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

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

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
• 
  ex-Bowaters Railway locomotive Leader, preserved on the Sittingbourne and Kemsley Light Railway
• 
  The Lochaber 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

• British military narrow-gauge railways
• British narrow-gauge railways
• British quarrying and mining narrow-gauge railways
• British narrow-gauge slate railways
• Decauville
• Industrial railway
• Minimum gauge railway
• Tramway (industrial)

References

1. 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. Mitchell, Vic & Smith, Keith (2004). Hampshire Narrow Gauge including the Isle of Wight. Middleton Press. ISBN 1-904474-36-5.
4. Nicholson, Peter (1975). Industrial Narrow Gauge Railways in Britain. Bradford, Barton. ISBN 0-85153-236-5.
5. 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.
7. Talbot 2005
8. Robertson 1988, page 38
9. "1974 Aidan Fuller Memorial Trophy Photographic Competition Entry". The Industrial Railway Record. 60. Industrial Railway Society: 49. 1975.
10. Webb, Brian (1973). The British Internal Combustion Locomotive 1894-1940. David & Charles. ISBN 0715361155.
11. "Industrial News". Narrow Gauge News (189). March 1992.
12. Mitchell, Vic & Smith, Keith (2000). Kent Narrow Gauge. Middleton Press. ISBN 1-901706-45-1.
13. Mitchell, Vic & Smith, Keith (2006). Dorset and Somerset Narrow Gauge. Middleton Press. ISBN 1-904474-76-4.
14. Robertson, 1988, page 37
15. Lister, Mike (1988). The Industrial Railways of Port Sunlight and Bromborough Port. The Oakwood Press. ISBN 0-85361-371-0.
16. Gill, Robert. "The Welwyn Garden City Light Railway".
17. Nicholls, Robert (1985). "Manchester's Narrow Gauge Railways: Chat Moss and Charrington Estates". The Narrow Gauge. The Narrow Gauge Railway Society. ISSN 0142-5587.
18. Boyd, James I.C. (1988). Narrow Gauge Railways in South Caernarvonshire: Volume One (2nd. ed.). The Oakwood Press. ISBN 0-85361-365-6.
19. Ashforth Philip, J. (February 1974). "The North Sea Camp Railway". The Industrial Railway Record. 52. The Industrial Railway Society: 178–182.
20. Shannon, Issy. Rails to the Reservoirs. When the Klondyke Came to Calder Valley.
21. Bowtell, Harold D. (1994). Dam Builder's Railways from Durham's Dales to the Border. Plateway Press. ISBN 1-871980-19-4.
22. Cheshire West and Chester: Public Map Viewer. Retrieved on 4 July 2020.
23. 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.
24. "Disused Stations: Masham Station". www.disused-stations.org.uk. Retrieved 12 October 2015.
25. "Isle of Man Water Authority page".
26. Bevan, Bill. "The Upper Derwent: long-term landscape archaeology in the Peak District" (PDF). {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
27. 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.
28. Higgins, S.H.P. (1974). "Narrow Gauge at Vyrnwy Waterworks". The Industrial Railway Record. 55. The Industrial Railway Society: 286–287.
29. Mitchell, Vic & Smith, Keith (2003). Surrey Narrow Gauge including South London. Middleton Press. ISBN 1-901706-87-7.
30. Mitchell, Vic & Smith, Keith (2001). Sussex Narrow Gauge. Middleton Press. ISBN 1-901706-68-0.
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.
32. "Metropolitan Water Board Railway".
33. "Amberley narrow gauge railway stock list". Amberley Museum Railway. Archived from the original on 7 October 2006.
34. Down, C.G. (December 1965). "The North Surrey Joint Sewage Board". The Industrial Railway Record. 8.
35. Trevor Rowe, D (1990). Two Feet between the Tracks. Plateway Press. ISBN 1-871980-12-7.
36. MacKay, A N (August 1969). "Back to square one". Railway Magazine. 115 (820). London: Temple Press: 435–438. ISSN 0033-8923.
37. "Gasworks turntable". flickr.com. 17 May 2010. Retrieved 8 January 2023.
38. "View map: Gloucestershire XLIX.3 (Kings Stanley; Rodborough; Stroud) - Ordnance Survey 25 inch England and Wales, 1841-1952". maps.nls.uk. Retrieved 8 January 2023.
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. 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. 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.
47. "Narrow Gauge Railway Museum article on the Beyer Peacock Works Railway". Archived from the original on 28 September 2007.
48. "List of 2 ft gauge railways worldwide". Archived from the original on 6 February 2005.
49. "Railways of the Malvern Hills".
50. Industrial Narrow Gauge Railways in England
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

• "Narrow Gauge Railway Museum's list of railways". Archived from the original on 14 January 2008.
• "List of British narrow-gauge steam locomotives". Archived from the original on 21 October 2008.
• Crumbleholme, Roger & Kirtland, Terry (1981). steam '81. George Allen & Unwin. ISBN 0-04-385082-0.
• Dean, Ian; Neale Andrew; 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.
• Macmillan, Nigel S.C. (1970). The Campbeltown & Machrihanish Light Railway. David & Charles: Newton Abbot.
• Richards, Alun John (2001). The Slate Railways of Wales (1st. ed.). Llanrwst, Wales: Gwasg Carreg Gwalch. ISBN 0-86381-689-4.

• Robertson, Leslie S.; Neale, Andrew (1988). Narrow Gauge Railways - Two Feet and Under (2nd ed.). Croydon, Surrey: Plateway Press. ISBN 0-9511108-4-5.

• Stoyel, B.D. & Kidner R.W. (1973). The Cement Railways of Kent. The Oakwood Press. ISBN 0-85361-370-2.
• Talbot, Edward; Taylor, Clive (2005). The Crewe Works Narrow Gauge System (2nd ed.). Croydon, Surrey: The London & North Western Railway Society. ISBN 0954695119.

• Tonks, Eric (May 1990). The Ironstone Quarries of the Midlands Part 4: The Wellingborough Area. Cheltenham: Runpast Publishing. ISBN 1-870-754-042.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: year (link)
• Narrow Gauge News, the journal of the Narrow Gauge Railway Society

External links

• Narrow Gauge Railway Society
• Industrial Railway Society