British quarrying and mining narrow gauge railways
Encyclopedia
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 listed by the primary industry they served.
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, (Blue Circle Industries
), now part of Lafarge
) was the major producer of cement in the United Kingdom in the second half of the twentieth century and many of their plants used railways.
(commonly known as "china clay") were found in Cornwall
. Many industrial railways, both narrow gauge and standard gauge, were built to serve the china clay quarries and mines of this area.
(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.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
and the Isle of Man
Isle of Man
The Isle of Man , otherwise known simply as Mann , is a self-governing British Crown Dependency, located in the Irish Sea between the islands of Great Britain and Ireland, within the British Isles. The head of state is Queen Elizabeth II, who holds the title of Lord of Mann. The Lord of Mann is...
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 listed by the primary industry they served.
Cement works
Many of the cementCement
In the most general sense of the word, a cement is a binder, a substance that sets and hardens independently, and can bind other materials together. The word "cement" traces to the Romans, who used the term opus caementicium to describe masonry resembling modern concrete that was made from crushed...
works and their associated chalk
Chalk
Chalk is a soft, white, porous sedimentary rock, a form of limestone composed of the mineral calcite. Calcite is calcium carbonate or CaCO3. It forms under reasonably deep marine conditions from the gradual accumulation of minute calcite plates shed from micro-organisms called coccolithophores....
pits had narrow gauge railways, particularly those in the South East of England. The Associated Portland Cement Manufacturers Ltd. (APCM, (Blue Circle Industries
Blue Circle Industries
Blue Circle Industries was a British public company manufacturing cement. It was founded in 1900, and was bought out by the French company Lafarge in 2001.-History:...
), now part of Lafarge
Lafarge
Lafarge is a French industrial company specialising in four major products: cement, construction aggregates, concrete and gypsum wallboard. In 2010 the company was the world's second-largest cement manufacturer by mass shipped behind Holcim.-History:...
) was the major producer 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 |
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APCM Cliffe Works | 1934 ? | 1959 | Cliffe-at-Hoo, England | Extensive diesel-hauled chalk pit railway. | |
APCM Bevans Works | ? | after 1962 | Northfleet Northfleet Northfleet is a town in the Borough of Gravesham in Kent, England. Its name is derived from North creek , and the settlement on the shore of the River Thames adjacent to Gravesend was known as Norfluet in the Domesday Book, and Northflet in 1201... , England |
Short line operating on a riverside wharf | |
APCM Harbury Works | ? | after 1961 | Harbury Harbury Harbury is a village and civil parish in the Stratford-on-Avon district of Warwickshire, England. In the 2001 census it had a population of 2,485.... , England |
Quarry line worked with a rare Fowler 2-4-0 diesel locomotive | |
APCM Holborough Works | 1923 | 1969 | Snodland Snodland Snodland is a small town in the county of Kent, England, located on the River Medway between Rochester and Maidstone. It has a population of about 12,000 people.... , England |
Steam- and diesel- hauled railway at the Associated Portland Cement Manufacturers Ltd's cement plant at Holborough. | |
APCM Sittingbourne Brickworks | before 1898 | after 1963 | Sittingbourne Sittingbourne Sittingbourne is an industrial town about eight miles east of Gillingham in England, beside the Roman Watling Street off a creek in the Swale, a channel separating the Isle of Sheppey from mainland Kent... , England |
Internal brickworks railway | |
APCM Rodmell Works | before 1910 | 1975 | Beddingham Beddingham Glynde and Beddingham is a civil parish in the Lewes district of East Sussex.-Governance:On a local level, Glynde and Beddingham is governed by Glynde and Beddingham Parish Council. Council meetings are held every two months in the Beddingham Reading Room. Their responsibilities include footpaths,... , England |
Short line serving a cement works | |
APCM Sittingbourne Works | ? | 1971 | Sittingbourne Sittingbourne Sittingbourne is an industrial town about eight miles east of Gillingham in England, beside the Roman Watling Street off a creek in the Swale, a channel separating the Isle of Sheppey from mainland Kent... , England |
Cement works line with the last narrow gauge steam locomotive in that industry. | |
APCM Kent Works | 1877 | 1927 | Greenhithe Greenhithe Greenhithe is a town in Dartford District of Kent, England. It forms part of the civil parish of Swanscombe and Greenhithe.Greenhithe, as it is spelled today, is located where it was possible to build wharves for transshipping corn, wood and other commodities; its largest cargoes were of chalk and... , England |
Steam-hauled railway at the Associated Portland Cement Manufacturers Ltd's cement plant at Greenhithe. | |
APCM Sundon Works | ? | 1974 | Luton Luton Luton is a large town and unitary authority of Bedfordshire, England, 30 miles north of London. Luton and its near neighbours, Dunstable and Houghton Regis, form the Luton/Dunstable Urban Area with a population of about 250,000.... , England |
Cement works line. | |
British Standard Cement Works | 1912 | 1932 | Rainham Rainham, Medway The town of Rainham is a part of the Medway Towns conurbation, under the unitary authority of Medway, in South East England, and part of the ceremonial county of Kent. Historically, Rainham was a separate village until, in 1928, it was added to the Municipal Borough of Gillingham, which had itself... , England |
Notable as the only industrial line in Britain to use an ex-WDLR War Department Light Railways The War Department Light Railways were a system of narrow gauge trench railways run by the British War Department in World War I. Light railways made an important contribution to the Allied war effort in the First World War, and were used for the supply of ammunition and stores, the transport of... Baldwin locomotive. |
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Broom Bank | 1933 | 1962 | Lower Twydall, England | Steam hauled cement works and clay pit line | |
Chinnor Cement & Lime | 1962 | Chinnor Chinnor Chinnor is a village and civil parish in South Oxfordshire about southeast of Thame. The village is a Spring line settlement on the Icknield Way below the Chiltern escarpment... , England |
