British industrial narrow gauge railways

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British industrial narrow gauge railways are narrow gauge railways in the United Kingdom and the Isle of Man that were primarily built to serve one or more industries. Some offered passenger services for employees or workmen, but they did not run public passenger trains. They are categorized by the primary industry they served.

Contents

[edit] Quarrying and mining

[edit] Cement works

Many of the cement works and their associated chalk pits had narrow gauge railways, particularly those in the South East of England. The Associated Portland Cement Manufacturers Ltd. (APCM, later Blue Circle Industries, now part of Lafarge) was the major producers of cement in the United Kingdom in the second half of the twentieth century and many of their plants used railways.

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 ? 1929 3 ft 5½ in (1054 mm) Swanscombe, England Steam-hauled 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 - Halling Works ? 1952 2 ft (610 mm) Halling, England Extensive cement works railway
RPCM - Southam Works[6] ? 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

[edit] Lime works

Name Opened Closed Gauge Location Notes
Barn Hill Quarry railway[7] 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
British Quarrying Co Ltd Allington Quarry railway[7] 1928 1956 2 ft (610 mm)? Maidstone, England Locomotive worked internal quarry system
British Quarrying Co Ltd Borough Green Quarry railway[7] 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 1870s (?) 1936 2 ft (610 mm) Dorking, England Lime pits and works railway, later home of the Brockham Museum
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. 1880 1954 3 ft 2¼ in (970 mm) and 2 ft (610 mm) Betchworth, England Well-known steam hauled internal limeworks line.
Little Ormes Head Quarry tramway[8] 1889 1931 3 ft (914 mm) Porth Dyniewyd, Wales Internal limestone quarry railway.
Oxstead Greystone Lime Co.[1] 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.

[edit] Brickworks

Name Opened Closed Gauge Location Notes
Baxters Brickworks railway[3] 1888 1969 2 ft (610 mm) Bexhill, England Short line serving the clay pit and brickworks.
Buckley Tramroad[9] 1780's 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 - Cherry Orchard Lane Works[10] ? 1993 2 ft (610 mm) Rochford, England Short line serving the clay pit and brickworks.
Butterley Brick Ltd - Milton Hall Works ? 1991 2 ft (610 mm) Great Wakering, England Short line serving the clay pit and brickworks.
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 a 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 [11] 1935 after 1969 2 ft 6 in (762 mm) Elstow, England London Brick Co Ltd brickworks near Bedford
Cuckmere Brickworks railway [12] ? about 1956 2 ft (610 mm) Berwick Station, England Clay pit 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[10] ? after 1983 2 ft (610 mm) Nutbourne, England
LBC - Fletton Works [1] 1889? after 1960 2 ft 11 in (889 mm) Peterborough, England Claypit and brickworks line of unusual gauge.
Ludlay Brick & Tile Co.[3] ? 1965 2 ft (610 mm) Berwick, England Internal brick works railway at Berwick in Sussex.
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 railway ? 1981 2 ft (610 mm) Dorking, England Internal system for the Redland Brick Co.'s clay pit and brickworks
Ospringe Brickworks railway [1] after 1968 2 ft (610 mm) Faversham, England Extremely short line with one diesel locomotive
Rosemary Brickworks railway ? after 1970 2 ft (610 mm) Cheslyn Hay, England Locomotive worked line in clay pit leading to a incline to the brickworks
Standard Brick Co railway before 1936 1964 2 ft (610 mm) Redhill, England Steam- and diesel- hauled clay tramway
Strensall Brickworks railway [1] by 1975 Strensall, England Locomotive worked clay pit line
Storr Hill Brickworks railway[10] [13] 1869? 1981 2 ft 6 in (762 mm) Wyke, England An unusual chain-worked double track plateway only 250 yards long.
Warnham Brickworks[3] before 1909 1965 2 ft 6 in (762 mm) Sandwich, England Internal line serving the brickworks and clay pit.
Woodside Brickworks ? 1953 ? Croydon, England Internal brickworks railway notable for its two Sentinel high-pressure steam locos.

[edit] Clay extraction

Pentewan Railway locomotive shed
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Pentewan Railway locomotive shed
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[10] 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[14] 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[15] [14] 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
Meeth Clay Company 1920 1970 2 ft (610 mm) Woolladon, England Short line carrying clay from the pits at Meeth.
Middlebere Tramway [14] 1806 1907 3 ft 6 in (1067 mm) (?) Norden, England Horse-powered plateway serving clay pits near Corfe Castle.
Newton Tramway [14] 1860 (?) 1905 3 ft 9 in (1 143 mm) Poole Harbour, England Clay tramway, became part of Fayle's Tramway
Pentewan Railway 1830 1916 2 ft 6 in (762 mm) Pentewan, England Initially horse-hauled, worked by steam locomotives after 1874.
Thakenham Tiles[3] before 1937 1982 [5] 2 ft (610 mm) Storrington, England Short line serving the tile works

[edit] Sand and gravel extraction

Leighton Buzzard Light railway quarry locomotive
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Leighton Buzzard Light railway quarry locomotive
Name Opened Closed Gauge Location Notes
Bretts Faversham Sand Quarry railway[2] 1930s (?) 1969 (?) 2 ft (610 mm) Faversham, England Sand and gravel haulage
Bretts Sturry Gravel railway[2] ? 1968 (?) 2 ft (610 mm) Sturry, England Served gravel pits on the River Stour
Biddenham Gravel Pit railway[16] 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[17] 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. ? ? 2 ft (610 mm) Reigate, England Short steam-hauled railway working sand from the pits to a private BR-worked siding
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.
Heavers Gravel[3] 1920s 1962 2 ft (610 mm) Drayton, England Internal gravel pit 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
Penfolds Ltd.[3] ? 1963 2 ft (610 mm) Eartham, England Gravel extraction line
Piel & Walney Gravel Co. Ltd.[18] ? 1962 3 ft (914 mm) Barrow-in-Furness, England Steam locomotive operated gravel line running to a pier at Walney.
Pilkington's 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

[edit] Stone quarrying and mining

[edit] Slate

The most well-known of the British industrial narrow gauge railway systems 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.

