British industrial narrow-gauge railways

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.

Quarrying and mining

Main article: British quarrying and mining narrow-gauge railways

Heavy industry

Engineering works

Name Opened Closed Gauge Location Notes
Godwin and Sons Engineering (Manchester) Ltd.[1] by 1979 2 ft 6 in (762 mm) Shaw and Crompton, England Locomotive-worked line.
Painter Bros. Ltd.[1] after 1979 2 ft (610 mm) Hereford, England Locomotive-worked line.
William Ainscough and Sons Mossy Lea Road[1] by 1979 2 ft (610 mm) Wrightington, England Locomotive-worked line at this crane hire and general engineering company[2]

Power generation

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.

Name Opened Closed Gauge Location Notes
Central Electricity Generating Board Fawley Tunnel[1][3] by 1979 3 ft 1+1⁄8 in (943 mm) Fawley, England Two mile long tunnel under Southampton Water worked by a single battery-electric locomotive.
Central Electricity Generating Board Woodhead Tunnel[1] 1960s 2016 2 ft (610 mm) Woodhead, England Ex-British Railways tunnel under the Pennines used to carry high-voltage electricity supply cables. Narrow-gauge railway used for cable maintenance. Moved to the new Woodhead tunnel, completed in 2016. The narrow gauge railway through the old tunnel is now disused
Stourport Power Station ? 1989 2 ft 6 in (762 mm) Stourport, England Internal line.
J.S. Fry and Sons railway[4] ? 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.

Refineries

Name Opened Closed Gauge Location Notes
Anglo Gulf West Indies Petroleum Corporation Fawley Refinery[3] 1920 1957 2 ft (610 mm) Fawley, England Extensive diesel locomotive worked internal line at refinery

Steel works

  • Preserved Shotton steelworks locomotive
    Preserved Shotton steelworks locomotive
Name Opened Closed Gauge Location Notes
British Steel Corporation Aldwarke Works railway[1] after 1979 3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm) Rotherham, England Internal steel works railway, with an entirely new line built in 1971
British Steel Corporation Micklam works[1] after 1987[5] 2 ft 6 in (762 mm) Lowca, England Underground railway serving the refractories.
British Steel Corporation Shotton Steel Works railway[1][4][6] before 2013 2 ft 6 in (762 mm) Connah's Quay, Wales Internal steel works railway, with an entirely new line built in 1971
British Steel Corporation Stanton and Staveley Works[1] after 1979 3 ft (914 mm) Ilkeston, England Foundry railway worked by battery-electric locomotives
Clay Cross Ltd. Spun Pipe works[1] after 1979 2 ft (610 mm) Clay Cross, England Internal locomotive-worked line
Ebbw Vale Steel Iron and Coal Company railway[7] 18 in (457 mm) Ebbw Vale, Wales Internal steel works railway using Ramsbottom locomotives similar to those at the Crewe Works Railway
Flather Bright Steels Ltd. Tinsley works[1] after 1979 18 in (457 mm) Sheffield, England Internal locomotive-worked line
Goldendale Iron Works[8] after 1957 18 in (457 mm) Chatterley, England Horse-hauled works tramway used to move pig iron.
Guest Keen Baldwins Iron and Steel Company Ltd. Briton Ferry Steelworks[9] after 1956 2 ft 4+1⁄2 in (724 mm) Glamorgan, Wales Steelworks line worked by steam locomotives
Gurnos Tin Plate Works railway[4] before 1920 18 in (457 mm) Lower Cwmtwrch, Wales Internal steel works railway
Sanders and Forster[1] after 1979 2 ft (610 mm) Stratford, London, England Diesel locomotive worked line

Zinc smelting

See also: zinc smelting
Name Opened Closed Gauge Location Notes
Welsh Crown Spelter Co. works[10] before 1904 around 1905 18 in (457 mm) Trefriw, Wales Internal zinc works railway, supplied with one of Kerr Stuart's early locomotives