Locomotive and cable worked lines serving the chalk quarry and washmills. | ||
Smeed Dean & Co. | 1900 | 1949 | Lower Twydall, England | Chalk pit line | |
Francis & Co. | 1871 | 1920 | Cliffe Cliffe Cliffe could be*Cliffe, Kent, Kent*Cliffe, Richmondshire, North Yorkshire*Cliffe, Selby, North Yorkshire*Jess Cliffe , Valve Software*The Cliffe a residence in Peppermint Grove, Western Australia... , England |
Steam-worked chalk quarry railway | |
Gillingham Portland Cement Co. | 1870s? | 1910 | Gillingham, England | Early cement works line | |
I. C. Johnson & Co. Isaac Charles Johnson Isaac Charles Johnson was a British cement manufacturer, and a pioneer of the Portland cement industry.He was born in London. His father was a charge-hand at Francis & White's "Roman Cement" plant in Nine Elms. He himself worked there as a labourer from age 16 while studying chemistry... |
before 1872 | 1928 | Greenhithe Greenhithe Greenhithe is a town in Dartford District of Kent, England. It forms part of the civil parish of Swanscombe and Greenhithe.Greenhithe, as it is spelled today, is located where it was possible to build wharves for transshipping corn, wood and other commodities; its largest cargoes were of chalk and... , England |
Internal steam hauled railway, replaced by a standard gauge Standard gauge The standard gauge is a widely-used track gauge . Approximately 60% of the world's existing railway lines are built to this gauge... line. |
|
J. B. White & Bros - Swanscombe Works | 1825 | 1929 | Swanscombe Swanscombe Swanscombe is a small town, part of the Borough of Dartford on the north Kent coast in England. It is part of the civil parish of Swanscombe and Greenhithe.-Prehistory:... , England |
Steam locomotive worked from 1875 onwards. Internal works line with rare outside flanged rolling stock Rolling stock Rolling stock comprises all the vehicles that move on a railway. It usually includes both powered and unpowered vehicles, for example locomotives, railroad cars, coaches and wagons... |
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Knight, Bevan & Sturge | 1873 ? | 1928 | Northfleet Northfleet Northfleet is a town in the Borough of Gravesham in Kent, England. Its name is derived from North creek , and the settlement on the shore of the River Thames adjacent to Gravesend was known as Norfluet in the Domesday Book, and Northflet in 1201... , England |
Extensive chalk quarry system, eventually superseded by a standard gauge Standard gauge The standard gauge is a widely-used track gauge . Approximately 60% of the world's existing railway lines are built to this gauge... line |
|
Queensborough Cement Works | 1896 | 1930? | unknown | Queensborough Queensborough Queensborough may refer to:*Queensborough Community College in the City University of New York system, New York City, USA*Queensborough, British Columbia, a neighbourhood in New Westminster, Canada... , England |
Line worked by two Aveling and Porter Aveling and Porter Aveling and Porter was a British agricultural engine and steam roller manufacturer. Thomas Aveling and Richard Thomas Porter entered into partnership in 1862, developed a steam engine three years later in 1865 and produced more steam rollers than all the other British manufacturers combined.-The... steam locomotives |
RPCM Barrington Cement Works | by 1979 | Barrington Barrington - Australia :* Barrington, New South Wales* Barrington River * Barrington Tops National Park, New South Wales* Barrington, Tasmania* Barrington, Queensland- Canada :* Barrington, Nova Scotia* Barrington Head, Nova Scotia... , England |
Short locomotive-worked line | ||
RPCM Rochester Works | ? | 1952 | Halling Halling, Kent Halling is a village on the North Downs in the northern part of Kent, England, covering 7.1 square kilometres of land. Consisting of Lower Halling, Upper Halling and North Halling, it is scattered over some along the River Medway parallel to the Pilgrims' Way running over Kent.The origin of the... , England |
Extensive cement works railway | |
RPCM Southam Works | ? | 1956 | Southam Southam Southam is a small market town in the Stratford-on-Avon district of Warwickshire, England. The 2001 census recorded a population of 6,509 in the town.The nearest sizeable town to Southam is Leamington Spa, located roughly 7 miles to the west... , England |
Steam locomotive worked railway | |
Tolhurst & Sons | 1860s | before 1948 | Gravesend Gravesend, Kent Gravesend is a town in northwest Kent, England, on the south bank of the Thames, opposite Tilbury in Essex. It is the administrative town of the Borough of Gravesham and, because of its geographical position, has always had an important role to play in the history and communications of this part of... , England |
Large internal chalk quarry system |
Lime works
Name | Opened | Closed | Gauge | Location | Notes |
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Barn Hill Quarry railway | 1928 | 1938 | Chipping Sodbury Chipping Sodbury Chipping Sodbury is a market town in the county of South Gloucestershire, south-west England, founded in the 12th century by William Crassus . The villages of Old Sodbury and Little Sodbury are nearby... , England |
800 yards (732 m) long locomotive worked line; locomotive transferred to Penlee Quarry railway Penlee Quarry railway The Penlee Quarry railway was an industrial narrow gauge railway serving the Penlee Quarry at Newlyn in Cornwall. It was Cornwall's most westerly railway and one of the last operating narrow gauge industrial railways in the UK.- History :... in 1947 |
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Black Rock Quarry | before 1919 | 1949 | Portishead Portishead, Somerset Portishead is a coastal town on the Severn Estuary within the unitary authority of North Somerset, which falls within the ceremonial county of Somerset England. It has a population of 22,000, an increase of over 3,000 since the 2001 census, with a growth rate of 40 per cent, considerably in excess... , England |
Steam locomotive worked tramway connecting the Black Rock and Nightingale quarries with the Weston, Clevedon and Portishead Railway Weston, Clevedon and Portishead Railway The Weston, Clevedon and Portishead Light Railway was conceived and built initially as a tramway to link the three small North Somerset coastal towns of Weston-super-Mare, Clevedon and Portishead in the 1880s.-Overview:... |