Aberllefenni main level looking down from Foel Grochan, late 1970s
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Aberllefenni main level looking down from Foel Grochan, late 1970s
Jerry M (Hunslet No. 638) at work in the Dinorwic slate quarry, 1951
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Jerry M (Hunslet No. 638) at work in the Dinorwic slate quarry, 1951
Name Opened Closed Gauge Location Notes
Abereiddi Tramway[19] 1851 1906 3 ft (914 mm) Porthgain, Wales 2 mile long horse-drawn tramway linking St. Bride's Slate Quarry with Porthgain
Aberllefenni Slate Quarry 1880s (?) 2002 2 ft 3 in (686 mm) Aberllefenni, Wales Underground slate mine and short line to the mill. Originally joined to the Corris Railway
Alexandra Quarry[20] 1861 1934 2 ft (610 mm) Moel Tryfan, Wales Steam locomotive worked quarry feeder tramway connected to the Bryngwyn branch of the Welsh Highland Railway.
Arthog Tramway 1858 1868 2 ft (610 mm) Arthog, Wales Incline and horse-worked tramway
Blaen-y-Cae Quarry tramway [20] 1870 1931 2 ft (610 mm) and 3 ft 6 in (1067 mm) Tal-y-sarn, Wales Nantlle Vale quarry connected to the Nantlle Railway
Braich Quarry tramway [20] before 1877 1932 2 ft (610 mm) Moel Tryfan, Wales Connected to the North Wales Narrow Gauge Railways at Bryngwyn
Braich-Rhydd quarry tramway [20] before 1873 1915 2 ft (610 mm) Fron, Wales Connected to the Nantlle Railway
Bryn Glas Tramway early 1900s ? 2 ft (610 mm) (?) Bethesda, Wales Short-lived horse-worked tramway built during the 1900-1903 strike at Penrhyn quarry
Bryn-y-Fferam Quarry tramway [20] 1860s 1886 ? Moel Tryfan, Wales Isolated quarry with two pits connected by a tunnel.
Burlington Slate Quarries railway [1] after 1975 3 ft 2¼ in (971 mm) Kirkby-in-Furness, England Cumbrian slate quarry internal railway system operated by two diesel and a battery electric locomotives
Carnarvonshire Slate Quarries Railway 1850s 1915 3 ft 6 in (1067 mm) Nantlle, Wales Horse-worked feeder tramway from the Tan-yr-allt slate quarry to the Nantlle Railway
Cedryn Tramway [8] 1861 1888 2 ft (610 mm) Llanrwst, Wales 4 mile long horse-powered tramway serving the Cedryn quarry; partly relaid in 1917 as part of the Colwyd reservoir railway
Chwarel Fedw Tramway 1840s (?) 1880s 2 ft (610 mm) Dolwyddelan, Wales ¼ mile quarry incline
Cilgwyn Quarry tramway [20] before 1861 1956 2 ft (610 mm) and 3 ft 6 in (1067 mm) Cilgwyn, Wales Nantlle Vale quarry connected to the Nantlle Railway. Two steam locomotives survive in preservation.
Coed Madoc Quarry tramway [20] before 1864 1927 2 ft (610 mm) Tal-y-Sarn, Wales Steam locomotive worked quarry tramway. Inclines connected to a standard gauge branch from Tal-y-sarn.
Cornwall Quarry tramway [20] 1867 1937 3 ft 6 in (1067 mm) Tal-y-sarn, Wales Nantlle Vale quarry connected to the Nantlle Railway.
Croesor Tramway 1864 1948 (?) 2 ft (610 mm) Porthmadog, Wales Horse-powered tramway serving the slate quarries of the Croesor valley
Cwm Ebol Tramway 1868 1900 3 ft (914 mm) later 2 ft (610 mm) Llyn Bwtri, Wales 1½ mile long tramway with two self-acting inclines. The last Welsh slate quarry connected only to a shipping point instead of a railway.
Cwmorthin Tramway 1864 1939 2 ft (610 mm) Tanygrisiau, Wales 8 mile long tramway connecting the quarries of Cwm Orthin to the Ffestiniog Railway.
Deeside Tramway by 1870 1947 2 ft 7 in (787 mm) Glyndyfrdwy, Wales Horse-powered tramway serving the Moel Fferna slate quarry. Mostly laid with wooden rails sheathed in iron.
Dorothea Quarry tramway [20] before 1873 1970 2 ft (610 mm) and 3 ft 6 in (1067 mm) Tal-y-sarn, Wales Major Nantlle Vale quarry connected to the Nantlle Railway.
Eigiau Tramway [8] 1863 1888 probably 2 ft (610 mm) Llanwrst, Wales Tramway connecting the Eigiau mine 6 miles to the shipping point on the River Conway
Foel Gron Tramway 1860 about 1900 2 ft (610 mm) (?) Llan Ffestiniog, Wales Horse-powered tramway.
Friog Quarry ? ? 1 ft 111⁄2 in (597 mm) Fairbourne, Wales Lightweight internal tramway around small slate quarry.
Fron Quarry tramway [20] 1864 1950 2 ft (610 mm) and 3 ft 6 in (1067 mm) Fron, Wales Quarry connected to the Nantlle Railway and the North Wales Narrow Gauge Railways via separate inclines.
Fron-heulog Quarry tramway [20] 1854 1913 3 ft 6 in (1067 mm) Nantlle, Wales Quarry connected to the Nantlle Railway.
Gallt-y-Fedw Quarry tramway [20] 1857 1901 2 ft (610 mm) and 3 ft 6 in (1067 mm) Fron, Wales Quarry connected to the Nantlle Railway.
Gorseddau Tramway/Tremadoc Tramway 1855 1872 3 ft (914 mm) Porthmadog, Wales Horse-powered tramway serving the remote slate quarries of the Cwmystradllyn valley.
Gorseddau Junction and Portmadoc Railways 1872 1887 2 ft (610 mm) Porthmadog, Wales Regauged and extended Gorseddau Tramway.
Hendre-Ddu Tramway 1867 1954 2 ft (610 mm) Aberangell, Wales Network of branch lines serving slate quarries and timber forests west of the Dyfi valley.
Honister Slate Mine[10] ? Present 2 ft (610 mm) Honister, England Working slate mine perched at the top of Honister Pass. The mine has gone through phases of activity and redundancy, the current operation started in 1997.
Llechwedd Slate Mine[10] 1860s? 1980s? 2 ft (610 mm) Blaenau Ffestiniog, Wales Extensive slate mine, once supported by nearly 100 miles of internal railway. Commercial railway use has now ceased by a short tourist train is operated.
Moel Siabod tramways [8] 1863 1901 2 ft (610 mm) Capel Curig, Wales A pair of remote quarries served by a short tramway to a wharf for transshipment onto the Capel Curig road.
Nant Col quarry ? ? 2 ft (610 mm) (?) Llanbedr, Wales Internal slate quarry tramway.
Nantlle Railway 1828 1963 3 ft 6 in (1067 mm) Penygroes, Wales Horse-hauled slate tramway serving the quarries of the Nantlle vale.
Oakley Quarry by 1814 ? 1 ft 111⁄2 in (597 mm) Blaenau Ffestiniog, Wales One of the largest slate mines in Wales, a major source of the Ffestiniog Railway's traffic.
Padarn Railway 1843 1961 4 ft (1219 mm) Llanberis, Wales Slate hauler serving the Dinorwic Quarry which itself had an extensive narrow gauge rail system.
Pant-Dreiniog Quarry 1903 1911 2 ft (610 mm) Bethesda, Wales Quarry set up by striking Penrhyn Quarry miners during the historic lock-outs.
Penrhyn Railway 1874 1962 1 ft 111⁄2 in (597 mm) Bethesda, Wales Slate hauler serving the Penrhyn Quarry which itself had an extensive narrow gauge rail system.
Pen-yr-Orsedd Quarry tramways[20] 1862 1979 2 ft (610 mm) and 3 ft 6 in (1067 mm) Nantlle, Wales Internal quarry system feeding the Nantlle Tramway.
Porthgain Railway[19] late 1880s 1931 3 ft (914 mm) Porthgain, Wales Locomotive worked railway connecting the Pen Clegyr and St. Bride's quarries to Porthgain harbour.
Ratgoed Tramway 1860s 1950s 2 ft 3 in (686 mm) Aberllefenni, Wales Horse and gravity worked light tramway connecting the Cymerau and Ratgoed quarries with the Corris Railway
Rhiwbach Tramway 1863 1961 2 ft (610 mm) Blaenau Ffestiniog, Wales Locomotive and incline worked tramway connecting the remote quarries around Cwt y Bugail to the Ffestiniog Railway