Construction industry

Contractor depots

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[1] after 1979 2 ft (610 mm) and 18 in (457 mm) Paddock Wood, England Battery electric locomotives for tunnelling
Associated Tunnelling Co. Ltd. Lowton St. Marys Depot[1] after 1979 2 ft (610 mm) Warrington, England Battery electric locomotives for tunnelling
Baillie Contracting Co. Ltd. Coventry Depots[1] after 1979 12 in (305 mm) Coventry, England
C. Bryant & Sons Ltd. Doris Road Depot[1] after 1979 18 in (457 mm) Birmingham, England
Cementation Mining Ltd. Bentley Works[1] after 1979 2 ft (610 mm) and 18 in (457 mm) Doncaster, England
Clugston Construction Scunthorpe depot[1] after 1979 12 in (305 mm) Scunthorpe, England
Clydeside Constructional Co. Ltd. Bridge of Weir depot[1] after 1979 2 ft (610 mm) Strathclyde, Scotland
J.F. Donelan & Co. Ltd. Manchester depot[1] after 1979 18 in (457 mm) Manchester, England
Fairclough Civil Engineering Ltd. Swynerton depot[1] after 1979 18 in (457 mm) and 2 ft (610 mm) Swynnerton, England Extensive stock depot, on occasions including over 100 battery electric locomotives
J.J. Gallagher & Co. Ltd. Armour Close depot[1] after 1979 18 in (457 mm) Birmingham, England
J.C. Gillespie Civil Engineering. Ltd. Green Lane depot[5] after 1979 after 1987 18 in (457 mm) Timperley, England Two battery electric locomotives at depot (1987)
M.J Gleesons (Contractors) Ltd. Mitcham depot[1] after 1979 2 ft (610 mm) London, England
Sam Henry & Partners[1] after 1979 2 ft (610 mm) unknown location
J.H. Tractors Ltd. Tickhill Plant Hire[1] after 1979 2 ft (610 mm) and 18 in (457 mm) Doncaster, England
Johnston Construction[1] after 1979 12 in (305 mm) Surrey, England
Kier Ltd. Setchey depot[1] after 1979 2 ft (610 mm) Kings Lynn, England
T & A.M. Kilroe Ltd. Lomax Street depot[1] after 1979 18 in (457 mm) Radcliffe, England
Lilley/Waddington Ltd. Harvey Road depot[1] after 1979 18 in (457 mm) and 2 ft (610 mm) Basildon, England
Lilley/Waddington Ltd. Horwich depot[1] after 1979 18 in (457 mm) and 2 ft (610 mm) Manchester, England
Lilley/Waddington Ltd. Haunchwood Colliery depot[1] after 1979 18 in (457 mm) and 2 ft (610 mm) Nuneaton, England
Lilley/Waddington Ltd. Charles Street depot[1] after 1979 18 in (457 mm) and 2 ft (610 mm) Glasgow, Scotland
Macclesfield Corporation Engineers Department Store[5] after 1987 2 ft (610 mm) Macclesfield, England 4wPM locomotive in store
Martin & Co. (Contractors) Ltd. Bristol Road South depot[1] after 1979 18 in (457 mm) Birmingham, England
Sir Robert McAlpine & Sons Ltd. Kettering depot[1] after 1979 2 ft (610 mm) Kettering, England
Miller Engineering & Construction Ltd. Sandiacre depot[5] after 1987 2 ft 11 in (889 mm)
and
2 ft (610 mm) 		Sandiacre, England Locomotives at construction depot
Raynesway Plant Ltd.[11] after 1989 2 ft (610 mm) Derby, England Three out of use locomotives on site in 1989
Tarmac Construction Ltd. Peterborough depot[5] after 1987 2 ft (610 mm) Peterborough, England Collection of 4wBE locomotives used for construction
M & H Tunnel & Civil Engineering Co. Ltd. Green Lane depot[1] after 1979 18 in (457 mm) and 2 ft (610 mm) Thurcroft, England
Welham Plant Ltd. Barford Road depot[citation needed] after 1987 18 in (457 mm) and 2 ft (610 mm) St. Neots, England Battery electric locomotives at depot.

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.