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British Quarrying Co Ltd Allington Quarry railway | 1928 | 1956 | ? | Maidstone Maidstone Maidstone is the county town of Kent, England, south-east of London. The River Medway runs through the centre of the town linking Maidstone to Rochester and the Thames Estuary. Historically, the river was a source and route for much of the town's trade. Maidstone was the centre of the agricultural... , England |
Locomotive worked internal quarry system |
British Quarrying Co Ltd Borough Green Quarry railway | before 1921 | 1956 | Borough Green Borough Green Borough Green is a large village and civil parish in the Tonbridge and Malling District of Kent, England. The main village is situated on the A25 road between Maidstone and Sevenoaks in Kent.-History:... , England |
Internal quarry system for "Kentish Ragstone". Originally horse worked, Simplex Motor Rail Motor Rail was a British locomotive-building company, based in Bedford. Formed in 1911 as The Motor Rail & Tramcar Co Ltd, they built petrol and diesel engined locomotives, mainly narrow gauge. During World War I over 900 locos were supplied for use on temporary military supply railways... locomotive introduced in 1921 |
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Brockham Lime Works | 1870s (?) | 1936 | Dorking Dorking Dorking is a historic market town at the foot of the North Downs approximately south of London, in Surrey, England.- History and development :... , England |
Lime pits and works railway, later home of the Brockham Museum | |
Buriton Lime Works | before 1897 | after 1936 | and | Buriton Buriton Buriton is a village and civil parish in the East Hampshire district of Hampshire, England, 2 miles south of Petersfield. It lies just east of the A3 road.... , England |
Diesel locomotive worked railway |
Butserhill Lime Works | before 1932 | by 1945 | Butser Hill Butser Hill Butser Hill is a chalk hill and one of the highest points in Hampshire. It is also the highest point on the chalk ridge of the South Downs and the second highest point in the South Downs National Park after Blackdown in the Western Weald. Although only high, it qualifies as one of England's... , England |
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Cauldon Low Quarry | before 1906 | 1933 | Waterhouses Waterhouses, Staffordshire Waterhouses is a village in the south of the Staffordshire Peak District.It is around 8 miles from Leek and Ashbourne, being nearly the halfway point between the two towns on the A523 road, which roughly follows the southern boundary of the Peak District National Park... , England |
Limestone quarry with an internal steam-worked railway system | |
Dorking Greystone Lime Co. | 1880 | 1954 | and | Betchworth Betchworth Betchworth is a village and civil parish in the Mole Valley district of Surrey, England. The village lies on the north bank of the River Mole, off the A25 road, about three miles east of Dorking and three miles west of Reigate. The village lay within the Reigate hundred.It was home to the now... , England |
Well-known steam hauled internal limeworks line. |
Dunball Quarry | before 1930 | 1954 | Dunball Dunball Dunball is a small hamlet west of the village of Puriton and close to the town of Bridgwater, Somerset, England.Just north of Dunball is Down End which is the site of Down End Castle a motte-and-bailey castle, which has been designated as a Scheduled Ancient Monument.Located on the A38, adjacent to... , England |
Steam locomotive worked tramway connecting the Dunball quarry with the lime works | |
Flagstaff Quarry | 1941 | Anglesey Anglesey Anglesey , also known by its Welsh name Ynys Môn , is an island and, as Isle of Anglesey, a county off the north west coast of Wales... , Wales |
Internal incline-worked quarry line | ||
Little Ormes Head Quarry tramway Little Ormes Head Quarry tramway The Little Ormes Head Quarry tramway was an industrial narrow gauge railway operating at three levels within the extensive limestone quarry on the Penrhyn Bay side of the Little Orme at Llandudno on the North Wales coast.- Locomotives :... |
1889 | 1931 | Porth Dyniewyd, Wales | Internal limestone quarry railway. | |
Milton Quarry | early 1900s | 1966 | Weston-super-Mare Weston-super-Mare Weston-super-Mare is a seaside resort, town and civil parish in the unitary authority of North Somerset, which is within the ceremonial county of Somerset, England. It is located on the Bristol Channel coast, south west of Bristol, spanning the coast between the bounding high ground of Worlebury... , England |
Small limestone quarry with cable-hauled railway | |
Oxstead Greystone Lime Co. | before 1912 | 1971 | Oxstead, England | Internal railway of lime quarry and works. | |
Parc-y-Meirch quarry railway | 1923 | 1958 | St. Asaph, Wales | Locomotive-worked line connecting the limestone quarry with the standard gauge Kinmel Camp Railway Kinmel Camp Railway The Kinmel Camp Railway was a long standard gauge railway built to serve Kinmel Camp near Rhyl in north Wales.- History :Kinmel Camp was a training camp opened by the British Army in 1915 to train soldiers during the First World War... |
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Peak Forest Tramway Peak Forest Tramway The Peak Forest Tramway was an early horse- and gravity-powered industrial railway system in Derbyshire, England. Opened for trade on 31 August 1796, it remained in operation until the 1920s. Much of the route and the structures associated with the line remain... |
1794 | 1923 | Chapel en le Frith, England | Early tramway that was horse and chain hauled throughout its life. | |
Whitehaven Quarry | 1932 | 1953 | Oswestry Oswestry Oswestry is a town and civil parish in Shropshire, England, close to the Welsh border. It is at the junction of the A5, A483, and A495 roads.... , Wales |
A series of rope-hauled inclines and steam locomotive worked tramways. |
Brickworks
Name | Opened | Closed | Gauge | Location | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
A. Hone & Sons Ltd. Ewhurst Brickworks | after 1971 | Cranleigh Cranleigh Cranleigh is a large village, self-proclaimed the largest in England, and is situated 8 miles south east of Godalming in Surrey. It lies to the east of the A281 which links Guildford with Horsham; neighbouring villages include: Ewhurst, Alfold and Hascombe.... , England |
Diesel and battery-electric locomotive worked line | ||
Albrook Brickworks | before 1939 | after 1968 | Eastleigh Eastleigh Eastleigh is a railway town in Hampshire, England, and the main town in the Eastleigh borough which is part of Southampton Urban Area. The town lies between Southampton and Winchester, and is part of the South Hampshire conurbation... , England |
Diesel locomotive worked line | |