[edit] Granite

Cliffe Hill Mineral Railway
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Cliffe Hill Mineral Railway
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[7] 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[7] 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[7] 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[7] 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[7] 1893 1943 2 ft (610 mm) Groby, England Extensive internal quarry system worked by five Hunslet steam locomotives.
Haytor Tramway by 1824 1858 uncertain Dartmoor, England Horse-drawn tramway serving the granite quarries around Hay Tor. Used granite troughs 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[7] 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[21] 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[22] 1902 1939 1 ft 111⁄2 in (597 mm) Haltwhistle, England Locomotive worked line connecting Cawfields Quarry to Haltwhistle station
Penmaenbach Stone quarry tramway [8] 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. [8] 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

[edit] Coal

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 1932 after 1996 2 ft (610 mm) ? Alston, England Private colliery with mine railway.
Bryn Oer Tramway[23] [24] 1815 1865 3 ft 6 in (1067 mm) Talybont on Usk, Wales Early horse-drawn tramway.
Hope Level Mine ? 1988 ? Stanhope, England Small mine operation with loco-worked railway
Little Eaton Gangway[25] 1795 1908 3 ft 6 in (1067 mm) Little Eaton, England Very early horse-drawn tramway serving the collieries north of Derby
NCB BatesColliery [26] 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[27] ? ? 2 ft 6 in (762 mm) South Milford, England Underground mine railway
NCB Harworth Colliery railway[27] ? ? 2 ft 6 in (762 mm) Bircotes, England Underground mine railway
NCB Kellingley Colliery railway[27] ? ? 2 ft 6 in (762 mm) Kellingley, England Underground mine railway
NCB Kellingley Training Centre railway[27] ? ? 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[27] ? ? 2 ft 6 in (762 mm) Pontefract, England Underground mine railway
NCB Riccall Colliery railway[27] ? ? 2 ft 6 in (762 mm) Riccall, England Underground mine railway
NCB Stillingfleet Colliery railway[27] ? ? 2 ft 6 in (762 mm) Stillingfleet, England Underground mine railway
NCB Tilmanston Colliery [26] 1986 2 ft (610 mm) Eythorne, England Modern underground colliery system
NCB Wistow Colliery railway[27] ? ? 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
Pentwyn No.3 Mine [10] ? after 1994 2 ft (610 mm) Ystalyfera, Wales One of the last coal mines using pit ponies on a railway.
Saundersfoot Railway[28] 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

[edit] Other stone

Name Opened Closed Gauge Location Notes
East Cornwall Mineral Railway[29] 1872 1891 3 ft 6 in (1067 mm) Callington, England Early steam-worked railway serving the iron ore and stone quarries around Callington.
Titterstone Clee Hill Quarry railway[7] before 1910 1952 3 ft (914 mm) Ludlow, England Dhustone quarry with an internal horse worked railway; steam locomotive worked from 1910. Included a 1 mile long incline
Penlee Quarry railway[7] about 1900 1970s 2 ft (610 mm) Newlyn, England Aggregate quarry served by England's most westerly railway and one of the last industrial narrow gauge railways to operate. Used both steam and diesel locomotives.
Harecrag Quarry railway[1] 1969 2 ft (610 mm) Shilbottle, England Roadstone quarry operated by Northumberland County Council operated by six Hunslet diesel locomotives.