  • Lochaber Railway
    Lochaber Railway
Name Opened Closed Gauge Location Notes
Bedminster Water Outfall contract[4] 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[12] 1988 1992 3 ft (914 mm) Dover, England Extensive rack and adhesion railway used in the construction of the Channel Tunnel.
Lochaber Narrow Gauge Railway 1925 1977 3 ft (914 mm) Fort William, Scotland 25 miles (40 km) long railway used in the construction of the 15 miles (24 km) long tunnel of the Lochaber hydroelectric scheme.
Nuttall Dover Sewer contract 1996 1998 2 ft (610 mm) Dover, England Construction railway for a one-mile long interception sewer tunnel.
Nuttall Portsmouth Sewer contract[3] 1998 2001 2 ft 6 in (762 mm) Dover, England Construction railway for an 8 km long sewer tunnel.
Nuttall Southampton Rail Tunnel contract[3] 1985 1987 2 ft 6 in (762 mm) Southampton, England Diesel locomotive worked temporary railway used to reline the standard gauge railway tunnel out of Southampton Central station
Selby Road sewer tunnel contract[4] 1971 1972 18 in (457 mm) Leyton, England Contractor's railway for building a new sewer tunnel in north east London. Used battery electric locomotives.
Weymouth and Portland Long Sea Outfall[13] 1983 2 ft (610 mm) Wyke Regis, England 3 km long sewage outfall tunnel built using battery electric locomotives

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
Ashington Village Tramway[14] 1880 1930s 2 ft (610 mm) Ashington, England Tramway built to serve the mining village of Ashington. It provided coal and sewage service to houses and connected the local gas and electricity works.
Carr Estate 1945? 1947? probably 2 ft (610 mm) Acomb, England Was used to construct parts of Carr Estate to the West of York. Track seen piled up at end of Woodlea Avenue 1946–7, track seen in Danebury Drive. Hand worked?
Port Sunlight village railway[15] 1905 1914 2 ft (610 mm) Port Sunlight, England Locomotive worked construction railway for the expansion of Port Sunlight "garden village"
Welwyn Garden City Light Railway[16] After WWI 1936 2 ft (610 mm) Welwyn Garden City, England Locomotive worked construction railway used during the building of Welwyn Garden City. It connected the mainline with the Nabisco Shredded Wheat factory and brickworks around the site, as well as the Model Dairy.

Land reclamation and river maintenance

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

Name Opened Closed Gauge Location Notes
Anglian Water Authority Lincolnshire River Division[1] after 1979 2 ft (610 mm) Southrey, England Locomotive depot for river bank maintenance around Lincolnshire
Anglian Water Authority Norfolk & Suffolk River Division[1] after 1979 2 ft (610 mm) Southrey, England Locomotives used for flood protection and river bank maintenance.
Middle Level Commissioners Ashbeach Road Plant Depot[1] after 1979 2 ft (610 mm) March, England Locomotive depot for river bank maintenance and land reclamation schemes in and around Cambridgeshire
North West Water Authority Mersey and Weaver River Unit[1] after 1979 2 ft (610 mm) Great Sankey, England Locomotive used for river bank maintenance
North West Water Authority Longdendale Headworks[5] after 1987 2 ft (610 mm) Tintwistle, England
Robert Stannard's Railway[17] 1816 after 1821 18 in (457 mm) Chat Moss, England Portable hand-worked tramway used for the reclamation of Chat Moss.
The Embankment Tramway[18] 1808 about 1830 3 ft (914 mm) Porthmadog, Wales Horse-drawn tramway used to construct the "Cob" for the Traeth Mawr land reclamation scheme. Later replaced by the Ffestiniog Railway.
The North Sea Camp Railway[1][19] 1935 after 1979 2 ft (610 mm) Frieston, England Locomotive worked land reclamation scheme in the Lincolnshire Wash
Severn Trent Water Authority Orston Road East Depot[1] after 1979 2 ft (610 mm) West Bridgford, England Locomotives used in river bank maintenance
Yorkshire Water Authority River Ouse scheme[4] 1973 2 ft (610 mm) Saltmarshe, England Temporary riverbank line used for repairs to the River Ouse
Yorkshire Water Authority Ricall Plant Depot[1] after 1979 2 ft (610 mm) York, England Locomotives used for river bank maintenance