Alne Brick Co. Ltd. Alne Brickworks | after 1979 | Easingwold Easingwold Easingwold is a small market town and a civil parish in North Yorkshire, England. It has a population of 4,233.It is located north of York, at the foot of the Howardian Hills.... , England |
Locomotive-worked brickworks railway. | ||
Alne Brick Co. Ltd. Hemingbrough Brickworks | after 1979 | Selby Selby Selby is a town and civil parish in North Yorkshire, England. Situated south of the city of York, along the course of the River Ouse, Selby is the largest and, with a population of 13,012, most populous settlement of the wider Selby local government district.Historically a part of the West Riding... , England |
Locomotive-worked brickworks railway. | ||
Baxters Brickworks railway | 1888 | 1969 | Bexhill Bexhill-on-Sea Bexhill-on-Sea is a town and seaside resort in the county of East Sussex, in the south of England, within the District of Rother. It has a population of approximately 40,000... , England |
Short line serving the clay pit and brickworks. | |
Bilsthorpe Brick Co. Bilsthorpe Brickworks | after 1979 | and | Bilsthorpe Bilsthorpe Bilsthorpe is a village and civil parish in the Newark and Sherwood district of Nottinghamshire, England. According to the 2001 census it had a population of 3,076. It is about five miles south of Ollerton, and near the junction of the A614 and A617.... , England |
Two lines serving the brickworks | |
Buckley Tramroad | 1780s | 1862 | Connah's Quay Connah's Quay Connah's Quay is the largest town in Flintshire, North Wales, lying on the River Dee, near the border with England. It can be accessed by road from the A550, by rail from the nearby Shotton station and also lies on the National Cycle Network Route 5. It is situated near the region's industrial... , Wales |
Early horse-worked plateway carrying coal and bricks from a canal wharf. | |
Butterley Brick Ltd. Cherry Orchard Lane Works | ? | 1993 | Rochford Rochford Rochford is a small town in the Rochford district of Essex in the East of England. It is sited about 43 miles from Central London and approximately 21 miles from the Essex county town, Chelmsford... , England |
Short line serving the clay pit and brickworks. | |
Butterley Brick Ltd. Star Lane Brickworks | ? | 1991 | Great Wakering Great Wakering Great Wakering is a village in Essex, England. The nearest large town is Southend which is approximately four miles to the west of the village... , England |
Short line serving the clay pit and brickworks. | |
Carbis Brickworks Tramway | 1883 | 1942 | Bugle Bugle, Cornwall Bugle is a village in central Cornwall, United Kingdom. It is in the parish of Treverbyn and is situated about five miles north of St Austell on the A391 road.... , England |
Hand and gravity worked line, 350 yards (320 m) long. | |
Castle Firebrick Company | about 1865 | after 1920 | (?) | Northrop Northrop Corporation Northrop Corporation was a leading United States aircraft manufacturer from its formation in 1939 until its merger with Grumman to form Northrop Grumman in 1994. The company is known for its development of the flying wing design, although only a few of these have entered service.-History:Jack... , England |
Internal brickworks line, worked by steam locomotives after World War I World War I World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918... . |
Cattybrook Brickworks railway | before 1900 | after 1975 | Cattybrook, England | Line connecting clay pit to brickworks via an incline Cable railway A cable railway is a steeply graded railway that uses a cable or rope to haul trains.-Introduction:... and diesel worked sections |
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Chilton Trinity Brickworks railway | after 1962 | Somerset Somerset The ceremonial and non-metropolitan county of Somerset in South West England borders Bristol and Gloucestershire to the north, Wiltshire to the east, Dorset to the south-east, and Devon to the south-west. It is partly bounded to the north and west by the Bristol Channel and the estuary of the... , England |
Locomotive worked clay pit line | ||
Crowborough Brickworks | before 1930 | 1980 | Crowborough Crowborough The highest point in the town is 242 metres above sea level. This summit is the highest point of the High Weald and second highest point in East Sussex . Its relative height is 159 m, meaning Crowborough qualifies as one of England's Marilyns... , England |
Internal line at the brickworks, latterly worked by battery-electric locomotives. | |
Coronation Brickworks | 1935 | after 1969 | Elstow Elstow Elstow is a village and civil parish in the English county of Bedfordshire. John Bunyan, was born here - at Bunyan's End, which lay approximately halfway between the hamlet of Harrowden and Elstow's High Street.-History:... , England |
London Brick Co Ltd brickworks near Bedford Bedford Bedford is the county town of Bedfordshire, in the East of England. It is a large town and the administrative centre for the wider Borough of Bedford. According to the former Bedfordshire County Council's estimates, the town had a population of 79,190 in mid 2005, with 19,720 in the adjacent town... |
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Cuckmere Brickworks railway | ? | about 1956 | Berwick Station Berwick (Sussex) railway station Berwick railway station is located in Berwick Station, East Sussex and also serves Berwick, the village located nearby to the south of the A27 road. The station is on the East Coastway Line, and train services are provided by Southern... , England |
Clay pit line worked by internal combustion locomotives | |
DSF Refractories Ltd. Friden Brickworks | after 1979 | Hartington Hartington Hartington is a village in the Derbyshire Peak District, England, lying on the River Dove close to the Staffordshire border. According to the 2001 census, the parish of Hartington Town Quarter, which also includes Pilsbury, had a population of 345... , England |
Brickworks line worked by internal combustion locomotives | ||
Gatwick Brick Co. Ltd. Hookwood Brickworks | 1968 | Gatwick, England | 100 yards (91 m) long diesel locomotive worked line | ||
George Jennings George Jennings George Jennings was an English sanitary engineer and plumber who invented the first public toilets.Josiah George Jennings was born on 10 November 1810 in Eling, at the edge of the New Forest in Hampshire. He was the eldest of seven children of Jonas Joseph Jennings and Mary Dimmock... South Western Pottery |
before 1937 | 1963 | Parkstone Parkstone Parkstone is an area of Poole, Dorset. It is divided into 'Lower' and 'Upper' Parkstone. Upper Parkstone - "Up-on-'ill" as it used to be known in local parlance - is so-called because it is largely on higher ground slightly to the north of the lower-lying area of Lower Parkstone - "The Village" -... , England |