[edit] Peat extraction

Name Opened Closed Gauge Location Notes
Cumberland Moss Litter railway [1] 2 ft (610 mm) Anthorn, 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.[10] ? 1999 ? 2 ft (610 mm) Irlam, England Lightly laid peat tramway using modern diesel locomotives.
L&P Ltd. Creca Moss [30] ? Present? 2 ft (610 mm) Annan, Scotland Peat extraction line
L&P Ltd. Letham Moss [12] ? Present ? 2 ft (610 mm) Airth, Scotland Peat extraction line
L&P Ltd. Nutberry Works[30] ? 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[27] ? ? 2 ft 6 in (762 mm) Longtown, England Peat tramway in Cumbria.
Scotts Hatfield Peat Works [31] ? Present 3 ft (914 mm) Hatfield, England One of the few remaining working industrial narrow gauge railways in England.
Scotts Swinefleet Peat Works [31] ? ? 3 ft (914 mm) Goole, England
Solway Moss railway[27] ? ? 2 ft 6 in (762 mm) Cumbria, England Peat tramway
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[27] ? ? 2 ft 6 in (762 mm) Leadburn, Scotland
William Sinclair Horticultural Bolton Fell railway[12] ? Present 2 ft (610 mm) Hethersgill, Scotland Lightly laid, locomotive worked peat extraction line.
William Sinclair Horticultural Cladence Moss railway[10][27] 1998 Present 2 ft 6 in (762 mm) East Kilbride, Scotland Lightly laid, locomotive worked peat extraction line.
William Sinclair Horticultural Ryflat Moss railway[27] late 1990s Present ? 2 ft 6 in (762 mm) Strathclyde, Scotland
William Sinclair Horticultural Springfield Moss railway[27] ? ? 2 ft 6 in (762 mm) Leadburn, Scotland
Wilmslow Peat Farm railway[12] ? 2000 2 ft (610 mm) Wilmslow, England Peat tramway near Manchester

[edit] Other mineral extraction

Name Opened Closed Gauge Location Notes
British Gypsum Mines Ltd.[12] 1945 after 1966 2 ft (610 mm) Mountfield, England Inclined adit and works railway.
J. Parish Loam works 1850s 1957 4 ft (1219 mm) Erith, England Steam-hauled railway moving loam for metal casting molds.
Lealt Railway 1890 1915 2 ft (610 mm) Isle of Skye, Scotland Remote line hauling "diatomic earth" which is used as a polishing agent. Steam worked for a short while.
Raasay Railway 1880s 1918 ? Isle of Skye, Scotland Remote line hauling "Wolframite" which is used in steel making.
Scropton Tramway [32] 1889 1949 3 ft (914 mm) Scropton, England Steam hauled tramway serving Gypsum mines south of Scropton station.

[edit] Metal mining

[edit] Tin and lead

Name Opened Closed Gauge Location Notes
Ardda Tramway [8] 1853 1864 probably 2 ft (610 mm) Dolgarrog, Wales Iron sulphide mine with 1 mile long tramway
Cae-Coch Mine railway [8] 1860 1919 unknown Trefriw, Wales Tramway serving a remote iron sulphide mine
Cononish Farm Mine railway [12] ? Present? 2 ft (610 mm) Tyndrum, Scotland Mine railway in intermittent use.
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
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.
Parc Mine tramway [8] 1951 after 1960 2 ft (610 mm) Trefriw, Wales Lead mines with extensive underground locomotive-hauled railway system.
Snailbeach District Railways[28] 1873 1961 2 ft 3¾ in (705 mm) Snailbeach, England Served the lead and other mineral mines around Snailbeach.
South Crofty Mine 1880's (?) 1990's 1 ft 10 in (559 mm) Camborne, England Extensive tin mine with internal railway.
Willoughby Mine Tramway [8] 1877 1914 1 ft 10 in Trefriw, Wales Tramway serving lead and zinc mine. An early (1904) Kerr Stuart locomotive worked here.

[edit] Iron

Mainly ironstone quarries

Name Opened Closed Gauge Location Notes
Beckermet Ore Mines railway[1] after 1975 2 ft 6 in (762 mm) Beckermet, England Underground mine railway owned by the British Steel Corporation.
Brymbo Ironworks railway[33] 1899 1946 1 ft 111⁄2 in (597 mm) Hook Norton, England Major ironstone quarry and calcination works served by a steam-hauled 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[27] ? ? 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[15] 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[15] 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[15] 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.

[edit] Gold and silver

Name Opened Closed Gauge Location Notes
Clogau mine 1880s Present 2 ft (610 mm) Bontddu Wales Hand-worked gold mine railway, in intermittent use

[edit] Heavy industry

[edit] Steel works

Name Opened Closed Gauge Location Notes
Gurnos Tin Plate Works railway[1] before 1920 1 ft 6 in (457 mm) Lower Cwmtwrch, Wales Internal steel works railway
Ebbw Vale Steel, Iron and Coal Company railway [34] 1 ft 6 in (457 mm) Ebbw Vale, Wales Internal steel works railway using Ramsbottom locomotives similar to those at the Crewe Works Railway
Shotton Steel Works railway[1][27] present? 2 ft 6 in (762 mm) Wrexham, Wales Internal steel works railway, with an entirely new line built in 1971

[edit] Construction industry

[edit] Tunnelling

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.

Name Opened Closed Gauge Location Notes
Bedminster Water Outfall contract[1] 1974 1975 2 ft (610 mm) Bedminster, England Water tunnel construction scheme in Bristol, using eleven diesel locomotives
Cockermouth Sewer Contract ? 1988 2 ft (610 mm) ? Cockermouth, England Temporary line to serve the renewal of the main sewer tunnel. Used battery electric locomotives.
Eurotunnel contract[2] 1988 1992 3 ft (914 mm) Dover, England Extensive rack and adhesion railway used in the construction of the Channel Tunnel.
Nuttall's Sewer contract 1996 1998 2 ft (610 mm) Dover, England Construction railway for a one-mile long interception sewer tunnel.
Selby Road sewer tunnel contract[1] 1971 1972 1 ft 6 in (457 mm) Leyton, England Contractor's railway for building a new sewer tunnel in north east London. Used battery electric locomotives.