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
Blake Dean Railway[20] 1901 1912 3 ft (914 mm) Hardcastle Crags England
Baldersdale Reservoir railway[21] 1889 1896 3 ft (914 mm) Middleton in Teesdale England
Bulkeley Hill Narrow Gauge Railway[22] 1937 ? 2 ft (610 mm) Bulkeley England 350 yards (320 m)-long cable-hauled incline used in the construction of the Bulkeley Hill reservoir.
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
Cowlyd Tramway[23] 1916 1968 2 ft (610 mm) Dolgarrog Wales Steam locomotive worked line
Crookfoot Reservoir railway[21] 1900 1904 3 ft (914 mm) Hartlepool England Steam locomotive worked line
Eigiau Tramway[23] 1907 1971 2 ft (610 mm) Dolgarrog Wales 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
Leighton and Roundhill Reservoir railway[24] 1905(?) 1930 (?) 2 ft (610mm) Masham England Railway that left the Masham Branch just north of Masham station. Construction of Roundhill and Leighton Reservoirs
West Baldwin Reservoir railway[25] 1901 1905 3 ft (914 mm) Douglas Isle of Man Steam locomotive worked line north of Douglas
Bamford to Howden Railway[26] 1915 Derwent Valley Construction of Derwent and Howden Reservoirs
Fewston Reservoir Railway[27] 1874 1879 3 ft (914 mm) Washburn Valley, England Construction of Fewston Reservoir
Swinsty Reservoir Railway[27] 1873 1877 3 ft (914 mm) Washburn Valley, England Construction of Swinsty Reservoir
Vyrnwy Waterworks Railway[28] 1881 1890 3 ft (914 mm) Vyrnwy, Wales Steam locomotive worked line used in the construction of the Llyn Vyrnwy reservoir and waterworks.

Power station construction

Name Opened Closed Gauge Location Notes
Foyers Power Station construction railway[4] around 1970 after 1971 3 ft (914 mm) and 2 ft (610 mm) Loch Ness Scotland Extensive network of temporary lines around Loch Ness

Road construction

Name Opened Closed Gauge Location Notes
Caterham Bypass[29] 1939 1939 2 ft (610 mm) Caterham, England Diesel locomotive worked temporary lines used during the construction of the A22 bypass east of the town
Cranmore Depot[13] after 1950 various Cranmore, England Equipment depot of Roads Reconstruction (1934) Ltd. where many narrow-gauge locomotives used on road construction contracts were stored
Dorking Bypass[29] 1926 1926 2 ft (610 mm) Dorking, England Diesel locomotive worked line carrying chalk excavated to create new route for the A29
Guildford Bypass[29] 1931 1931 2 ft (610 mm) Guildford, England Steam locomotive worked line used in the construction of the A3
Kingston Bypass[29] 1924 1925 3 ft (914 mm) ? London, England Steam locomotive worked line using at least one American Davenport locomotive in the construction of the A3 bypass of Kingston upon Thames

Other construction

Name Opened Closed Gauge Location Notes
Bournemouth Pier[13] 1980 1980 2 ft (610 mm) Bournemouth, England Locomotive-worked line used in reconstruction of the pier
Southern Railway Wimbledon-Sutton Railway[29] 1928 1930 3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm) Sutton, England Steam locomotive worked line used in the construction of the Sutton-Wimbledon line.
Surrey and Hants Canal Society The Deepcut Railway[29] 1977 1979 2 ft (610 mm) Deepcut, Surrey, England Diesel locomotive worked line used in the restoration of the Basingstoke Canal