Locomotive-worked line between the clay pit and the pottery | |
Gillingham Pottery, Brick & Tile Co. Ltd. | before 1901 | 1970 | Parkstone Parkstone Parkstone is an area of Poole, Dorset. It is divided into 'Lower' and 'Upper' Parkstone. Upper Parkstone - "Up-on-'ill" as it used to be known in local parlance - is so-called because it is largely on higher ground slightly to the north of the lower-lying area of Lower Parkstone - "The Village" -... , England |
Locomotive-worked line between the clay pit and the pottery | |
Goxhill Building Products Ltd. Barrow Haven Works | after 1979 | Barrow Haven Barrow Haven Barrow Haven is a hamlet and small port in North Lincolnshire, England. Site of a former ferry crossing to Hull, which now handles timber imports from Riga and Tallinn. Barrow Haven railway station is on the Barton Line. It was a convenient place for ships and boats crossing the Humber to moor away... , England |
Brickworks line worked by internal combustion locomotives | ||
Halstow Creek Brickworks | before 1900 | 1920s | Lower Halstow Lower Halstow Lower Halstow is a village located in Kent, England. The village is situated on the banks of the Medway Estuary and it has a long and interesting history, with evidence of constant occupation since the iron age. Being so close to the water, Lower Halstow has been a village that has made its... , England |
Served claypit and brickworks. Originally horse worked, one of the first electric locomotives was introduced here in 1902. | |
Hambledon Lane Brickworks | ? | after 1983 | Nutbourne Nutbourne Nutbourne may refer to:* Nutbourne, Horsham, West Sussex, England* Nutbourne, Chichester, West Sussex, England... , England |
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Henry Oakland and Son Ltd. Escrick Tileworks | after 1979 | York York York is a walled city, situated at the confluence of the Rivers Ouse and Foss in North Yorkshire, England. The city has a rich heritage and has provided the backdrop to major political events throughout much of its two millennia of existence... , England |
Internal locomotive-worked line | ||
Innes Lee Industries Campbell Brickworks | by 1979 | Staveley Staveley Staveley could refer to several places:*Staveley, Cumbria*Staveley-in-Cartmel*Staveley, Derbyshire*Staveley, North Yorkshire*Staveley, New Zealand, a locality in the Ashburton District-Surname:... , England |
Brickworks line worked by internal combustion locomotives | ||
Littlethorpe Potteries | present | Littlethorpe Littlethorpe, North Yorkshire Littlethorpe is a village and a civil parish in the Harrogate District, in the English county of North Yorkshire. It is near the small city of Ripon. Littlethorpe has a place of worship. It is near Ripon Canal.-External links:... , England |
0.5 mile (0.80467 km) long hand-worked line connecting the clay pits to the pottery | ||
The London Brick Company The London Brick Company The London Brick Company is a leading British manufactuer of bricks. It is owned by Hanson plc.- History :The London Brick Company owes its origins to John Cathles Hill, a developer-architect who built houses in both London and Peterborough... No. 2 Works |
after 1979 | Whittlesey Whittlesey Whittlesey, historically known as Whittlesea as the name of the railway station is still spelt, or Witesie, is an ancient Fenland market town around six miles east of Peterborough in the county of Cambridgeshire in England... , England |
Locomotive-worked brickworks railway | ||
The London Brick Company The London Brick Company The London Brick Company is a leading British manufactuer of bricks. It is owned by Hanson plc.- History :The London Brick Company owes its origins to John Cathles Hill, a developer-architect who built houses in both London and Peterborough... Arlesey Works |
after 1979 | Bedford Bedford Bedford is the county town of Bedfordshire, in the East of England. It is a large town and the administrative centre for the wider Borough of Bedford. According to the former Bedfordshire County Council's estimates, the town had a population of 79,190 in mid 2005, with 19,720 in the adjacent town... , England |
Short locomotive-worked line on top of clay kilns | ||
The London Brick Company The London Brick Company The London Brick Company is a leading British manufactuer of bricks. It is owned by Hanson plc.- History :The London Brick Company owes its origins to John Cathles Hill, a developer-architect who built houses in both London and Peterborough... Clock House Works |
after 1968 | , and | Capel Capel - People :* Arthur Capell, 1st Baron Capell of Hadham * Henry Capell, 1st Baron Capell of Tewkesbury * Edward Capell * Capel Lofft * Mgr Thomas John Capel , English Roman Catholic Priest... , England |
Electric and diesel locomotive worked lines | |
The London Brick Company The London Brick Company The London Brick Company is a leading British manufactuer of bricks. It is owned by Hanson plc.- History :The London Brick Company owes its origins to John Cathles Hill, a developer-architect who built houses in both London and Peterborough... Fletton Works |
1889? | after 1960 | Peterborough Peterborough Peterborough is a cathedral city and unitary authority area in the East of England, with an estimated population of in June 2007. For ceremonial purposes it is in the county of Cambridgeshire. Situated north of London, the city stands on the River Nene which flows into the North Sea... , England |
Claypit and brickworks line of unusual gauge | |
The London Brick Company The London Brick Company The London Brick Company is a leading British manufactuer of bricks. It is owned by Hanson plc.- History :The London Brick Company owes its origins to John Cathles Hill, a developer-architect who built houses in both London and Peterborough... Warboys Works |
1984 | Warboys Warboys Warboys is a village in Huntingdonshire , England, near Ramsey and north east of Huntingdon.-History:Warboys is a large parish and village on what was the eastern side of Huntingdonshire bordering on Cambridgeshire. It was returned in the Domesday survey of 1086 amongst the lands of St... , England |
Locomotive-worked brickworks railway | ||
Ludlay Brick & Tile Co. | ? | 1965 | Berwick, England | Internal brick works railway at Berwick in Sussex. | |
Lytchett Brick Co. Ltd. | before 1901 | after 1966 | Upton Upton, Dorset Upton is a village in south east Dorset, England. It is the second largest village in Purbeck-Geography:The village is built around a road junction where the Blandford to Hamworthy road crosses the main Poole to Dorchester road. The Poole suburbs of Hamworthy and Turlin Moor adjoin the village to... , England |