[edit] City construction

During the garden city construction boom, several new towns and cities were built using narrow gauge railways

Name Opened Closed Gauge Location Notes
Port Sunlight village railway[35] 1905 1914 2 ft (610 mm) Port Sunlight, England Locomotive worked construction railway for the expansion of Port Sunlight "garden village"

[edit] Land reclamation

Temporary and semi-permanent narrow gauge railways were often used during land reclamation schemes

Name Opened Closed Gauge Location Notes
Robert Stannard's Railway[36] 1816 after 1821 1 ft 6 in (457 mm) Chat Moss, England Portable hand-worked tramway used for the reclamation of Chat Moss.
The Embankment Tramway[37] 1808 about 1830 3 ft (914 mm) Porthmadog, Wales Horse-drawn tramway used to construct the "Cob" for the Traeth Mawr land reclaimation scheme. Later replaced by the Ffestiniog Railway.
The North Sea Camp Railway[38] 1935 after 1972 2 ft (610 mm) Frieston, England Locomotive worked land reclamation scheme in the Lincolnshire Wash

[edit] Reservoir construction

Many reservoirs constructed before the Second World War employed narrow gauge railways to move equipment and materials.

Name Opened Closed Gauge Location Notes
Baldersdale Reservoir railway[21] 1889 1896 3 ft (914 mm) Middleton in Teesdale England
Burnhope Reservoir railway[21] 1930 1937 2 ft (610 mm) Wearhead England Extensive narrow gauge system serving the construction of the Burnhope Reservoir
Catcleugh Reservoir railway[21] 1902 1905 3 ft (914 mm) Woodburn England Connection from the Woodburn station of the North British Railway to Catcleugh dam
Crookfoot Reservoir railway[21] 1900 1904 3 ft (914 mm) Hartlepool England Steam locomotive worked line
Fontburn Reservoir railway[21] 1902 1908 3 ft (914 mm) Kirkwhelpington England Steam locomotive and horse worked line connecting to sidings on the North British Railway
Geltsdale Reservoir railway[21] 1904 1909 3 ft (914 mm) Carlisle England Steam locomotive worked line
West Baldwin Reservoir railway[39] 1901 1905 3 ft (914 mm) Douglas Isle of Man Steam locomotive worked line north of Douglas
Bamford to Howden Railway[40] 1915 Derwent Valley Construction of Derwent and Howden Reservoirs
Swinsty Reservoir Railway[41] 1873 1877 3 ft (914 mm) Washburn Valley Construction of Swinsty Reservoir
Fewston Reservoir Railway[41] 1874 1879 3 ft (914 mm) Washburn Valley Construction of Fewston Reservoir

[edit] Power station construction

Name Opened Closed Gauge Location Notes
Foyers Power Station construction railway[1] around 1970 after 1971 3 ft (914 mm) and 2 ft (610 mm) Loch Ness Scotland Extensive network of temporary lines around Loch Ness

[edit] General

[edit] Water treatment and sewage works

Name Opened Closed Gauge Location Notes
Brede Waterworks railway 1899 1935 2 ft 6 in (762 mm) Brede, England 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[42] 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
Llanforda Hall ? 1989 2 ft (610 mm) Oswestry, England Railway serving the filtration beds and sand washing plant.
Metropolitan Water Board Railway [43] 1916 1946 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 [44] 1939 after 1965 2 ft (610 mm) Berrylands, England Railways serving the sewage works in Surbiton.
Plantation Farm Sewage Works railway[1] ? after 1975 2 ft (610 mm) Dukinfield, England Railway serving the filter beds
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 railway[1] ? 1973 2 ft (610 mm) Saltmarsh, England Temporary riverbank line used for repairs to the River Ouse

[edit] Gas works

Name Opened Closed Gauge Location Notes
Berkhamsted Gasworks Railway[1] ? 1955 16½ in (419 mm) Berkhamsted, England Short horse-worked line connecting the gasworks with a goods yard
Dundee Gasworks Railway ? ? 1 ft 111⁄2 in (597 mm) Dundee, Scotland Internal steam-hauled gas works railway.
Granton Gasworks Railway[6] ? 1965 2 ft 6 in (762 mm) Edinburgh, Scotland Internal steam-hauled gas works railway.
Harrogate Gasworks Railway 1908 1956 2 ft (610 mm) Harrogate, England Steam-hauled railway running from the North Eastern Railway to Harrogate gasworks.
South Metropolitan Gas Works, Old Kent Road 1892 (?) 1953 3 ft (914 mm) London, England Internal steam-hauled gas works railway on the Old Kent Road.
South Metropolitan Gas Works, Vauxhall 1898 (?) ? 3 ft (914 mm) London, England Internal steam-hauled gas works railway.

[edit] Power generation

Name Opened Closed Gauge Location Notes
Stourport Power Station ? 1989 2 ft 6 in (762 mm) Stourport, England Internal line.
J.S. Fry and Sons railway [1] ? after 1967 2 ft (610 mm) Somerdale, England Short railway running parallel to a standard gauge line. The narrow gauge locomotives hauled standard gauge coal wagons to the power station.

[edit] General freight

Name Opened Closed Gauge Location Notes
Belvoir Castle Tramway[45] 1815 1920 4 ft 4½ in (1 334 mm) Belvoir Castle, England A short plateway used to haul coal and other goods from a canal wharf to the castle.
Guilford Tramway [2] 1903 1930 3 ft 6 in (1067 mm) Sandwich, England Steam locomotive worked, freight-only line serving the St. George's Golf Club.
Redruth and Chasewater Railway[28] 1825 1915 4 ft (1219 mm) Redruth, England Freight and mineral hauling line; horse-drawn until 1854; later steam worked.
Talisker Distillery ? 1930s 2 ft (610 mm) Isle of Skye, Scotland Hauled goods from a pier to the whisky distillery.

