
1780s |
1862 |
2 ft 6 in (762 mm) |
Connah's Quay, Wales |
Early horse-worked plateway carrying coal and bricks from a canal wharf. |
Butterley Brick Ltd. Cherry Orchard Lane Works[15][7] |
? |
1993 |
2 ft (610 mm) |
Rochford, England |
Short line serving the clay pit and brickworks. |
Butterley Brick Ltd. Star Lane Brickworks[7] |
? |
1991 |
2 ft (610 mm) |
Great Wakering, England |
Short line serving the clay pit and brickworks. |
Carbis Brickworks Tramway[16] |
1883 |
1942 |
2 ft (610 mm) |
Bugle, England |
Hand and gravity worked line, 350 yards long. |
Castle Firebrick Company |
about 1865 |
after 1920 |
2 ft (610 mm) (?) |
Northrop, England |
Internal brickworks line, worked by steam locomotives after World War One. |
Cattybrook Brickworks railway[1] |
before 1900 |
after 1975 |
2 in 10½ in (876 mm) |
Cattybrook, England |
Line connecting clay pit to brickworks via an incline and diesel worked sections |
Chilton Trinity Brickworks railway[1] |
|
after 1962 |
2 ft (610 mm) |
Somerset, England |
Locomotive worked clay pit line |
Crowborough Brickworks[3] |
before 1930 |
1980 |
2 ft (610 mm) |
Crowborough, England |
Internal line at the brickworks, latterly worked by battery-electric locomotives. |
Coronation Brickworks[17] |
1935 |
after 1969 |
2 ft 6 in (762 mm) |
Elstow, England |
London Brick Co Ltd brickworks near Bedford |
Cuckmere Brickworks railway[18] |
? |
about 1956 |
2 ft (610 mm) |
Berwick Station, England |
Clay pit line worked by internal combustion locomotives |
DSF Refractories Ltd. Friden Brickworks[7] |
|
after 1979 |
2 ft (610 mm) |
Hartington, England |
Brickworks line worked by internal combustion locomotives |
Gatwick Brick Co. Ltd. Hookwood Brickworks[11] |
|
1968 |
2 ft (610 mm) |
Gatwick, England |
100 yard long diesel locomotive worked line |
George Jennings South Western Pottery[10] |
before 1937 |
1963 |
2 ft (610 mm) |
Parkstone, England |
Locomotive-worked line between the clay pit and the pottery |
Gillingham Pottery, Brick & Tile Co. Ltd.[10] |
before 1901 |
1970 |
2 ft (610 mm) |
Parkstone, England |
Locomotive-worked line between the clay pit and the pottery |
Goxhill Building Products Ltd. Barrow Haven Works[7] |
|
after 1979 |
2 ft (610 mm) |
Barrow Haven, England |
Brickworks line worked by internal combustion locomotives |
Halstow Creek Brickworks |
before 1900 |
1920s |
2 ft (610 mm) |
Lower Halstow, England |
Served claypit and brickworks. Originally horse worked, one of the first electric locomotives was introduced here in 1902. |
Hambledon Lane Brickworks[15] |
? |
after 1983 |
2 ft (610 mm) |
Nutbourne, England |
|
Henry Oakland and Son Ltd. Escrick Tileworks[7] |
|
after 1979 |
2 ft (610 mm) |
York, England |
Interal locomotive-worked line |
Innes Lee Industries Campbell Brickworks[7] |
|
by 1979 |
2 ft (610 mm) |
Staveley, England |
Brickworks line worked by internal combustion locomotives |
Littlethorpe Potteries[19] |
|
present |
450 mm |
Littlethorpe, England |
Half-mile long hand-worked line connecting the clay pits to the pottery[20] |
The London Brick Company No. 2 Works[7] |
|
after 1979 |
3 ft (914 mm) |
Whittlesey, England |
Locomotive-worked brickworks railway |
The London Brick Company Arlesey Works[7] |
|
after 1979 |
2 ft (610 mm) |
Bedford, England |
Short locomotive-worked line on top of clay kilns |
The London Brick Company Clock Hill Works[11] |
|
after 1968 |
2 ft (610 mm), 2 ft 11 in and 3 ft 11 in |
Ockley, England |
Electric and diesel locomotive worked lines |
The London Brick Company Fletton Works[1] |
1889? |
after 1960 |
2 ft 11 in (889 mm) |
Peterborough, England |
Claypit and brickworks line of unusual gauge |
The London Brick Company Warboys Works[7][21] |
|
1984 |
2 ft (610 mm) |
Warboys, England |
Locomotive-worked brickworks railway |
Ludlay Brick & Tile Co.[3] |
? |
1965 |
2 ft (610 mm) |
Berwick, England |
Internal brick works railway at Berwick in Sussex. |
Lychett Brick Co. Ltd.[10] |
before 1901 |
after 1966 |
2 ft (610 mm) |
Upton, England |
Locomotive-worked line between the clay pit and the pottery |
Manfield Brickworks[11] |
before 1955 |
after 1963 |
|
Cranleigh, England |
Diesel locomotive worked line, converted to cable haulage in 1955 |
Midhurst Whites[3] |
after 1913 |
1980 |
2 ft 6 in (762 mm) |
Midhurst, England |
Brickworks with three separate narrow gauge lines |
Napton Brickworks railway[1] |
|
after 1961 |
16 in (406 mm) |
Napton, England |
Hand worked clay pit line |
No. 5 Fireclay Mine railway[1] |
? |
after 1968 |
2 ft 6 in (762 mm) |
Micklam, England |
Diesel locomotive worked line operated by the British Steel Corporation |
North Holmwood Brickworks[11] |
? |
1981 |
2 ft (610 mm) |
Dorking, England |
Internal system for the Redland Brick Co.'s clay pit and brickworks using diesel, battery-electric and incline cable haulage |
Nutbourne Brickworks[11] |
|
after 1980 |
2 ft (610 mm) |
Hambledon, Surrey, England |
Diesel locomotive worked line connecting the brickworks and clay pits |
Ockley (Surrey) Brick, Tile and Pottery Company Smokejacks Brickworks[11] |
|
after 1968 |
2 ft (610 mm) |
Redhill, England |
Battery-electric and diesel locomotive worked line |
Ospringe Brickworks railway[1] |
|
after 1968 |
2 ft (610 mm) |
Faversham, England |
Extremely short line with one diesel locomotive |
Rookley Brickworks[12] |
|
1972 |
2 ft (610 mm) |
Newport, England |
Diesel locomotive worked line in clay pit |
Rosemary Brickworks railway |
? |
after 1970 |
2 ft (610 mm) |
Cheslyn Hay, England |
Locomotive worked line in clay pit leading to an incline to the brickworks |
Rowlands Castle Brickworks[12] |
before 1932 |
after 1964 |
2 ft (610 mm) |
Rowlands Castle, England |