General

Water treatment and sewage works

Name Opened Closed Gauge Location Notes
Anglian Water Authority Marsh Farm Sewage Works[1] by 1979 2 ft (610 mm) Tilbury, England Locomotive worked railway
Anglian Water Authority Nevendon Treatment Works[1] by 1979 2 ft (610 mm) Basildon, England Locomotive worked railway
Brede Waterworks railway[30] 1899 1935 18 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.
Chichester Sewage Works railway[30] 1930s (?) 1976 2 ft (610 mm) Apuldram, England Short line around the sewage works
Colne Valley Waterworks railway[31] 1931 1967 2 ft (610 mm) Watford, England Light railway connecting the LNWR Watford to Rickmansworth branch line with the Eastbury Pumping Station
Deephams Sewage Works railway 1920s 1968 2 ft (610 mm) Edmonton, England Small-scale railway at sewage treatment works
Dukinfield Sewage Works railway ? late 1980s 2 ft (610 mm) Manchester, England Small-scale railway at sewage works
Knostrop Sewage Works railway[4] ? after 1975 1 ft 11+1⁄2 in (597 mm) Leeds, England Experimental facility that used locomotives from the First World War into the 1970s
Metropolitan Water Board Railway[29][32] 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[33] 2 ft (610 mm) Bradford, England Railway serving the sewage works
North Surrey Joint Sewage Board railways[34] 1939 after 1965 2 ft (610 mm) Berrylands, England Railways serving the Malden, Berrylands and Hogsmill sewage works (Hogsmill and Malden works railways connected c1961).
North Surrey Water[29] present 3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm) Walton-on-Thames, England Diesel locomotive worked 400 yard long line in occasional use
North West Water Authority Ashton works[1] after 1979 2 ft (610 mm) Dukinfield, England Locomotive-hauled railway
North West Water Authority Llanforda Hall[1] ? 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[1] after 1979 2 ft (610 mm) Horwich, England Locomotive-hauled railway
North West Water Authority Spade Mill No. 2 Reservoir[1] after 1979 2 ft (610 mm) Longridge, England Locomotive-hauled railway
Plantation Farm Sewage Works railway[4] ? after 1975 2 ft (610 mm) Dukinfield, England Railway serving the filter beds
Richmond Main Sewerage Board railway[10] 1887 about 1950 2 ft 9 in (838 mm) Mortlake, England Short railway connecting a dock on the River Thames with the sewerage works at Mortlake. Used what was probably the first internal combustion narrow-gauge locomotive made in 1902 by engine maker Blake Motors Ltd of Kew
Severn Trent Water Authority Blithe Valley Works[1] after 1979 2 ft (610 mm) Uttoxeter, England Locomotive-hauled railway
Severn Trent Water Authority Burslem Works[1] after 1979 2 ft (610 mm) Burslem, England Locomotive-hauled railway
Severn Trent Water Authority Newstead Works[1] after 1979 2 ft (610 mm) Trentham, England Locomotive-hauled railway
Severn Trent Water Authority Stoke Bardolph Sewage Works[1] after 1989[11] 2 ft (610 mm) Nottingham, England Locomotive-hauled railway
Severn Trent Water Authority Strongford Works[1] after 1979 2 ft (610 mm) Barlaston, England Locomotive-hauled railway
Severn Trent Water Authority Tunstall Works[1] 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[4] before 1968 1990 2 ft (610 mm) Minworth, England Internal sewerage railway of the Upper Tame Main Drainage Authority
Wood Lane Tip railway[4] before 1961 2 ft (610 mm) Kensington, England Railway serving the refuse tips operated by Kensington Council
Yorkshire Water Authority Naburn Purification Works[1] after 1979 2 ft (610 mm) Naburn, England Locomotive-worked works railway
Yorkshire Water Authority Old Whittington Sewage Works[1] after 1979 2 ft (610 mm) Chesterfield, England Locomotive-worked sewage works railway

Gas works

Name Opened Closed Gauge Location Notes
Berkhamsted Gasworks Railway[4] ? 1955 16+1⁄2 in (419 mm) Berkhamsted, England Short horse-worked line connecting the gasworks with a goods yard
Bournemouth Gas & Water Company Railway[13] 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 11+1⁄2 in (597 mm) Dundee, Scotland Internal steam-hauled gas works railway.
Granton Gasworks Railway[35] ? 1965 2 ft 6 in (762 mm) Edinburgh, Scotland Internal steam-hauled gas works railway.
Hilsea Gasworks Railway[3] 2 ft 6 in (762 mm) Portsmouth, 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.[36]
London Gas Light Co. Nine Elms Works[29] 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[29] before 1910 1933 750 mm (2 ft 5+1⁄2 in) London, England Internal steam-hauled gas works railway.
South Metropolitan Gas Company Old Kent Road Works[29] 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[29] 1890s after 1951 3 ft (914 mm) London, England Internal steam-hauled gas works railway.
Southern Gas Board, Poole Gasworks[13] 1944 1972 2 ft (610 mm) Poole, England Internal gasworks line using Lister locomotives
Stroud Gas Light & Coke Co. Tramway 1924 1956 2 ft (610 mm) Stroud, England Petrol-driven[37] locomotives ran from coal chute on the Stroud branch of the Midland Railway, over two branches of the River Frome, to 1833 gasworks alongside Stroudwater Navigation[38][39][40]
Winnal Gasworks Railway[3] 2 ft 8 in (813 mm) Winchester, England Overhead electric-locomotive hauled gasworks railway.
York Gasworks Company[41] 1915 1959 2 ft 3 in (686 mm) York, England Electrified railway, operated by a locomotive built by Dick, Kerr & Co.