[edit] Forestry

Name Opened Closed Gauge Location Notes
Ampthill Timber Railway [46] 1917 1918 3 ft (914 mm) Ampthill, England Controller of Timber Supply (CTS) forestry railway using one Kerr Stuart Haig class locomotive.
Aviemore Light Railway [46] 1917 1922 3 ft (914 mm) Aviemore, Scotland Extensive forestry railway built by the War Office Directorate of Timber Supply.
Cefn Vron Tramway [46] 1924 1926 2 ft 6 in (762 mm) Newtown, Wales Temporary timber hauling railway on the Welsh-English border.
Dornoch forestry railway [46] 1917 1922 3 ft (914 mm) Dornoch, Scotland Forestry railway built by the War Office Directorate of Timber Supply.
Downham Hall timber railway [46] 1917 1922 3 ft (914 mm) Brandon, England CTS timber railway using three Bagnall locomotives
Kerry Ridgeway Railway [46] 1941 1943 2 ft (610 mm) Newtown, Wales Temporary timber-hauling railway at Kerry, Powys.
Kerry Tramway [46] 1887 1923 2 ft (610 mm) Newtown, Wales Locomotive-worked line hauling timber from Kerry forest to Kerry Station on the Cambrian Railway
Wool timber railway [46] 1918 1920 3 ft (914 mm) Wool, England Forestry railway using a single Bagnall locomotive.
Wolsingham railway [46] 1917 1922 3 ft (914 mm) Wolsingham, England 1½ mile long timber railway using three steam locomotives.

[edit] Other industries

Name Opened Closed Gauge Location Notes
ABCO Petroleum[12] before 1910 1960s 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[47] 1894 after 1974 2 ft (610 mm) Malvern, England Hand-worked line connecting the barley malting works to the piggery.
Beyer Peacock Works Railway[48] ? ? 2 ft 6 in (762 mm) Manchester, England Extensive railway serving the locomotive construction works of Beyer Peacock.
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.
Biwater Pipes and Castings[12] ? 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 Railways Sleeper Depot railway ? ? 3 ft (914 mm) Beeston, England Sleeper depot line
Cadbury's factory railway[49] 1920s 1950s 2 ft (610 mm) Worcester, England Line connecting the canal to the chocolate factory taking timber for construction of packing cases.
Lochaber narrow gauge railway 1925 1977 3 ft (914 mm) Fort William, Scotland Long line built for the construction and maintenance of pipelines from Lochaber to Fort William
Crewe Works Railway[34] 1863 1932 1 ft 6 in (457 mm) Crewe, England Extensive railway serving the Crewe locomtoive works of the London and North Western Railway.
Faverdale Works railway[1] after 1975 1 ft 8 in (508 mm) Darlington, England Railway at the Chemical and Insulating Co. Ltd.
Horwich Works Railway[34] 1965 1 ft 6 in (457 mm) Bolton, England Railway serving the Horwich locomtoive works of the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway.
London Post Office Railway ('Mail Rail') 1927 2003 2 ft (610 mm) London, England Unmanned 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.
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] 1972 2 ft (610 mm) Ripley, England Continuous circuit around the pipe works.
Sylva Springs Watercresss railway[1] after 2000 1 ft 6 in (457 mm) Bere Regis, England Short line serving the watercress beds powered by a home made petrol locomotive
Woodhead Tunnel railway[50] 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

[edit] Military railways

These are railways at military establishments and former UK Government-owned explosives sites. These locations were often subject to the Official Secrets Act and other government restrictions, so many of them are less well documented.

The industrial use of narrow-gauge railways was quite extensive amongst the various military and civilian explosive factories, for example ICI Nobel's works at Ardeer and the Agency Explosive Factories run by ICI Nobel in the Second World War. To give an example, the Ministry of Supply (MOS) Factory Dalbeattie used 30 inch (750 mm) gauge with a variety of bogie trucks mostly pushed by teams of three to six women. Stores, explosives, chemicals, rubbish and sewage, were all transported on this narrow-gauge system, which used at least 8 miles (12 kilometers) of track.