Hand-worked line in clay pit leading to cable hauled incline to brickworks |
Smithbrook Brickworks (1936) Ltd.[11] |
|
after 1965 |
2 ft (610 mm) |
Cranleigh, England |
Mainly hand-worked line, with occasional use of a Lister diesel locomotive |
Standard Brick & Sand Co. Ltd. Holmethorpe Brickworks[11] |
before 1911 |
1963 |
2 ft (610 mm) |
Holmethorpe, England |
An extensive steam and diesel locomotive worked clay tramway |
Strensall Brickworks railway[1] |
|
by 1975 |
|
Strensall, England |
Locomotive worked clay pit line |
Storr Hill Brickworks railway[15][22] |
1869? |
1981 |
2 ft 6 in (762 mm) |
Wyke, England |
An unusual chain-worked double track plateway only 250 yards long. |
Swallow's Tiles (Cranleigh) Ltd.[11] |
before 1953 |
after 1966 |
2 ft (610 mm) |
Cranleigh, England |
Mainly hand-worked clay pit line with cable hauled incline, and occasional use of a diesel locomotive |
Warnham Brickworks[3] |
before 1909 |
1965 |
2 ft 6 in (762 mm) |
Sandwich, England |
Internal line serving the brickworks and clay pit. |
W. H. Collier Marks Tey Brickworks[7] |
|
after 1979 |
1 ft 8 in (508 mm) |
Marks Tey, England |
Internal locomotive-worked line serving the brickworks. |
Wheatly and Co. Ltd. Springfield Tileries[7] |
|
after 1979 |
2 ft (610 mm) |
Stoke on Trent, England |
Locomotive-worked railway |
William Blythe Barton Brick & Tile Yard[7] |
|
after 1979 |
2 ft (610 mm) |
Barton-on-Humber, England |
Locomotive-worked line |
William Blythe Far Ings Tileries[7] |
|
after 1979 |
2 ft (610 mm) |
Barton-on-Humber, England |
Locomotive-worked line |
Woodside Brickworks[11] |
before 1949 |
by 1967 |
? |
Croydon, England |
Internal brickworks railway notable for its two Sentinel high-pressure steam locos. |
Name |
Opened |
Closed |
Gauge |
Location |
Notes |
APCM Alkerden Works |
before 1900 |
1943 |
2 ft 8½ in (825 mm) |
Swanscombe, England |
Large steam-worked clay pit line |
BPCM Bean Works |
1920 |
1964 |
2 ft (610 mm) |
Bean, England |
Short line serving a clay pit on the banks of the Thames |
Far Ings Tileries[15] |
1905 |
2001 |
2 ft (610 mm) |
Barton-upon-Humber, England |
Late survivor of the clay tramways, including a cable-hauled incline and (diesel) locomotive worked sections. |
Fayle's Tramway[23] |
1905 |
1971 |
3 ft 9 in (1 143 mm) until 1948
1 ft 111⁄2 in (597 mm) after 1948 |
Norden, England |
Clay tramway that replaced the Middlesbere and Newton tramways; owned by the Pike Brothers. Regauged in 1948 to suit ex-WHR locomotive Russell |
Furzebrook Railway[24][23] |
1830 |
1968 |
4 ft (1219 mm) until 1866
2 ft 8½ in (825 mm) after 1866
|
Furzebrook, England |
Horse-hauled clay plateway, replaced in 1866 by steam-hauled industrial railway serving the clay pits around Creech Heath. |
John Knowles Ltd. Woodville Clay Pits |
|
|
1 ft 6 in |
Derbyshire, England |
|
Laporte Industries Ltd. Coombe Hay Mines[7] |
|
after 1979 |
1 ft 111⁄2 in (597 mm) |
Bath, England |
Fuller's earth mine with battery electric locomotives |
Meeth Clay Company |
1920 |
1970 |
2 ft (610 mm) |
Woolladon, England |
Short line carrying clay from the pits at Meeth. |
Middlebere Tramway[23] |
1806 |
1907 |
3 ft 6 in (1067 mm) (?) |
Norden, England |
Horse-powered plateway serving clay pits near Corfe Castle. |
Newton Tramway[23] |
1860 (?) |
1905 |
3 ft 9 in (1 143 mm) |
Poole Harbour, England |
Clay tramway, became part of Fayle's Tramway |
Pentewan Railway[16] |
1829 |
1918 |
{4ft}}, 2 ft 6 in (762 mm) after 1874 |
Pentewan, England |
Initially horse-hauled, worked by steam locomotives after 1874. Connected St. Austell to Pentewan |
Thomas Marshall & Co (Loxley) Ltd. Storrs Bridge Fireclay Mine[7] |
|
after 1979 |
1 ft 4 in |
Loxley, England |
Locomotive-worked underground railway |
Thakenham Tiles[3] |
before 1937 |
1982[5] |
2 ft (610 mm) |
Storrington, England |
Short line serving the tile works |
Watts Blake Bearne & Co. Ltd. West Golds Mine[7] |
|
after 1979 |
2 ft 6 in (762 mm) |
Newton Abbott, England |
Underground clay mine railway |
Name |
Opened |
Closed |
Gauge |
Location |
Notes |
Ace Sand and Gravel Co. Ltd. Marsh House quarries[7] |
|
by 1979 |
2 ft (610 mm) |
Aore, England |
Locomotive-worked line |
Ballast Producers Ltd. Farnham Pits[11] |
before 1934 |
1952 |
2 ft (610 mm) |
Farnham, England |
Diesel locomotive worked line serving the gravel pits around Farnham |
Bretts Faversham Sand Quarry railway[2] |
1930s (?) |
1969 (?) |
2 ft (610 mm) |
Faversham, England |
Sand and gravel haulage |
Bretts Sturry Gravel railway[2][7] |
? |
after 1968, by 1979 |
2 ft (610 mm) |
Sturry, England |
Served gravel pits on the River Stour |
Biddenham Gravel Pit railway[25] |
by 1920 |
1930s |
2 ft (610 mm) |
Biddenham, England |
Short horse-worked line serving Biddenham gravel pit, near Bedford. |
British Industrial Sand Ltd. Middleton Towers railway[26] |
|
1977 |
2 ft (610 mm) |
Kings Lynn, England |
Extensive locomotive-worked sand quarry system. Five remaining diesel locomotives acquired by the LBLR in 1980. |
Buckland Sand & Silica Co.[11] |
before 1934 |
after 1935 |
2 ft (610 mm) |
Reigate, England |
Short steam-hauled railway working sand from the pits to a private BR-worked siding |
Croxden Gravel Ltd. Twelve Yards Road Pit[7] |
? |
after 1979 |
2 ft (610 mm) |
Irlam, England |
Locomotive-worked line |
Earls Barton sand quarry railway[1] |
|
after 1975 |
2 ft (610 mm) |
Earls Barton, England |
Small sand pit with internal locomotive worked line |
East Sussex Transport and Trading Company[3] |
early 1930s |
1964 |
2 ft (610 mm) |
Cuckmere Haven, England |
Hauled gravel extracted from the Cuckmere Haven beach to Exceat. |
Hall & Co.[3] |
before 1938 |
late 1960s |
2 ft (610 mm) |
Eastbourne, England |
Shingle extraction railway on The Crumbles. |