Locomotive-worked line between the clay pit and the pottery | |
Manfield Brickworks | before 1955 | after 1963 | Cranleigh Cranleigh Cranleigh is a large village, self-proclaimed the largest in England, and is situated 8 miles south east of Godalming in Surrey. It lies to the east of the A281 which links Guildford with Horsham; neighbouring villages include: Ewhurst, Alfold and Hascombe.... , England |
Diesel locomotive worked line, converted to cable haulage in 1955 | |
Midhurst Whites | after 1913 | 1980 | Midhurst Midhurst Midhurst is a market town and civil parish in the Chichester district of West Sussex, England, with a population of 4,889 in 2001. The town is situated on the River Rother and is home to the ruin of the Tudor Cowdray House and the stately Victorian Cowdray Park... , England |
Brickworks with three separate narrow gauge lines | |
Napton Brickworks railway | after 1961 | Napton, England | Hand worked clay pit line | ||
No. 5 Fireclay Mine railway | ? | after 1968 | Micklam, England | Diesel locomotive worked line operated by the British Steel Corporation | |
North Holmwood Brickworks | ? | 1981 | Dorking Dorking Dorking is a historic market town at the foot of the North Downs approximately south of London, in Surrey, England.- History and development :... , England |
Internal system for the Redland Brick Co.'s clay pit and brickworks using diesel, battery-electric and incline cable haulage | |
Nutbourne Brickworks | after 1980 | Hambledon, Surrey Hambledon, Surrey Hambledon is a small and scattered village in Surrey, south of Guildford. It is tucked away amongst fields and woodland between Witley and Chiddingfold.... , England |
Diesel locomotive worked line connecting the brickworks and clay pits | ||
Ockley (Surrey) Brick, Tile and Pottery Company Smokejacks Brickworks | after 1968 | Cranleigh Cranleigh Cranleigh is a large village, self-proclaimed the largest in England, and is situated 8 miles south east of Godalming in Surrey. It lies to the east of the A281 which links Guildford with Horsham; neighbouring villages include: Ewhurst, Alfold and Hascombe.... , England |
Battery-electric and diesel locomotive worked line | ||
Ospringe Brickworks railway | after 1968 | Faversham Faversham Faversham is a market town and civil parish in the Swale borough of Kent, England. The parish of Faversham grew up around an ancient sea port on Faversham Creek and was the birthplace of the explosives industry in England.-History:... , England |
Extremely short line with one diesel locomotive | ||
Rookley Brickworks | 1972 | Newport Newport, Isle of Wight Newport is a civil parish and a county town of the Isle of Wight, an island off the south coast of England. Newport has a population of 23,957 according to the 2001 census... , England |
Diesel locomotive worked line in clay pit | ||
Rosemary Brickworks railway | ? | after 1970 | Cheslyn Hay Cheslyn Hay Cheslyn Hay is a former mining village in south Staffordshire, between Cannock and Walsall.Station Street is the main street with some small shops.A major employer in the village is B.S. Eaton Ltd, a manufacturer of concrete products... , England |
Locomotive worked line in clay pit leading to an incline Cable railway A cable railway is a steeply graded railway that uses a cable or rope to haul trains.-Introduction:... to the brickworks |
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Rowlands Castle Brickworks | before 1932 | after 1964 | Rowlands Castle, England | Hand-worked line in clay pit leading to cable hauled incline to brickworks | |
Smithbrook Brickworks (1936) Ltd. | after 1965 | Cranleigh Cranleigh Cranleigh is a large village, self-proclaimed the largest in England, and is situated 8 miles south east of Godalming in Surrey. It lies to the east of the A281 which links Guildford with Horsham; neighbouring villages include: Ewhurst, Alfold and Hascombe.... , England |
Mainly hand-worked line, with occasional use of a Lister diesel locomotive | ||
Standard Brick & Sand Co. Ltd. Holmethorpe Brickworks | before 1911 | 1963 | Holmethorpe Holmethorpe Holmethorpe is a suburb of Redhill, Surrey in England.-Etymology:The village's name is from Middle English holm "island, cognate with Old Norse holmr and Old English throp/þrop, cognate with Old Norse thorp/þorp.... , England |
An extensive steam and diesel locomotive worked clay tramway | |
Strensall Brickworks railway | by 1975 | Strensall Strensall Strensall is a village and civil parish in the unitary authority of the City of York in North Yorkshire, England, on the River Foss north of York and north-east of Haxby. Prior to 1996 it had been part of the Ryedale district. It covers an area of 2,908 acres.... , England |
Locomotive worked clay pit line | ||
Storr Hill Brickworks railway | 1869? | 1981 | Wyke Wyke Wyke is a Ward in Bradford Metropolitan District in the county of West Yorkshire, England, named after the village of Wyke.... , England |
An unusual chain-worked double track plateway Plateway A plateway is an early kind of railway or tramway or wagonway, with a cast iron rail. They were mainly used for about 50 years up to 1830, though some continued later.... only 250 yards (229 m) long. |
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Swallow's Tiles (Cranleigh) Ltd. | before 1953 | after 1966 | Cranleigh Cranleigh Cranleigh is a large village, self-proclaimed the largest in England, and is situated 8 miles south east of Godalming in Surrey. It lies to the east of the A281 which links Guildford with Horsham; neighbouring villages include: Ewhurst, Alfold and Hascombe.... , England |
Mainly hand-worked clay pit line with cable hauled incline, and occasional use of a diesel locomotive | |
Warnham Brickworks | before 1909 | 1965 | Horsham Horsham Horsham is a market town with a population of 55,657 on the upper reaches of the River Arun in the centre of the Weald, West Sussex, in the historic County of Sussex, England. The town is south south-west of London, north-west of Brighton and north-east of the county town of Chichester... , England |
Internal line serving the brickworks and clay pit. | |
W. H. Collier Marks Tey Brickworks | after 1979 | Marks Tey Marks Tey Marks Tey is a large village in Essex, England located six miles west of Colchester.Marks Tey railway station is on the Great Eastern Main Line, and is a junction for the Sudbury Branch Line to Sudbury... , England |
Internal locomotive-worked line serving the brickworks. | ||
Wheatly and Co. Ltd. Springfield Tileries | after 1979 | Stoke on Trent, England | Locomotive-worked railway | ||
