Many private individuals in Great Britain own collections of narrow-gauge railway equipment or operate short railways. These railways are generally not open to the public, but often contain historically significant rolling stock or other items.

Private collections

NameOpenedClosedGaugeLocationNotesD.L. Walker private collection19701985?Minsterley, EnglandStatic storage of quarry Hunslet DorotheaF. Stapleton private collection?after 1987Newbury, England4wDM locomotive in storageI. Gunn private collection?after 1987Bristol, England4wBE locomotive in storageIan Jolly private collection1976PresentvariousMold, WalesA private collection of narrow-gauge locomotives, including a 1/4 mile line.J. Hampton private collection?after 1987Fenstanton, England4wDM locomotive in storageJ. Thomas private collectionbefore 1981after 1987Bletchley, EnglandA private collection of narrow-gauge locomotives ex-Oxstead Greystone LimeM.A.G. Jacobs private collection?after 1987Long Eaton, EnglandOne 4wPM, one 4wDM locomotiveM. Capron private collection?after 1987Bristol, England4wDM locomotive in storagePallot private collection?after 1987Jersey, Channel IslandsTwo 4wDM locomotivesPengally Farm?after 1987 Callington, EnglandPrivate collection of narrow-gauge locomotivesPhyllis Rampton Narrow Gauge Railway Trust?PresentVarious gaugesSurrey, EnglandTest track a private location near Godalming, Surrey. The trust owns the Vale of Rheidol Railway in WalesRay Maslen collection?present?Arlesey, EnglandR.J. Harrison private collectionbefore 1981?Carlisle, EnglandPrivate collection of narrow-gauge locomotives

Private railways

NameOpenedClosedGaugeLengthLocationNotesBeeches Light Railway20042023Steeple Aston, England,A figure of eight layout in Adrian Shooter's garden, operated with the steam locomotive DHR 778.Bredgar and Wormshill Light Railway1970sPresent milenear Maidstone, EnglandA short line laid across fields surrounding a private house, open for charity events one Sunday each month during the summer.Bromyard and Linton Light Railway1968presentBromyard, EnglandA short line laid on the trackbed of the standard gauge former GWR Worcester-Bromyard branch.Cadeby Light Railway1962200597 yardsHinckley, EnglandA short line and collection of rolling stock running round the rectory garden. Assembled by the late Reverend Teddy Boston, the line was closed in 2005.Cheltenham Light Railway?? ?Cheltenham, EnglandA short private line, not open to the publicCreekmoor Light Railway19671973Fleetsbridge, Poole, EnglandTechnically an agricultural railway, its main use was for private passenger trains. Used a small collection of Motor Rail diesel locomotives and Orenstein & Koppel 9239 locomotive Fojo.Crockway Light Railway19731979Maiden Newton, EnglandBuilt using the track and rolling stock of the Creekmoor Light Railway.Derbyshire Dales Narrow Gauge Railway19902018UnknownRowsley South railway station, Peak RailPrivate railway at, but separate from, Peak Rail. Rail lifted 2018-2019. Some of the trackbed to be used by The Ashover Light Railway Society's new running line.Eynsford Light Railway?presentEynsford, EnglandShort private line in Kent, with ex-Provan Gas Works steam locomotiveGartell Light Railway1984Present mileTemplecombe, EnglandPrivate railway with occasional open daysGreat Bush Railway1971Present mileHadlow Down, EnglandPrivate railway with occasional open daysHindlip and District Light Railway19591971100 yardsBrockamin, EnglandBuilt by Alan Maund to run Kerr Stuart 3114.Isle of Thanet Light Railway1995Present300 yardsIsle of Thanet, EnglandA short private line, not open to the publicInny Valley Railway19681987400 yardsLaunceston, EnglandA short private line, not open to the public. ex-Dinorwic Bagnall locomotive Sybil was located here.Oldberrow Light Railway?before 2002 ?Henley-in-Arden, EnglandA short private line, not open to the publicPenton Light Railway1981? ?Penton, EnglandRichmond Light Railway2015PresentKent, EnglandExtensive "garden" railway with eight steam and three internal combustion locomotivesRheilffordd Llechi Sir Caernarfon 2004presentGwynedd, WalesPrivate railway Ripon and District Light Railway1984present½ mileRipon, EnglandPrivate railway moving building materials around a housing estate. Uses extremely light track and Lister locomotivesSouthfield House Railway2004Present 2 MilesLouth, EnglandA short private garden line, open to the public on special open days Statfold Barn Railway?present and Staffordshire, EnglandAn extensive collection of restored narrow-gauge locomotives running on several miles of track. The railway hosts several open days each year.Stevington and Turvey Light Railway?2014Turvey, EnglandA short line laid on the trackbed of a former standard gauge branch from Bedford. Closed due to vandalism in 2014 and the stock and rails moved to Woburn in Bedfordshire.Surrey Light Railway19762000?Hersham, EnglandFully signalled private line with one steam locomotive, several 4wDMs and 2 4wBEs. Most of the stock went to the Great Bush Railway on closure. From there the stock moved to Rheilffordd Llechi Sir Caernarfon.Tiny Tramway Mining Company19911995 and ?Corfe Mullen, EnglandLocomotive-worked garden railway with a working mine shaft and adit for sand extraction.Tucking Mill Tramway?1987?Midford, EnglandA short private lineUmberslade Light Railway???Hockly Heath, EnglandA short private line, not open to the publicVobster Light Railway19911994 mileVobster, EnglandDiesel locomotive worked short line connecting with the trackbed of the standard gauge Newbury RailwayWootton Railway2009Present ?Northampton, EnglandA short private garden line, not open to the publicWychbold Railway196319701/2 mileDroitwich, EnglandBuilt by Graham Mullis to run locomotive Eigiau purchased from Penrhyn quarry. Steam locomotives Una (Hunslet 873), Diana (Kerr Stuart 1158) and Mesozoic (Peckett 1327) were also located here, but did not run.Wychwood Railway196519701/2 mileLeamington Spa, EnglandBrian Goodchild's private railway featuring Baguley 774, Motor Rail 8575, Hunslet 2207 and Lister 41545.

References

See also British narrow-gauge railways