Hall & Ham River Co. North Station Pits[12] |
before 1964 |
1970 |
2 ft (610 mm) |
Farnborough, England |
Gravel extraction railway using diesel locomotives, at least two of which went to the Brockham Museum after the line closed. |
Ham River Grit Co. Ltd. Bletchingley Pits[11] |
|
after 1963 |
2 ft (610 mm) |
Redhill, England |
Steam and diesel locomotive worked line |
Ham River Grit Co. Ltd. Ham Pits[11] |
before 1932 |
|
2 ft (610 mm) |
Kingston, England |
Steam locomotive worked line |
Heavers Gravel[3] |
1920s |
1962 |
2 ft (610 mm) |
Drayton, England |
Internal gravel pit line |
Hoveringham Gravels Ltd. Holme Pierrepoint Pit[7] |
|
by 1979 |
2 ft (610 mm) |
Holme Pierrepoint, England |
Internal gravel pit line |
Hoveringham Gravels Ltd. Hoveringham Works[7] |
|
by 1979 |
2 ft (610 mm) |
Hoveringham, England |
|
Inns & Co. Ltd. Farnborough Pits[11] |
before 1964 |
1967 |
2 ft (610 mm) |
Farnborough, England |
Diesel locomotive worked line |
Leighton Buzzard Light Railway |
1919 |
1969 |
2 ft (610 mm) |
Leighton Buzzard, England |
Industrial railway that carried sand from the quarries around Leighton Buzzard |
Marlow Sand and Gravel Co. Ltd. Westhorpe Pits[7] |
? |
after 1979 |
2 ft (610 mm) |
Little Marlow, England |
Locomotive worked sand pit railway |
Penfolds Ltd.[3] |
? |
1963 |
2 ft (610 mm) |
Eartham, England |
Gravel extraction line |
Pentewan Dock & Concrete Company[16] |
1939 |
1966 |
2 ft 6 in (762 mm) |
Pentewan, England |
Diesel locomotive worked line carrying sand from the shoreline dunes to the grading equipment. Used some of the trackbed of the earlier Pentewan Railway. |
Piel & Walney Gravel Co. Ltd.[27] |
? |
1962 |
3 ft (914 mm) |
Barrow-in-Furness, England |
Steam locomotive operated gravel line running to a pier at Walney. |
Pilkington Glass Mill lane siding[7] |
? |
by 1979 |
2 ft 1⁄8 in |
Rainford, England |
Locomotive-worked line |
Pilkington Glass St. Helens quarry railway[1] |
? |
after 1968 |
2 ft (610 mm) |
St. Helens, England |
Temporary locomotive-worked railways used for sand extraction for glass making |
The most well-known of the British industrial narrow gauge railways were those serving the slate industry of north Wales. Many of the quarries had internal tramways and feeder lines connecting them to transhippment points on local railways, rivers, roads or coastal ports.
Name |
Opened |
Closed |
Gauge |
Location |
Notes |
Bearah Tor Quarry |
? |
late 1980s |
2 ft (610 mm) |
Liskeard, England |
Short, hand worked internal quarry railway. |
Brada Quarry railway[9] |
1935 |
1950s |
2 ft (610 mm) |
Bamburgh, England |
Internal quarry system; locomotive worked until 1944 by two Lister petrol locos |
Carreg-y-Llam Quarry railway[9] |
before 1900 |
1963 |
2 ft 6 in (762 mm) and 2 ft (610 mm) |
Llithfaen, Wales |
Original locomotive-worked 2 ft 6 in (762 mm) internal railway removed in 1949, but a new 2 ft (610 mm) gauge line was installed in the mid 1950s. |
Ceiriog Granite Quarries railway[9] |
1914 |
1959 |
2 ft (610 mm) |
Criggion, Wales |
Internal quarry system worked by a single steam locomotive until 1921, when it was replaced by cable-haulage. |
Charnwood Granite Quarries railway[9] |
1850s |
1963 |
2 ft (610 mm) |
Shepshed, England |
Early horse worked quarry system; steam locomotives introduced in late 1890s, replaced by internal combustion locos in 1937. |
Cliffe Hill Mineral Railway |
1896 |
1948 |
2 ft (610 mm) |
Stanton under Bardon, England |
Hauled stone from the Cliffe Hill Granite Quarry. |
Groby Granite Quarries railway[9] |
1893 |
1943 |
2 ft (610 mm) |
Groby, England |
Extensive internal quarry system worked by five Hunslet steam locomotives. |
Haytor Granite Tramway |
by 1824 |
1858 |
4 ft 3 in (1295 mm) |
Dartmoor, England |
Horse-drawn tramway serving the granite quarries around Haytor. Used granite "setts" as rails. |
Jee's Hartshill Granite Quarry |
? |
1956? |
2 ft 6½ in (775 mm) |
Nuneaton, England |
Granite quarry with an extensive locomotive-worked tramway system. |
Llanelwedd Granite Quarries railways[9] |
1929 |
after 1969 |
2 ft 6 in (762 mm) and 2 ft (610 mm) |
Builth Wells, Wales |
Internal quarry system; the 2 ft 6 in (762 mm) gauge line was horse-worked and closed in 1953; the 2 ft (610 mm) gauge was hand-worked apart from between 1953 and 1961 when a Lister locomotive was used. |
Lunedale Whinstone Company railway[28] |
1878 |
around 1918 |
2 ft 6 in (762 mm) |
Mickleton, England |
Steam locomotive worked line connecting the quarry with a siding on the North Eastern Railway |
Newcastle Granite and Whinstone Company[29] |
1902 |
1939 |
1 ft 111⁄2 in (597 mm) |
Haltwhistle, England |
Locomotive worked line connecting Cawfields Quarry to Haltwhistle station |
Penmaenbach Stone quarry tramway[13] |
1875 |
1962 |
3 ft (914 mm) |
Penmaenmawr, Wales |
Smaller working beside the Penmaenmawr quarry with an internal tramway system and a series of inclines down to the coast. |
Penmaenmawr & Welsh Granite Co.[13] |
1830s |
1967 |
3 ft (914 mm) |
Penmaenmawr, Wales |
Extensive steam-hauled internal railway system in granite quarry complex. |
Trefor Quarry railway |
1850 |
1962 |
1 ft 111⁄2 in (597 mm) |
Llanaelhaearn, Wales |
Internal quarry railway, with large incline to a steam locomotive worked pier branch |
The British coal mining industry made extensive use of narrow gauge railways, particularly underground where the restricted size of the tunnels meant that narrow gauge lines were and are particularly well suited. Many National Coal Board (NCB) mines used railways both underground and in the stock yards above ground. There were also many short lines at private mines, particularly in south Wales and the Forest of Dean regions.