Name Opened Closed Gauge Location Notes
CAD Eastriggs Depot railway[12][51] ? 2005 2 ft (610 mm) Eastriggs, Scotland Extensive WW II armaments depot line using parts of the site of the former HM Factory, Gretna. A sub-depot of CAD Longtown.
Chatham Dockyard [52] 1860s 1930s 1 ft 6 in (457 mm) Chatham, England Internal rail system serving the dockyard.
Chattenden and Upnor Railway [52] 1885 1961 2 ft 6 in (762 mm) Chattenden, England Light railway serving Chattenden barracks and armament stores
Davington Light Railway 1916 1918 1 m (3 ft 33⁄8 in) Faversham, England Short-lived metre-gauge line serving an Admiralty munitions factory.
DOE Reesdale Ranges target railway[27] ? ? 2 ft 6 in (762 mm) Reesdale, England Target railway
Flat Holm ? ? 2 ft (610 mm) Bristol Channel, Wales Fortification supply railway
Fort George Range ? ? 2 ft (610 mm) Inverness, Scotland Target railway
HM Factory, Gretna ? 1917 2 ft (610 mm) Gretna, Scotland Extensive WW I Cordite factory line
Lodge Hill and Upnor Railway 1873 1885 1 ft 6 in (457 mm) Chattenden, England Served the construction of the Chattenden and Upnor Railway.
Longmoor Camp Railway[53] 1903 1907 1 ft 6 in (457 mm) Weaversdown, England Early construction line used to assist in the demolition of army huts. Relaid as standard gauge starting in 1905.
Longmoor Military Railway[27] 2 ft 6 in (762 mm) Weaversdown, England Narrow gauge line at the extensive railway training centre at Longmoor
Lydd Ranges 1936 Present 2 ft (610 mm) Lydd, England Principally a target railway, though also carries personnel and equipment around the ranges.
Priddy's Hard[54] mid 19th Century 1960s 1 ft 6 in (457 mm) and also later 2 ft 6 in (762 mm) Gosport, England Ammunition transport railway, within Royal Navy armaments depot, between store houses and piers.
RAF Calshot Camp railway 1919 1946 2 ft (610 mm) Calshot, England Short line serving Calshot camp and pier.
Royal Air Force Chilmark Depot railway[55] late 1930s 1995 2 ft (610 mm)? Chilmark, Wiltshire, England Extensive WW II armaments depot lines using underground Chilmark Quarries and above-ground storage at satellite site at Dinton, Wiltshire.
RAF Fauld Depot railway ? ? 2 ft (610 mm)? Fauld, England Underground ammunition store during WWII with supply railway.
RAF Hell's Mouth target railway[56] late 1930's 1945 ? Abersoch, Wales A target range railway operated by hand or rope-hauled in the dunes southeast of the airfield.
RCAF Seaford Head target railway[12] after 1939 by 1945 2 ft (610 mm) Seaford Head, Wales Horse drawn target range railway about 1 mile long.
RNAD Broughton Moor Depot railway[27] before 1943 1992 2 ft 6 in (762 mm) Broughton Moor, England Locomotive-worked line hauling ammunition around the depot.
RNAD Dean Hill Depot railway[57] [58] ? 2003 2 ft 6 in (762 mm) West Dean, England Locomotive-worked line hauling ammunition around the depot.
ROF Bishopton 1940 1950s - 2000 2 ft 6 in (762 mm) Bishopton, Scotland Approx 80 miles of internal rail system serving the WW II Cordite factories.
Romney Marsh weapons range railway[1] before 1975 present ? 2 ft (610 mm) New Romney, England Locomotive-worked network of lines across Romney Marsh
South Heighton railway[12] 1941 1941 2 ft 6 in (762 mm) Newhaven, England Hand-worked line to aid construction of HMS Forward underground command centre.
Steep Holm railway[59] Palmerston, shown on 1886 Ordnance Survey maps Relaid / Reused in WW II. Finally Demolished 1946 2 ft (610 mm)? North Somerset, England war-duration Fortification supply railway
Weaversdown Light Railway 1903 1969 2 ft 6 in (762 mm) Bordon, England Army railway training school, part of the Longmoor Military Railway.
Royal Arsenal Woolwich Arsenal Railway [60][61] 1873 1966 1 ft 6 in (457 mm) Woolwich, England Extensive internal rail system serving the Royal Arsenal.