General freight

Name Opened Closed Gauge Location Notes
Belvoir Castle Tramway[42] 1815 1918 4 ft 4+1⁄2 in (1,333 mm) Belvoir Castle, England A short horse-drawn line used to haul coal and other goods from a Grantham Canal wharf to the castle.
Guilford Tramway[12] 1903 1930 3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm) Sandwich, England Steam locomotive worked, freight-only line serving the St. George's Golf Club.
Portreath Tramroad[43] 1809 1867 3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm) Portreath, England Early freight and mineral horse-hauled hauling plateway. One director's carriage survives in the Royal Cornwall Museum
Redruth and Chasewater Railway[43][44] 1826 1915 4 ft (1,219 mm) Redruth, England Freight and mineral hauling line; horse-drawn until 1854; later steam worked.
St. Michael's Mount Tramway[43] 1879 present 2 ft 5 in (737 mm) Marazion, England Cable-hauled railway and incline delivering supplies and guest's luggage to St Michael's Mount.
Swanage Pier Tramway[13] 1858 1930s 2 ft 6 in (762 mm) Swanage, England Coal, stone and general freight line between Swanage town and Old Pier. Originally standard gauge but converted to narrow gauge between 1860 and 1880. Some track still exists in situ.
Talisker Distillery ? 1930s 2 ft (610 mm) Isle of Skye, Scotland Hauled goods from a pier to the whisky distillery.

Forestry

Name Opened Closed Gauge Location Notes
Ampthill Timber Railway[45] 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[45] 1917 1922 3 ft (914 mm) Aviemore, Scotland Extensive forestry railway built by the War Office Directorate of Timber Supply.
Cefn Vron Tramway[45] 1924 1926 2 ft 6 in (762 mm) Newtown, Wales Temporary timber hauling railway on the Welsh-English border.
Dornoch forestry railway[45] 1917 1922 3 ft (914 mm) Dornoch, Scotland Forestry railway built by the War Office Directorate of Timber Supply.
Downham Hall timber railway[45] 1917 1922 3 ft (914 mm) Brandon, England CTS timber railway using three Bagnall locomotives
Kerry Ridgeway Railway[45] 1941 1943 2 ft (610 mm) Newtown, Wales Temporary timber-hauling railway at Kerry, Powys.
Kerry Tramway[45] 1887 1923 2 ft (610 mm) Newtown, Wales Locomotive-worked line hauling timber from Kerry forest to Kerry Station on the Cambrian Railways
Pennal Timber Tramway[46] 1918 1920 2 ft (610 mm) Pennal, Wales Short-lived Timber Supply Department tramway carrying timber from Cwm Dwr to Pennal, reusing part of the Cwm Ebol slate tramway. Locomotive Baguley 774 worked there.
Wool timber railway[45] 1918 1920 3 ft (914 mm) Wool, England Forestry railway using a single Bagnall locomotive.
Wolsingham railway[45] 1917 1922 3 ft (914 mm) Wolsingham, England 1½ mile long timber railway using three steam locomotives.

Railway works

Name Opened Closed Gauge Location Notes
Beyer Peacock Works Railway[47] ? ? 2 ft 6 in (762 mm) Manchester, England Extensive railway serving the locomotive construction works of Beyer Peacock.
British Railways Beeston Sleeper Depot railway ? ? 3 ft (914 mm) Beeston, Nottinghamshire, England Sleeper depot line
British Railways Chesterton Junction Central Materials Depot railway[1] ? after 1979 2 ft (610 mm) Cambridge, England Materials dept internal line
Melton Constable Railway Works ? 1936 ? Melton Constable, Norfolk Small narrow-gauge rail network around the M&GN works
Crewe Works Railway[7] 1863 1932 18 in (457 mm) Crewe, England Extensive railway serving the Crewe locomotive works of the London and North Western Railway
Horwich Works Railway[7] 1965 18 in (457 mm) Bolton, England Railway serving the Horwich locomotive works of the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway.