Name |
Opened |
Closed |
Gauge |
Location |
Notes |
Ayle Colliery[7] |
1932 |
after 1996 |
2 ft (610 mm) |
Alston, England |
Private colliery with locomotive-worked mine railway. |
Bryn Oer Tramway[30][31] |
1815 |
1865 |
3 ft 6 in (1067 mm) |
Talybont on Usk, Wales |
Early horse-drawn tramway. |
Doe Lee Colliery[7] |
|
after 1979 |
2 ft (610 mm) |
Chesterfield, England |
Underground locomotive worked mine railway |
Flow Edge Colliery[7] |
|
after 1979 |
? |
Alston, England |
Small battery-electric locomotive worked mine railway |
Foxcote Colliery[10] |
1890 |
1931 |
2 ft 81⁄2 in (825 mm) |
Chilcompton, England |
Steam locomotive worked tramway |
Hope Level Mine |
? |
1988 |
? |
Stanhope, England |
Small mine operation with loco-worked railway |
Huish Colliery[10] |
after 1824 |
1912 |
|
Radstock, England |
Internal tramway |
Kilmersdon Colliery[10] |
before 1886 |
1973 |
2 ft 81⁄2 in (825 mm) |
Radstock, England |
Internal tramway |
Little Eaton Gangway[32] |
1795 |
1908 |
3 ft 6 in (1067 mm) |
Little Eaton, England |
Very early horse-drawn tramway serving the collieries north of Derby |
Lower Writhlington Colliery[10] |
1867 |
1973 |
2 ft 81⁄2 in (825 mm) |
Chilcompton, England |
Steam locomotive worked tramway |
Mendip Shaft[10] |
? |
1968 |
2 ft 9 in |
Chilcompton, England |
Private colliery with surface and underground tramway |
NCB BatesColliery[33] |
|
1986 |
|
Blyth, England |
Diesel locomotive worked underground colliery system |
NCB Berwick Drift Stockyard |
? |
Present |
3 ft (914 mm) |
Lynemouth, England |
One of several locomotive-worked stock yard railways in the British coal industry. |
NCB Clockburn Drift Mine railway[1] |
? |
after 1968 |
3 ft 6 in (1067 mm) |
County Durham, England |
Substantially built double-track line for coal haulage from the main mine adit. |
NCB Gascoine Wood Colliery railway[34] |
? |
? |
2 ft 6 in (762 mm) |
South Milford, England |
Underground mine railway |
NCB Harworth Colliery railway[34] |
? |
? |
2 ft 6 in (762 mm) |
Bircotes, England |
Underground mine railway |
NCB Kellingley Colliery railway[34] |
? |
? |
2 ft 6 in (762 mm) |
Kellingley, England |
Underground mine railway |
NCB Kellingley Training Centre railway[34] |
? |
? |
2 ft 6 in (762 mm) |
Kellingley, England |
Mine training railway |
NCB Lewis Merthyr Colliery railway[1] |
? |
1983 |
2 ft 10½ in (876 mm) |
Rhondda, Wales |
Stock yard line worked by diesel locomotives |
NCB Parkside Colliery railway[1] |
? |
after 1972 |
2 ft 6 in (762 mm) |
Newton-le-Willows, England |
Stock yard line worked by diesel locomotives |
NCB Prince of Wales Colliery railway[34] |
? |
? |
2 ft 6 in (762 mm) |
Pontefract, England |
Underground mine railway |
NCB Riccall Colliery railway[34] |
? |
? |
2 ft 6 in (762 mm) |
Riccall, England |
Underground mine railway |
NCB Stillingfleet Colliery railway[34] |
? |
? |
2 ft 6 in (762 mm) |
Stillingfleet, England |
Underground mine railway |
NCB Tilmanston Colliery[33] |
|
1986 |
2 ft (610 mm) |
Eythorne, England |
Modern underground colliery system |
NCB Wistow Colliery railway[34] |
? |
? |
2 ft 6 in (762 mm) |
Wistow, England |
Underground mine railway |
New Peacock Hay Colliery railway[1] |
? |
? |
1 ft 10 in (559 mm) |
Harecastle, England |
Cable-hauled incline from a small private coal mine |
New Rock Colliery[10] |
|
1968 |
2 ft 81⁄2 in (825 mm) |
Chilcompton, England |
Internal tramway |
Norton Hill Colliery[10] |
|
1966 |
2 ft 4 in (711 mm) |
Midsomer Nortom, England |
Surface and underground tramways |
Pensford Colliery[10] |
1910 |
1957 |
2 ft (610 mm) |
Pensford, England |
Mile long railway connecting the colliery to Bromley station. Initially steam locomotive worked, later cable hauled. |
Pentwyn No.3 Mine[15] |
? |
after 1994 |
2 ft (610 mm) |
Ystalyfera, Wales |
One of the last coal mines using pit ponies on a railway. |
Saundersfoot Railway[35] |
1829 |
1939 |
4 ft (1219 mm) |
Saundersfoot, Wales |
Early industrial railway hauling coal. |
Severn & Wye Railway |
1801 |
1869 |
3 ft 6 in (1067 mm) |
Forest of Dean, England |
Coal and iron hauling tramway, eventually replaced by a broad gauge line. |
Weardale Minerals |
? |
1988 |
2 ft (610 mm) |
Cambokeels, England |
Colliery railway |
Weardale Mining and Processing |
? |
1988 |
2 ft (610 mm) |
West Blackdene, England |
Colliery railway |
Name |
Opened |
Closed |
Gauge |
Location |
Notes |
Cumberland Moss Litter railway[1][7] |
|
after 1979 |
2 ft (610 mm) |
Wigton, England |
Extremely lightly laid temporary lines for peat extraction |
Eden Park Nurseries |
1987 |
? |
2 ft (610 mm) |
Wark Forest, England |
A relatively new narrow gauge industrial railway. |
Haversham House Farm railway[1] |
? |
? |
2 ft (610 mm) |
Lancaster, England |
Turf farm railway |
Joseph Metcalf Ltd.[15] |
? |
1999 ? |
2 ft (610 mm) |
Irlam, England |
Lightly laid peat tramway using modern diesel locomotives. |
L&P Ltd. Creca Moss[37] |
? |
Present? |
2 ft (610 mm) |
Annan, Scotland |
Peat extraction line |
L&P Ltd. Letham Moss[18] |
? |
Present ? |
2 ft (610 mm) |
Airth, Scotland |
Peat extraction line |
L&P Ltd. Nutberry Works[37] |
? |
Present ? |
2 ft (610 mm) |
Eastriggs, Scotland |
Peat extraction line near Gretna Green. |
Moodiesburn Peat Works railway[1] |
? |
? |
2 ft (610 mm) |
Glenboig, Scotland |
Locomotive worked line a few hundred yards long |
Richardson's Peat Work railway[34][7] |
? |
after 1979 |
2 ft 6 in (762 mm) |
Longtown, England |
Peat tramway in Cumbria. |
Fisons Ltd. Eclipse Peat Works[7][10] |
1922 |
after 1979 |
2 ft (610 mm) |
Meare, England |
Locomotive-worked peat railway. |
Fisons Ltd. Hatfield Peat Works[38] |
? |
Present |
3 ft (914 mm) |
Hatfield, England |
One of the few remaining working industrial narrow gauge railways in England. |