William Blythe William Blythe William Blythe may refer to:*Bill Blythe , former member of the Texas House of Representatives*William Jefferson Blythe, Jr. , father of Bill Clinton... Barton Brick & Tile Yard |
after 1979 | Barton-on-Humber, England | Locomotive-worked line | ||
William Blythe Far Ings Tileries | after 1979 | Barton-on-Humber, England | Locomotive-worked line | ||
Woodside Brickworks | before 1949 | by 1967 | ? | Croydon Croydon Croydon is a town in South London, England, located within the London Borough of Croydon to which it gives its name. It is situated south of Charing Cross... , England |
Internal brickworks railway notable for its two Sentinel Sentinel Waggon Works Sentinel Waggon Works Ltd was a British company based in Shrewsbury, Shropshire that made steam-powered lorries, railway locomotives, and later, diesel engined lorries and locomotives.-Alley & MacLellan, Sentinel Works, Jessie Street Glasgow:... high-pressure steam locos. |
Clay extraction
Name | Opened | Closed | Gauge | Location | Notes |
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APCM Alkerden Works | before 1900 | 1943 | Swanscombe Swanscombe Swanscombe is a small town, part of the Borough of Dartford on the north Kent coast in England. It is part of the civil parish of Swanscombe and Greenhithe.-Prehistory:... , England |
Large steam-worked clay pit line | |
BPCM Bean Works | 1920 | 1964 | Bean, Kent Bean, Kent Bean is a village and civil parish in the Borough of Dartford in Kent, England. The village, the centre of the parish, is about three miles east of Dartford town centre. The parish is bounded on the north by the A2 road , and on the other three sides by ancient woodlands... , England |
Short line serving a clay pit on the banks of the Thames | |
Bridgemarsh Brickfields Company | 1870 | 1892 | unknown | Bridgemarsh Island Bridgemarsh Island Bridgemarsh Island is in the tidal part of the River Crouch in the English county of Essex, three miles upstream from Burnham-on-Crouch. To the north it is bounded by Bridgemarsh Creek and to the south by the River Crouch.... , Essex Essex Essex is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England, and one of the home counties. It is located to the northeast of Greater London. It borders with Cambridgeshire and Suffolk to the north, Hertfordshire to the west, Kent to the South and London to the south west... , England |
Connected work to pier for transhipment onto Thames barges |
Far Ings Tileries | 1905 | 2001 | Barton-upon-Humber Barton-upon-Humber Barton-upon-Humber or Barton is a small town and civil parish in North Lincolnshire, England located on the south bank of the Humber Estuary, and at the end of the Humber Bridge. It lies east of Leeds, southwest of Hull and north northeast of the county town of Lincoln... , England |
Late survivor of the clay tramways, including a cable-hauled Cable railway A cable railway is a steeply graded railway that uses a cable or rope to haul trains.-Introduction:... incline Cable railway A cable railway is a steeply graded railway that uses a cable or rope to haul trains.-Introduction:... and (diesel) locomotive worked sections. |
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Fayle's Tramway | 1905 | 1971 | until 1948 after 1948 |
Norden, Dorset Dorset Dorset , is a county in South West England on the English Channel coast. The county town is Dorchester which is situated in the south. The Hampshire towns of Bournemouth and Christchurch joined the county with the reorganisation of local government in 1974... , England |
Clay tramway that replaced the Middlesbere and Newton tramways. Remaining section around Norden regauged in 1948 to suit ex-WHR Welsh Highland Railway The Welsh Highland Railway is a long restored narrow gauge heritage railway in North Wales, operating from Caernarfon to Porthmadog, and passing through a number of popular tourist destinations including Beddgelert and the Aberglaslyn Pass. At Porthmadog it connects with the Ffestiniog Railway... locomotive Russell and various diesels |
Furzebrook Railway Furzebrook Railway The Furzebrook Railway, also known as the Pike Brothers' Tramway, was a narrow gauge industrial railway on the Isle of Purbeck in the English county of Dorset... |
1830 | 1968 | until 1866 after 1866 |
Furzebrook, Dorset Dorset Dorset , is a county in South West England on the English Channel coast. The county town is Dorchester which is situated in the south. The Hampshire towns of Bournemouth and Christchurch joined the county with the reorganisation of local government in 1974... , England |
Horse-hauled clay plateway Plateway A plateway is an early kind of railway or tramway or wagonway, with a cast iron rail. They were mainly used for about 50 years up to 1830, though some continued later.... , replaced in 1866 by steam-hauled industrial railway Industrial railway An industrial railway is a type of railway that is not available for public transportation and is used exclusively to serve a particular industrial, logistics or military site... serving the clay pits around Creech Heath. |
John Knowles Ltd. Woodville Clay Pits | Derbyshire Derbyshire Derbyshire is a county in the East Midlands of England. A substantial portion of the Peak District National Park lies within Derbyshire. The northern part of Derbyshire overlaps with the Pennines, a famous chain of hills and mountains. The county contains within its boundary of approx... , England |
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Laporte Industries Ltd. Coombe Hay Mines | after 1979 | Bath, England | Fuller's earth Fuller's earth Fuller's earth is any non-plastic clay or claylike earthy material used to decolorize, filter, and purify animal, mineral, and vegetable oils and greases.-Occurrence and composition:... mine with battery electric locomotives |
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Meeth Clay Company | 1920 | 1970 | Woolladon, England | Short line carrying clay from the pits at Meeth. | |
Middlebere Tramway | 1806 | 1907 | (?) | Norden, Dorset Dorset Dorset , is a county in South West England on the English Channel coast. The county town is Dorchester which is situated in the south. The Hampshire towns of Bournemouth and Christchurch joined the county with the reorganisation of local government in 1974... , England |
Horse-powered plateway Plateway A plateway is an early kind of railway or tramway or wagonway, with a cast iron rail. They were mainly used for about 50 years up to 1830, though some continued later.... serving clay pits near Corfe Castle. |