Other industries

  • Woto, ex-BICC Belvedere, converted to 2 ft (610 mm) gauge and preserved at Alan Keef
    Woto, ex-BICC Belvedere, converted to 2 ft (610 mm) gauge and preserved at Alan Keef
  • ex-Bowaters Railway locomotive Leader, preserved on the Sittingbourne and Kemsley Light Railway
    ex-Bowaters Railway locomotive Leader, preserved on the Sittingbourne and Kemsley Light Railway
  • The Lochaber Railway
    The Lochaber Railway
  • London Post Office Railway
    London Post Office Railway
Name Opened Closed Gauge Location Notes
ABCO Petroleum[30][48] before 1910 after 1965 2 ft (610 mm) Rye, England 200-yard (183 m)-long internal railway serving the reprocessing plant.
Ashton Canal Carriers (Now Ashton Packet Boat Company)(incorrectly shown as Clayton Canal Carriers[1]) 1978 Present 2 ft (610 mm) Guide Bridge, England Short loco-worked line within a boatyard.
Ballard's Malt Vinegar Works[49] 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[4][13] before 1967 present (but only part of the original line) 18 in (457 mm) Bere Regis, England Short line serving the watercress beds powered by a home made petrol locomotive
Bedford and Jesty Ltd. Spetisbury Watercress railway[13] before 1970 1980 2 ft (610 mm) Spetisbury, England Short line serving the watercress beds, using motorised flatbed wagons
BICC Belvedere[12] 1930s (?) 1968 3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm) Belvedere, England Steam-hauled railway at British Insulated Callender's Cables Ltd's cable plant.
BICC Prescot Refineries Unit[1] after 1979 2 ft 6 in (762 mm) Prescot, England Locomotive-worked line
Biwater Pipes and Castings[48] ? 2000 2 ft (610 mm),
3 ft 1⁄2 in (927 mm) and 2 ft 10+1⁄2 in (876 mm)[50] 		Clay Cross, England Very short line for hauling pipes within the works.
Bowaters Paper Railway[12] 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[29] after 1965 2 ft (610 mm) Charlton, England Diesel locomotive worked line at rope factory
Bude Canal Edge Railway[43] 1823 1942 4 ft (1,219 mm),
2 ft (610 mm) after 1923 		Bude, England Horse-hauled line conveying sand from Summerleaze Beach to Bude Canal. In some years storms expose the old tracks on the beach.[51]
Cadbury's factory railway[52] 1920s 1950s 2 ft (610 mm) Worcester, England Line connecting the canal to the chocolate factory taking timber for construction of packing cases.
Civil Aviation Authority Laxey Airport[1] after 1979 3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm) Laxey, Isle of Man Two railcars
Daydawn Nurseries Ltd.[29] 1965 (?) 1971 2 ft (610 mm) Bisley, England Diesel locomotive worked line around garden nursery
Department of the Environment Harpur Hill Research Laboratory[5] after 1987 3 ft (914 mm) Buxton, England
Droitwich Canal Trust[1] ? after 1979 2 ft (610 mm) Salwarpe, England Short loco-worked line
Faverdale Works railway[4] after 1975 20 in (508 mm) Darlington, England Railway at the Chemical and Insulating Co. Ltd, in Faverdale, Darlington
Gardner Machinery & Metals Dove Holes Station[5] out of use by 1987 2 ft (610 mm) Buxton, England Scrap merchant yard with railway and 4wDM locomotive
ICI Nobels Ardeer Works[11] after 1989 2 ft 6 in (762 mm) Strathclyde, Scotland At least nine locomotives on site in 1989
ICI Nobels Roburite Works[1] after 1979 2 ft (610 mm) Shevington, England Locomotive worked line
ICI Winnington Works[1] after 1987[5] 2 ft 6 in (762 mm) Winnington, England Locomotive worked line at the crystal plant at Winnington
Lochaber Narrow Gauge Railway[53] 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 Pneumatic Despatch Company railway[54] 1863 1874 2 ft (610 mm) and 3 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,130 mm) London, England An underground Atmospheric railway. The 2 ft (610 mm) gauge line connected Euston railway station and the North West District Post Office in Eversholt Street. The 3 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,130 mm) gauge line connected Euston to Holborn
London Post Office Railway ('Mail Rail')[55] 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 9 ft 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[13] 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[30] 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[4][29] before 1968 1972 2 ft (610 mm) Ripley, England Continuous circuit around the pipe works.
Royal Ordnance Factory c 1938 not known 2 ft 6 in (762 mm) Bishopton, Scotland Approx 80 mile-long system serving munitions and ordnance explosives production site now owned by BAE Systems and operated by the Global Combat Systems-Munitions arm of its Land & Armaments business unit. Tracks still in situ in places
Royal Ordnance Factory c 1939 not known 2 ft 6 in (762 mm) Puriton, England Extensive system serving explosives production site latterly owned by BAE Systems and operated by its Munitions & Ordnance business unit. Tracks still in situ in places when site ceased production and closed in 2007.
Woodhead Tunnel railway[56] 1960s 2016 2 ft (610 mm) Woodhead, England Locomotive worked railway for transporting workers maintaining the high voltage electrical cables in the old Woodhead Tunnel