Fisons Ltd. Swinefleet Peat Works[38][7] |
? |
after 1979 |
3 ft (914 mm) |
Goole, England |
Peat works railway employing at least 11 internal combustion locomotives. |
Solway Moss railway[34] |
? |
? |
2 ft 6 in (762 mm) |
Cumbria, England |
Peat tramway |
White Moss Peat Co. Ltd. Simonswood Moss[7] |
|
after 1979 |
2 ft (610 mm) |
Kirkby, England |
Locomotive-worked line |
White Moss Peat Co. Ltd. White Moss Works railway |
|
1958 |
2 ft (610 mm) |
Alsager, England |
Very lightweight line of less than 1 mile length; worked using Lister locomotives |
William Sinclair Horticultural Auchencorth Moss railway[34] |
? |
? |
2 ft 6 in (762 mm) |
Leadburn, Scotland |
|
William Sinclair Horticultural Bolton Fell railway[18][7] |
? |
Present |
2 ft (610 mm) |
Hethersgill, England |
Lightly laid, locomotive worked peat extraction line. |
William Sinclair Horticultural Cladence Moss railway[15][34] |
1998 |
Present |
2 ft 6 in (762 mm) |
East Kilbride, Scotland |
Lightly laid, locomotive worked peat extraction line. |
William Sinclair Horticultural Ryflat Moss railway[34] |
late 1990s |
Present ? |
2 ft 6 in (762 mm) |
Strathclyde, Scotland |
|
William Sinclair Horticultural Springfield Moss railway[34] |
? |
? |
2 ft 6 in (762 mm) |
Leadburn, Scotland |
|
Wilmslow Peat Farm railway[18][7] |
before 1979 |
2000 |
2 ft (610 mm) |
Wilmslow, England |
Locomotive-worked peat tramway near Manchester |
Name |
Opened |
Closed |
Gauge |
Location |
Notes |
Ardda Tramway[13] |
1853 |
1864 |
probably 2 ft (610 mm) |
Dolgarrog, Wales |
Iron sulphide mine with 1 mile long tramway |
Athole G. Allen Ltd. Closehouse Barytes Mine[7] |
|
after 1979 |
2 ft (610 mm) and 1 ft 71⁄2 in |
Middleton-in-Teesdale, England |
Locomotive-worked barytes mine. |
Basset Mines Tramway[16] |
before 1907 |
1918 |
1 ft 8 in (508 mm) |
Redruth, England |
Steam locomotive worked line connecting the West Basset Mine and the stamps at Carnike |
Botallack Mine[16] |
before 1864 |
|
800 mm (2 ft 7½ in) |
St. Just, England |
300 yard surface line and cliff-side inclines into the mine. |
Cae-Coch Mine railway[13] |
1860 |
1919 |
unknown |
Trefriw, Wales |
Tramway serving a remote iron sulphide mine |
Camborne Mines Ltd. Pendarves Mine[7] |
|
after 1979 |
600 mm (1 ft 111⁄2 in) |
Camborne, England |
Underground railway serving the Pendarves tin mine |
Carrock Fell mine[7] |
|
after 1979 |
2 ft (610 mm) |
Mungrisdale, England |
Lead mine with a single battery-electric locomotive |
Cononish Farm Mine railway[18] |
? |
Present? |
2 ft (610 mm) |
Tyndrum, Scotland |
Mine railway in intermittent use. |
Cornwall Tin and Mining Corporation Mount Wellington Mine[7] |
|
by 1979 |
2 ft (610 mm) |
Twelve Heads, England |
Underground Tin mine |
Cornish Hush Mine railway[1] |
? |
Late 1970s |
2 ft (610 mm) |
Bishop Auckland, Scotland |
Railway at a Fluorspar mine, operated by a battery electric locomotive |
Force Crag Mine Ltd. Braithwaite Barytes Mine[7][40] |
|
after 1979 |
1 ft 10 in (559 mm) |
Keswick, England |
Railway at a Barytes mine, operated by a battery electric locomotive |
Geevor Tin Mines Ltd. Pendeen Mine[7][16] |
1911 |
1991 |
1 ft 6 in (457 mm) |
St. Just, England |
Extensive underground tin mine railway. Part of the site, with reinstated tramway, has been reopened as the Geevor Tin Mines Museum. |
Glenn Sannox Railway |
around 1900 |
late 1940s |
unknown |
Sannox, Arran |
Incline and pier railway serving a barytes mine. |
Great Laxey Mines Railway |
by 1854 |
1929 |
1 ft 7 in (483 mm) |
Laxey, Isle of Man |
Lead, zinc and silver mines with steam locomotive worked railway by the Laxey Wheel. |
Mineral Industries Ltd. Scraithole Mine[7][41] |
|
after 1979, by 2003 |
1 ft 6 in (457 mm) |
Nenthead, England |
Zinc mine with underground locomotive-worked railway |
Parc Mine tramway[13] |
1951 |
after 1960 |
2 ft (610 mm) |
Trefriw, Wales |
Lead mines with extensive underground locomotive-hauled railway system. |
Rosevale Historical Mining Company[16] |
1974 |
present |
2 ft (610 mm) and 18 in (457 mm) |
Zennor, England |
Newly re-opened tin mine using battery-electric locomotives |
Snailbeach District Railways[35] |
1873 |
1961 |
2 ft 3¾ in (705 mm) |
Snailbeach, England |
Served the lead and other mineral mines around Snailbeach. |
South Crofty Mine[7][16] |
1900 |
1998 |
1 ft 10 in (559 mm) and 18 in (457 mm) |
Camborne, England |
Extensive tin mine with internal railway. The mine was re-opened in 2001 although currently without the use of railway transport. |
Swiss Aluminium Mining (UK) Ltd. Burtree Pasture Mine[7] |
|
after 1979 |
2 ft (610 mm) |
Cowshill, England |
Fluorite mine using battery-electric locomotives |
Swiss Aluminium Mining (UK) Ltd. Cambokeels Mine[7] |
|
after 1979 |
600 mm (1 ft 111⁄2 in) |
Stanhope, England |
Fluorite mine using battery-electric locomotives |
Swiss Aluminium Mining (UK) Ltd. Redburn Mine[7] |
|
after 1979 |
2 ft (610 mm) |
Stanhope, England |
Fluorite mine using battery-electric locomotives |
Swiss Aluminium Mining (UK) Ltd. Stanhope Burn Mine[7] |
|
after 1979 |
2 ft (610 mm) |
Stanhope, England |
Fluorite mine using battery-electric locomotives |
Wheal Jane Ltd. Clemo's Shaft[7] |
1965 |
1992 |
2 ft (610 mm) |
Baldhu, England |
Locomotive-worked Cornish tin mine. |
Willoughby Mine Tramway[13] |
1877 |
1914 |
1 ft 10 in (559 mm) |
Trefriw, Wales |
Tramway serving lead and zinc mine. An early (1904) Kerr Stuart locomotive worked here. |
Name |
Opened |
Closed |
Gauge |
Location |
Notes |
British Steel Corporation Beckermet Ore Mine railway[1][42] |
|
after 1979 |
2 ft 6 in (762 mm) |
Beckermet, England |
Underground mine railway. |
Brymbo Ironworks railway[43] |
1899 |
1946 |
1 ft 111⁄2 in (597 mm) |