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao Nicholson, Peter (1975). Industrial Narrow Gauge Railways in Britain. Bradford, Barton. ISBN 0-85153-236-5.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h Mitchell, Vic and Smith, Keith (2000). Kent Narrow Gauge. Middleton Press. ISBN 1-901706-45-2.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Mitchell, Vic and Smith, Keith (2001). Sussex Narrow Gauge. Middleton Press. ISBN 1-901706-68-0.
  4. ^ Leleux, Sydney A. (April 1971). "Industrial Railways of Bedfordshire: Sundon Cement Works". The Industrial Railway Record 36: 31-36.
  5. ^ a b c Amberley narrow gauge railway stock list.
  6. ^ a b Trevor Rowe, D (1990). Two Feet between the Tracks. Plateway Press. ISBN 1-871980-12-7.
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Farmer, Keith (August 1968). "Amalgamated Roadstone". Industrial Railway Record 20: 269-281/288.
  8. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Boyd, James I.C. (2001). Narrow Gauge Railways in North Caernarvonshire: Volume Three The Dinorwic Quarry and Railways, The Great Orme Tramways and Other Rail Systems". The Oakwood Press. ISBN 0-85361-328-1.
  9. ^ Narrow Gauge Railway Museum article on the Buckley Tramroad.
  10. ^ a b c d e f g h i Industrial narrow gauge railways.
  11. ^ Warrington, A.J. (February 1971). "Industrial Railways of Bedfordshire: Coronation Works, Elstow". The Industrial Railway Record 35: 5-11.
  12. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k List of 2 ft gauge railways worldwide.
  13. ^ Narrow Gauge Railway Museum article on Birkby Brickworks.
  14. ^ a b c d Kidner R.W (2000). The Railways of Purbeck. Oakwood Press. ISBN 0-85361-557-8.
  15. ^ a b c d Peters, Ivo (1976). The Narrow Gauge Charm of Yesterday: A Pictorial Tribute. The Oxford Publishing Company.
  16. ^ Warrington, A.J. (February 1968). "Industrial Railways of Bedfordshire: Biddenham Gravel Pit". The Industrial Railway Record 17: 192-193.
  17. ^ Cohrig, John (Winter 1980). "Two Tales of Five Diesels". Chaloner 45.
  18. ^ Down, C.G. (June 1969). "Narrow Gauge Wagons: Piel & Walney Gravel Co. Ltd.". The Industrial Railway Record 25: 83-85.
  19. ^ a b Jermy, R.C. (1986). The Railways of Porthgain and Abereiddi. The Oakwood Press. ISBN 0-85361-340-0.
  20. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Boyd, James I.C. (1990). Narrow Gauge Railways in North Caernarvonshire, Volume 1: The West, 2nd. edition, The Oakwood Press. ISBN 0-85361-273-0.
  21. ^ a b c d e f g Bowtell, Harold D. (1994). Dam Builder's Railways from Durham's Dales to the Border. Plateway Press. ISBN 1-871980-19-4.
  22. ^ Charlton, L.G. (FebruaryA 1968). "The Newcastle Granite and Whinstone Co. Ltd.". The Industrial Railway Record 17: 176-180.
  23. ^ Narrow Gauge Railway Museum article on the Bryn Oer Tramway.
  24. ^ Brinore Tramroad Conservation Forum article on the origins of the tramway.
  25. ^ Leleux, Sydney A. (June 1969). "Little Eaton Tramroad". Industrial Railway Record 25: 90-93.
  26. ^ a b Dean, Ian (1998). Industrial Narrow Gauge Railways. Shire Publications Ltd.. ISBN 0-85263-752-7.
  27. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s List of 2 ft 6 in gauge railways.
  28. ^ a b c Kidner, R.W. (1938). Mineral Railways. The Oakwood Press.
  29. ^ A brief history of the ECMR.
  30. ^ a b (January 2004) "Dumfries & Galloway". Industrial Railway Society Bulletin 749: 27.
  31. ^ a b Narrow Gauge Railways in Yorkshire.
  32. ^ "The Narrow Gauge" 164. ISSN 0142-5587.
  33. ^ {{cite web |url=http://www.ngrm.org.uk/narrow_gauge/narrow_gauge.php?railway_id=87 |title=Narrow Gauge Railway Museum article on Brymbo Ironworks
  34. ^ a b c Talbot Edward and Taylor Clive (2005). The Crewe Works Narrow Gauge System, 2nd. Edition, The London & North Western Railway Society. ISBN 0-9546951-1-0.
  35. ^ Lister, Mike (1988). The Industrial Railways of Port Sunlight and Bromborough Port. The Oakwood Press. ISBN 08563613710.
  36. ^ Nicholls, Robert (1985). Manchester's Narrow Gauge Railways: Chat Moss and Charrington Estates. The Narrow Gauge Railway Society. ISSN 0142-5587.
  37. ^ Boyd, James I.C. (1988). Narrow Gauge Railways in South Caernarvonshire: Volume One. The Oakwood Press. ISBN 0-85361-365-6.
  38. ^ Ashforth, Philip, J. (February 1974). "The North Sea Camp Railway". The Industrial Railway Record 52: 178-182.
  39. ^ Isle of Man Water Authority page.
  40. ^ Bevan, Bill. "The Upper Derwent: long-term landscape archaeology in the Peak District".
  41. ^ a b Bowtell, Harold D (1991). Lesser Railways of the Yorkshire Dales and the Dam Builders in the Age of Steam. Plateway Press. ISBN 1-871980-09-7.
  42. ^ Neale, Andrew (April 1992). "Coal, Chemicals and Salt. The Colne Valley Waterworks Railway". Narrow Gauge & Industrial Railway Modelling Review 2 (10). ISSN 0958-0808.
  43. ^ Metropolitan Water Board Railway.
  44. ^ Down, C.G. (December 1965). "The North Surrey Joint Sewage Board". The Industrial Railway Record 8.
  45. ^ Narrow Gauge Railway Museum article on Belvoir Castle Tramway.
  46. ^ a b c d e f g h i Cox, David & Krupa, Christopher (1992). The Kerry Tramway and other timber light railways. The Plateway Press. ISBN 1-871980-11-9.
  47. ^ Railways of the Malvern Hills.
  48. ^ Narrow Gauge Railway Museum article on the Beyer Peacock Works Railway.
  49. ^ Narrow Gauge Heaven gallery page.
  50. ^ "Narrow Gauge at Woodhead". Journal of the Welsh Highland Railway (125).
  51. ^ Tele Rail. (1994). The Longtown Military Railway Carforth: Tele Rail.
  52. ^ a b Yeatman, D. (December 1966). "Lodge Hill & Upnor Railway". The Industrial Railway Record 12: 277-292.
  53. ^ Farmer, Keith (March 1966). "Longmoor Military Railway". The Industrial Railway Record 9: pp.195-205.
  54. ^ Semark, H.W. (1997). The Royal Naval Armament Depots of Priddy's Hard, Elson, Frater and Bedenham (Gosport, Hampshire): 1768 to 1977. Hampshire County Council. ISBN 1-85975-123-6.
  55. ^ Tele Rail. (1994). Marchwood & Chilmark Military Railways Carforth: Tele Rail.
  56. ^ Corser, W.J.L. (April 2003). Wings on Rails: Industrial Railways in the Logistics Support of Britain`s Air Defence Forces. Arcturus Press. ISBN 0-907322-85-9.
  57. ^ (November 2003) "Visit Reports". Industrial Railway Society Bulletin 746: 6-7.
  58. ^ Dean Hill RNAD depot.
  59. ^ Rendell, Stan and Joan (1993). Steep Holm: The Story of a Small Island. Stroud: Alan Sutton Publishing. ISBN 0-7509-0323-6
  60. ^ Woolwich Arsenal Railway.
  61. ^ Clarke, B.R. and Veitch, C.C (1986). The Eighteen Inch Gauge Royal Arsenal Railway at Wooolwich. privately published by B.R. Clarke. ISBN 0-948951-00-1.
  • Narrow Gauge Railway Museum's list of railways.
  • List of British narrow gauge steam locomotives.
  • Dean, Ian, Neale Andrew and Smith, David (1983). Industrial Railways of the South-East. Middleton Press. ISBN 0-906520-09-6.
  • Lee, Charles E. (1945). Narrow-Gauge Railways in North Wales. The Railway Publishing Co. Ltd..
  • Crumbleholme, Roger and Kirtland, Terry (1981). steam '81. George Allen & Unwin. ISBN 0-04-385082-0.
  • Stoyel, B.D. and Kidner R.W. (1973). The Cement Railways of Kent. The Oakwood Press. ISBN 0-85361-370-2.
  • Macmillan, Nigel S.C. (1970). The Campbeltown & Machrihanish Light Railway. David & Charles: Newton Abbot.
  • Richards, Alun John (2001). The Slate Railways of Wales. Gwasg Carreg Gwalch: Llanwrst. ISBN 0-86381-689-4.
  • Tonks, Eric. The Ironstone Quarries of the Midlands, Part IV: The Wellingborough Area. Runpast Publishing: Cheltenham. ISBN 1-870754-04-2.
  • Narrow Gauge News, the journal of the Narrow Gauge Railway Society
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