See also

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 ap aq ar as at au av aw ax ay az ba bb bc bd be bf bg bh bi bj bk Industrial Railway Society. (1979). Industrial Locomotives 1979: including preserved and minor railway locomotives. Industrial Railway Society. ISBN 0-901096-38-5.
  2. ^ "Cranes and Access Magazine article on Ainscough Crane Hire" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 28 September 2007.
  3. ^ a b c d e f Mitchell, Vic & Smith, Keith (2004). Hampshire Narrow Gauge including the Isle of Wight. Middleton Press. ISBN 1-904474-36-5.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o Nicholson, Peter (1975). Industrial Narrow Gauge Railways in Britain. Bradford, Barton. ISBN 0-85153-236-5.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i Bryant, R.S., ed. (1987). Industrial Locomotives, including preserved and minor railway locomotives. Industrial Railway Society. ISBN 0-901096-55-5.
  6. ^ "List of 2 ft 6 in gauge railways". Archived from the original on 18 June 2003.
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  31. ^ Neale, Andrew (April 1992). "Coal, Chemicals and Salt. The Colne Valley Waterworks Railway". Narrow Gauge & Industrial Railway Modelling Review. 2 (10). Ram Productions Ltd.
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  35. ^ Trevor Rowe, D (1990). Two Feet between the Tracks. Plateway Press. ISBN 1-871980-12-7.
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  37. ^ "Gasworks turntable". flickr.com. 17 May 2010. Retrieved 8 January 2023.
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  39. ^ "Lodgemore and Gasworks - Stroudwater History". stroudwaterhistory.org.uk. Retrieved 8 January 2023.
  40. ^ "Dudbridge to Stroud Cycle Track and Gas Works". Stroudie Central. Retrieved 8 January 2023.
  41. ^ *Mitchell, Vic, and Keith Smith (2003). Branch Line to the Derwent Valley, including the Foss Islands Branch. Midhurst: Middleton Press. plate 24. ISBN 1-904474-06-3.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  42. ^ "Belvoir Castle Tramway". Tywyn: The Narrow Gauge Railway Museum. Retrieved 29 December 2014.
  43. ^ a b c d Dart, Maurice (2005). Cornwall Narrow Gauge including the Camborne & Redruth tramway. Middleton Press. ISBN 1-904474-56-X.
  44. ^ Kidner, R.W. (1938). Mineral Railways. The Oakwood Press.
  45. ^ 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.
  46. ^ Quine, Dan (March 2017). "Baguley 774 and the Pennal Tramway". Industrial Railway Record.
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  49. ^ "Railways of the Malvern Hills".
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  51. ^ Becquart, Charlotte (15 November 2022). "Buried railway appears on Cornwall beach for the first time in years". CornwallLive. Reach. Retrieved 15 November 2022.
  52. ^ "Narrow Gauge Heaven gallery page".
  53. ^ Howat, Patrick (1980). The Lochaber Narrow Gauge Railway: Operated by Balfour, Beatty & Co. Ltd., and The British Aluminium Co. Ltd. between Fort William and Loch Teig, 1925-1977. Huddersfield: Narrow Gauge Railway Society. (Special issue of The Narrow Gauge No. 87/88 ISSN 0142-5587) ISBN 0-9507169-0-1.
  54. ^ Hadfield, Charles (1967). Atmospheric Railways.
  55. ^ Trench, Richard and Hillman, Ellis (1984). London under London: A subterranean guide. London: John Murray. ISBN 0-7195-4080-1.
  56. ^ "Narrow Gauge at Woodhead". Journal of the Welsh Highland Railway (125).

Bibliography

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  • Narrow Gauge News, the journal of the Narrow Gauge Railway Society