Hook Norton, England |
Major ironstone quarry and calcination works served by a steam-hauled railway. |
Colton Iron Ore Mine[10] |
1880? |
|
2 ft (610 mm) |
Brendon Hill, England |
Steam locomotive worked tramway connecting the iron ore mine with the West Somerset Mineral Railway |
Eastwell Quarries[1] |
1880s (?) |
1958 |
3 ft (914 mm) |
Eastwell, England |
Extensive system of steam-hauled lines with a cable-hauled incline. |
Eaton Quarries |
? |
1958 |
1 m (3 ft 33⁄8 in) |
Belvoir, England |
Unusual in its use of French locomotives. |
Finedon Hill Quarries railway |
1874 |
late 1940s |
2 ft 6 in (762 mm) |
Finedon, England |
Cable-hauled ironstone quarry tramway |
Florence Iron Ore Mine railway[34] |
? |
? |
2 ft 6 in (762 mm) |
Egremont, England |
Underground mine tramway worked by battery-electric locomotives |
Irchester Quarries railway |
1871 |
1884 |
3 ft 8¼ in |
Irchester, England |
Early ironstone quarry system using one steam locomotive. |
Irthlingborough Quarries railway[1] |
|
after 1958 |
3 ft (914 mm) |
Irthlingborough, England |
Underground mines using eletric locomotives with a double-track adit to the surface |
Kettering Ironstone Railway[24] |
1879 |
1951 |
3 ft (914 mm) |
Kettering, England |
Extensive system of steam-hauled lines serving the ironstone quarries west of Kettering. |
Midland Brick Quarries |
after 1901 |
by 1940 |
2 ft (610 mm) |
Wellingborough, England |
Small hand-worked ironstone quarry line |
Myers Burn Mine |
1985 |
1988 |
? |
Eaglesham, Scotland |
Small iron pyrites mine with underground railway system. |
Scaldwell Ironstone Quarries[24] |
|
1963 |
3 ft (914 mm) |
Brixworth, England |
Steam locomotive worked connecting the ironstone quarry south of Scaldwell to the British Rail branch to Lamport |
South Hill Farm Quarries |
1912 |
about 1926 |
probably 2 ft 6 in (762 mm) |
Finedon, England |
Locomotive worked ironstone quarry tramway connected to Finedon Hill quarry tramway |
Thingdon Quarries |
1882 |
1933 |
2 ft 4 in |
Finedon, England |
Cable-hauled tramway with horse-worked upper section. |
Wellingborough Iron Company[24] |
1874 |
1966 |
1 m (3 ft 33⁄8 in) |
Finedon, England |
The last narrow gauge steam hauled ironstone railway in England. There were also 2 ft 4 in gauge feeder lines at the quarries, latterly worked by diesel locos. |
Power stations were some of the last regular users of industrial steam locomotives in the United Kingdom, although most of these were standard gauge. However, several power generation facilities used narrow gauge railways.
Many construction contractors maintained depots that included narrow gauge equipment in store and under repair. While some of these were temporary locations and often unrecorded, others were long term yards with extensive stock and facilities.
Name |
Opened |
Closed |
Gauge |
Location |
Notes |
Arnold & Nathan Ltd. East Peckham depot[7] |
|
after 1979 |
2 ft (610 mm) and 1 ft 6 in (457 mm) |
Paddock Wood, England |
Battery electric locomotives for tunnelling |
Associated Tunnelling Co. Ltd. Lowton St. Marys Depot[7] |
|
after 1979 |
2 ft (610 mm) |
Warrington, England |
Battery electric locomotives for tunnelling |
Baillie Contracting Co. Ltd. Coventry Depots[7] |
|
after 1979 |
12 in (305 mm) |
Coventry, England |
|
C. Bryant & Sons Ltd. Doris Road Depot[7] |
|
after 1979 |
1 ft 6 in (457 mm) |
Birmingham, England |
|
Cementation Mining Ltd. Bentley Works[7] |
|
after 1979 |
2 ft (610 mm) and 1 ft 6 in (457 mm) |
Doncaster, England |
|
Clugston Construction Scunthorpe depot[7] |
|
after 1979 |
12 in (305 mm) |
Scunthorpe, England |
|
Clydeside Constructional Co. Ltd. Bridge of Weir depot[7] |
|
after 1979 |
2 ft (610 mm) |
Strathclyde, Scotland |
|
J.F. Donelan & Co. Ltd. Manchester depot[7] |
|
after 1979 |
1 ft 6 in (457 mm) |
Manchester, England |
|
Fairclough Civil Engineering Ltd. Swynerton depot[7] |
|
after 1979 |
1 ft 6 in (457 mm) and {[2ft}} |
Swynerton, England |
Extensive stock depot, on occasions including over 100 battery electric locomotives |
J.J. Gallagher & Co. Ltd. Armour Close depot[7] |
|
after 1979 |
1 ft 6 in (457 mm) |
Birmingham, England |
|
M.J Gleesons (Contractors) Ltd. Mitcham depot[7] |
|
after 1979 |
2 ft (610 mm) |
London, England |
|
Sam Henry & Partners[7] |
|
after 1979 |
2 ft (610 mm) |
unknown location |
|
J.H. Tractors Ltd. Tickhill Plant Hire[7] |
|
after 1979 |
2 ft (610 mm) and 1 ft 6 in (457 mm) |
Doncaster, England |
|
Johnston Construction[7] |
|
after 1979 |
12 in |
Surrey, England |
|
Kier Ltd. Setchey depot[7] |
|
after 1979 |
2 ft (610 mm) |
Kings Lynn, England |
|
T & A.M. Kilroe Ltd. Lomax Street depot[7] |
|
after 1979 |
1 ft 6 in (457 mm) |
Radcliffe, England |
|
Lilley/Waddington Ltd. Harvey Road depot[7] |
|
after 1979 |
1 ft 6 in (457 mm) and 2 ft (610 mm) |
Basildon, England |
|
Lilley/Waddington Ltd. Horwich depot[7] |
|
after 1979 |
1 ft 6 in (457 mm) and 2 ft (610 mm) |
Manchester, England |
|
Lilley/Waddington Ltd. Haunchwood Colliery depot[7] |
|
after 1979 |
1 ft 6 in (457 mm) and 2 ft (610 mm) |
Nuneaton, England |
|
Lilley/Waddington Ltd. Charles Street depot[7] |
|
after 1979 |
1 ft 6 in (457 mm) and 2 ft (610 mm) |
Glasgow, Scotland |
|
Martin & Co. (Contractors) Ltd. Bristol Road South depot[7] |
|
after 1979 |
1 ft 6 in (457 mm) |
Birmingham, England |
|
Sir Robert McAlpine & Sons Ltd. Kettering depot[7] |
|
after 1979 |
2 ft (610 mm) |
Kettering, England |
|
M & H Tunnel & Civil Engineering Co. Ltd. Green Lane depot[7] |
|
after 1979 |
1 ft 6 in (457 mm) and 2 ft (610 mm) |
Thurcroft, England |
|
Many narrow gauge lines were employed for short-term tunnelling contracts. Most of these are unrecorded, so this list represents only a few of the many such lines.
Temporary and semi-permanent narrow gauge railways were often used during land reclamation schemes
Many reservoirs constructed before the Second World War employed narrow gauge railways to move equipment and materials.
Name |
Opened |
Closed |
Gauge |
Location |
Notes |
Anglian Water Authority Marsh Farm Sewage Works[7] |
|
by 1979 |
2 ft (610 mm) |
Tilbury, England |
Locomotive worked railway |
Anglian Water Authority Nevendon Treatment Works[7] |
|
by 1979 |
2 ft (610 mm) |
Basildon, England |
Locomotive worked railway |
Brede Waterworks railway[3] |
1899 |
1935 |
1 ft 6 in (457 mm) |
Brede, England |
Steam locomotive worked railway that hauled coal from barges unloaded from the River Brede to the Brede Valley water works. |
Chicester Sewage Works railway[3] |
1930s (?) |
1976 |
2 ft (610 mm) |
Apuldram, England |
Short line around the sewage works |
Colne Valley Waterworks railway[53] |
1931 |
1967 |
2 ft (610 mm) |
Watford, England |
Light railway connecting the LNWR Watford to Rickmansworth branch line with the Eastbury Pumping Station |
Dukinfield Sewage Works railway |
? |
late 1980s |
2 ft (610 mm) |
Manchester, England |
Small-scale railway at sewage works |
Knostrop Sewage Works railway[1] |
? |
after 1975 |
1 ft 111⁄2 in (597 mm) |
Leeds, England |
Experimental facility that used locomotives from the First World War into the 1970s |
Metropolitan Water Board Railway[54][11] |
1915 |
1947 |
2 ft (610 mm) |
Hampton, England |
Transported coal from a wharf on the River Thames to the Kempton pumping station. |
North Bierley Sewage Works railway[5] |
|
|
2 ft (610 mm) |
Bradford, England |
Railway serving the sewage works |
North Surrey Joint Sewage Board railways[55] |
1939 |
after 1965 |
2 ft (610 mm) |
Berrylands, England |
Railways serving the sewage works in Surbiton. |
North Surrey Water[11] |
|
present |
3 ft 6 in (1067 mm) |
Walton-on-Thames, England |
Diesel locomotive worked 400 yard long line in occasional use |
North West Water Authority Ashton works[7] |
|
after 1979 |
2 ft (610 mm) |
Dukinfield, England |
Locomotive-hauled railway |
North West Water Authority Llanforda Hall[7] |
? |
1989 |
2 ft (610 mm) |
Oswestry, England |
Locomotive-worked railway serving the filtration beds and sand washing plant. |
North West Water Authority Lower Rivington Reservoir[7] |
|
after 1979 |
2 ft (610 mm) |
Horwich, England |
Locomotive-hauled railway |
North West Water Authority Spade Mill No. 2 Reservoir[7] |
|
after 1979 |
2 ft (610 mm) |
Longridge, England |
Locomotive-hauled railway |
Plantation Farm Sewage Works railway[1] |
? |
after 1975 |
2 ft (610 mm) |
Dukinfield, England |
Railway serving the filter beds |
Severn Trent Water Authority Blithe Valley Works[7] |
|
after 1979 |
2 ft (610 mm) |
Uttoxeter, England |
Locomotive-hauled railway |
Severn Trent Water Authority Burslem Works[7] |
|
after 1979 |
2 ft (610 mm) |
Burslem, England |
Locomotive-hauled railway |
Severn Trent Water Authority Newstead Works[7] |
|
after 1979 |
2 ft (610 mm) |
Trentham, England |
Locomotive-hauled railway |
Severn Trent Water Authority Stoke Bardolph Sewage Works[7] |
|
after 1979 |
2 ft (610 mm) |
Nottingham, England |
Locomotive-hauled railway |
Severn Trent Water Authority Strongford Works[7] |
|
after 1979 |
2 ft (610 mm) |
Barlaston, England |
Locomotive-hauled railway |
Severn Trent Water Authority Tunstall Works[7] |
|
after 1979 |
2 ft (610 mm) |
Stoke on Trent, England |
Locomotive-hauled railway |
Wandle Valley Sewerage Board railway |
? |
1963 |
2 ft (610 mm) |
Merton, England |
Internal sewerage railway |
Water Orton Sewage Plant railway[1] |
before 1968 |
1990 |
2 ft (610 mm) |
Minworth, England |
Internal sewerage railway of the Upper Tame Main Drainage Authority |
Wood Lane Tip railway[1] |
before 1961 |
|
2 ft (610 mm) |
Kensington, England |
Railway serving the refuse tips operated by Kensington Council |
Yorkshire Water Authority Naburn Purification Works[7] |
|
after 1979 |
2 ft (610 mm) |
Naburn, England |
Locomotive-worked works railway |
Yorkshire Water Authority Old Whittington Sewage Works[7] |
|
after 1979 |
2 ft (610 mm) |
Chesterfield, England |
Locomotive-worked sewage works railway |
Name |
Opened |
Closed |
Gauge |
Location |
Notes |
Berkhamsted Gasworks Railway[1] |
? |
1955 |
161⁄2 in (419 mm) |
Berkhamsted, England |
Short horse-worked line connecting the gasworks with a goods yard |
Bournemouth Gas & Water Company Railway[10] |
1864 |
1930s |
3 ft (914 mm) and 2 ft (610 mm) |
Bournemouth, England |
3 ft (914 mm) gauge elevated railway for coal transport until 1918. 2 ft (610 mm) gauge locomotive worked line for gasholder construction in the early 1930s. |
Dundee Gasworks Railway |
? |
? |
1 ft 111⁄2 in (597 mm) |
Dundee, Scotland |
Internal steam-hauled gas works railway. |
Granton Gasworks Railway[8] |
? |
1965 |
2 ft 6 in (762 mm) |
Edinburgh, Scotland |
Internal steam-hauled gas works railway. |
Hilsea Gasworks Railway[12] |
|
|
2 ft 6 in (762 mm) |
Hilsea, England |
Steam-locomotive hauled gasworks railway. |
Harrogate Gasworks Railway |
1908 |
1956 |
2 ft (610 mm) |
Harrogate, England |
Steam-hauled railway running from the North Eastern Railway to Harrogate gasworks. |
London Gas Light Co. Nine Elms Works[11] |
1863 (?) |
1927 |
3 ft (914 mm) and 2 ft (610 mm) |
London, England |
Internal steam-hauled railway hauling coal to the gasworks, replaced by conveyor belts |
South Metropolitan Gas Company East Greenwich Works[11] |
before 1910 |
1933 |
750 mm (2 ft 51⁄2 in) |
London, England |
Internal steam-hauled gas works railway. |
South Metropolitan Gas Company Old Kent Road Works[11] |
1892 |
1953 |
3 ft (914 mm) |
London, England |
Internal steam-hauled gas works railway on the Old Kent Road. |
South Metropolitan Gas Company Vauxhall Works[11] |
1890s |
after 1951 |
3 ft (914 mm) |
London, England |
Internal steam-hauled gas works railway. |
Southern Gas Board, Poole Gasworks[10] |
1944 |
1972 |
2 ft (610 mm) |
Poole, England |
Internal gasworks line using Lister locomotives |
Winnal Gasworks Railway[12] |
|
|
2 ft 8 in |
Winchester, England |
Overhead electric-locomotive hauled gasworks railway. |
Name |
Opened |
Closed |
Gauge |
Location |
Notes |
ABCO Petroleum[18][3] |
before 1910 |
after 1965 |
2 ft (610 mm) |
Rye, England |
200-yard-long internal railway serving the reprocessing plant. |
Ashton Canal Carriers |
? |
Present? |
2 ft (610 mm) |
Ashton under Lyne, England |
Short loco-worked line within a boatyard. |
Ballard's Malt Vinegar Works[59] |
1894 |
after 1974 |
2 ft (610 mm) |
Malvern, England |
Hand-worked line connecting the barley malting works to the piggery. |
Bedford and Jesty Ltd. Sylva Springs Watercress railway[1][10] |
before 1967 |
after 2006 |
1 ft 6 in (457 mm) |
Bere Regis, England |
Short line serving the watercress beds powered by a home made petrol locomotive |
Bedford and Jesty Ltd. Spetisbury Watercresss railway[10] |
before 1970 |
1980 |
2 ft (610 mm) |
Spetisbury, England |
Short line serving the watercress beds, using motorised flatbed wagons |
BICC Belvedere[2] |
1930s (?) |
1968 |
3 ft 6 in (1067 mm) |
Belvedere, England |
Steam-hauled railway at British Insulated Callender's Cables Ltd's cable plant. |
BICC Prescot Refineries Unit[7] |
|
after 1979 |
2 ft 6 in (762 mm) |
Prescot, England |
Locomotive-worked line |
Biwater Pipes and Castings[18] |
? |
2000 |
2 ft 3½ in (698 mm) |
Clay Cross, England |
Very short line for hauling pipes within the works. |
Bowaters Paper Railway[2] |
1906 |
1969 |
2 ft 6 in (762 mm) |
Sittingbourne, England |
Served Bowater's paper mills. The last steam-worked industrial narrow gauge line in Britain. |
British Ropes[11] |
|
after 1965 |
2 ft (610 mm) |
Charlton, England |
Diesel locomotive worked line at rope factory |
Bude Canal Edge Railway[16] |
1823 |
1942 |
4 ft (1219 mm), 2 ft (610 mm) after 1923 |
Bude, England |
Horse-hauled line conveying sand from Summerleaze Beach to Bude Canal. |
Cadbury's factory railway[60] |
1920s |
1950s |
2 ft (610 mm) |
Worcester, England |
Line connecting the canal to the chocolate factory taking timber for construction of packing cases. |
Clayton Canal Carriers[7] |
? |
after 1979 |
2 ft (610 mm) |
Guide Bridge, England |
Short loco-worked line within a boatyard. |
Civil Aviation Authority Laxey Airport[7] |
|
after 1979 |
3 ft 6 in (1067 mm) |
Laxey, Isle of Man |
Two railcars |
Daydawn Nurseries Ltd.[11] |
1965 (?) |
1971 |
2 ft (610 mm) |
Bisley, England |
Diesel locomotive worked line around garden nursery |
Droitwich Canal Trust[7] |
? |
after 1979 |
2 ft (610 mm) |
Salwarpe, England |
Short loco-worked line |
Faverdale Works railway[1] |
|
after 1975 |
1 ft 8 in (508 mm) |
Darlington, England |
Railway at the Chemical and Insulating Co. Ltd. |
ICI Nobels Roburite Works[7] |
|
after 1979 |
2 ft (610 mm) |
Shevington, England |
Locomotive worked line |
ICI Winnington Works[7] |
|
after 1979 |
2 ft 6 in (762 mm) |
Winnington, England |
Locomotive worked line at the crystal plant at Winnington |
Lochaber narrow gauge railway[61] |
1925 |
1977 |
3 ft (914 mm) |
Fort William, Scotland |
Long line built for the construction and maintenance of pipelines from Lochaber to Fort William |
London Post Office Railway ('Mail Rail')[62] |
1927 |
2003 |
2 ft (610 mm) |
London, England |
Driverless electric mail-delivery service, serving nine sorting offices on a 6.5 mile route between Paddington and Whitechapel. Entirely underground; double track in single 9ft tunnel. |
Lynlite Concrete Ltd. |
? |
1979 |
3 ft (914 mm) |
Ramsey, England |
Concrete suppliers. |
Nocton Potato Estate |
1920 |
1969 |
2 ft (610 mm) |
Lincoln, England |
Extensive system to carry potatoes from the fields to the crisp processing plant. |
Oakhill Brewery[10] |
1904 |
1921 |
2 ft 6 in (762 mm) |
Oakhill, England |
Mile long steam operated railway connecting the brewery with the Somerset and Dorset Joint Railway at Binegar |
Pett Level Tramway[3] |
1934 |
1946 |
2 ft (610 mm) |
Winchelsea, England |
Built to aid the construction and maintenance of sea defences on the Sussex coast. |
Port Sunlight |
1914 (?) |
early 1950s |
2 ft (610 mm) |
Port Sunlight, England |
Locomotive-worked industrial light serving Lever Brothers soap factory. |
Redland Pipes railway[1][11] |
before 1968 |
1972 |
2 ft (610 mm) |
Ripley, England |
Continuous circuit around the pipe works. |
Woodhead Tunnel railway[63] |
1960s |
Present ? |
2 ft (610 mm) |
Woodhead, England |
Locomotive worked railway for transporting workers maintaining the high voltage electrical cables in the old Woodhead Tunnel |