Newton Tramway | 1860 (?) | 1905 | Poole Harbour Poole Harbour Poole Harbour is a large natural harbour in Dorset, southern England, with the town of Poole on its shores. The harbour is a drowned valley formed at the end of the last ice age and is the estuary of several rivers, the largest being the Frome. The harbour has a long history of human settlement... , Dorset Dorset Dorset , is a county in South West England on the English Channel coast. The county town is Dorchester which is situated in the south. The Hampshire towns of Bournemouth and Christchurch joined the county with the reorganisation of local government in 1974... , England |
Originally opened as Horse drawn tramway until locomotive Tiny introduced around 1870s, became part of Fayle's Tramway | |
Pentewan Railway Pentewan Railway The Pentewan Railway was a British narrow gauge railway in Cornwall. It was built as a horse-drawn tramway carrying china clay from St Austell to the harbour at Pentewan. In 1874 the line was rebuilt by engineer John Barraclough Fell and converted to locomotive working, at which time the gauge was... |
1829 | 1918 | , after 1874 | Pentewan Pentewan Pentewan is a coastal village and former port in south Cornwall, United Kingdom. It is situated at three miles south of St Austell at the mouth of the St Austell River.... , England |
Initially horse-hauled, worked by steam locomotives after 1874. Connected St Austell St Austell St Austell is a civil parish and a major town in Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. It is situated on the south coast approximately ten miles south of Bodmin and 30 miles west of the border with Devon at Saltash... to Pentewan Pentewan Pentewan is a coastal village and former port in south Cornwall, United Kingdom. It is situated at three miles south of St Austell at the mouth of the St Austell River.... |
Redlake Tramway Redlake Tramway The Redlake Tramway was a railway built to carry supplies and workers between Bittaford and the clay workings at Redlake, near the centre of the southern part of Dartmoor, Devon, England. It was built in 1911 to a gauge of , and ran for a circuitous .... |
1911 | Unknown | , | Redlake (Dartmoor Dartmoor Dartmoor is an area of moorland in south Devon, England. Protected by National Park status, it covers .The granite upland dates from the Carboniferous period of geological history. The moorland is capped with many exposed granite hilltops known as tors, providing habitats for Dartmoor wildlife. The... ) to Bittaford, England |
8.3 miles (13.4 km) in length. |
Thomas Marshall & Co (Loxley) Ltd. Storrs Bridge Fireclay Mine | after 1979 | Loxley Loxley Loxley may refer to:*Loxley, South Yorkshire, formerly a village, now a suburb on the western outskirts of Sheffield; traditionally the birthplace of Robin Hood**River Loxley, a river in South Yorkshire*Loxley, Warwickshire, a village in England... , England |
Locomotive-worked underground railway | ||
Thakeham Tiles | before 1937 | 1982 | Storrington Storrington Storrington is a village in the Horsham District of West Sussex, England, and one of two in the civil parish of Storrington and Sullington. Storrington lies at the foot of the north side of the South Downs. As of 2006 the village has a population of around 4,600. It has one main shopping street... , England |
Short line serving the tile works | |
Watts Blake Bearne & Co. Ltd. West Golds Mine | after 1979 | Newton Abbott, England | Underground clay mine railway |
China clay extraction
In Britain large deposits of KaoliniteKaolinite
Kaolinite is a clay mineral, part of the group of industrial minerals, with the chemical composition Al2Si2O54. It is a layered silicate mineral, with one tetrahedral sheet linked through oxygen atoms to one octahedral sheet of alumina octahedra...
(commonly known as "china clay") were found in Cornwall
Cornwall
Cornwall is a unitary authority and ceremonial county of England, within the United Kingdom. It is bordered to the north and west by the Celtic Sea, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Cornwall has a population of , and covers an area of...
. Many industrial railways, both narrow gauge and standard gauge, were built to serve the china clay quarries and mines of this area.
Name | Opened | Closed | Gauge | Location | Notes |
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Beacon China Clay Kiln | 1928 | 1963 | St Austell St Austell St Austell is a civil parish and a major town in Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. It is situated on the south coast approximately ten miles south of Bodmin and 30 miles west of the border with Devon at Saltash... , England |
Tramway from the kilns to a loading wharf next to the Beacon siding on the standard gauge line from Drinnick Mill and Burngullow. | |
Blackpool China Clay Pit | after 1956 | Trewoon Trewoon Trewoon, pronounced true-un, is a village in south Cornwall, United Kingdom in St Mewan civil parish. It is situated on the western outskirts of St Austell on the A3058 road, about one mile from the town centre.... , England |
Tramway from the clay pits to a tip. | ||
Charlestown No. 1 China Clay Kiln | 1908 | 1960s | St Austell St Austell St Austell is a civil parish and a major town in Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. It is situated on the south coast approximately ten miles south of Bodmin and 30 miles west of the border with Devon at Saltash... , England |
Two tramways running mainly in tunnels. Rails and wagons remain in the tunnels which were sealed when the kilns closed. | |
Hendra China Stone Quarry | 1860s | after 1967 | Nanpean Nanpean Nanpean is a village in the civil parish of St Stephen-in-Brannel in Cornwall, United Kingdom. It is situated on the B3279 road approximately four miles northwest of St Austell in the heart of 'clay country', the china clay quarrying area of mid-Cornwall.Nanpean church was built in 1879... , England |
Internal quarry tramway system with cable hauled inclines | |
Hendra Light Railway | 1919 | 1939 | Nanpean Nanpean Nanpean is a village in the civil parish of St Stephen-in-Brannel in Cornwall, United Kingdom. It is situated on the B3279 road approximately four miles northwest of St Austell in the heart of 'clay country', the china clay quarrying area of mid-Cornwall.Nanpean church was built in 1879... , England |
0.75 miles (1.2 km) long petrol locomotive worked railway connecting a loading wharf at the GWR Great Western Railway The Great Western Railway was a British railway company that linked London with the south-west and west of England and most of Wales. It was founded in 1833, received its enabling Act of Parliament in 1835 and ran its first trains in 1838... to the Hendra china clay kilns. |
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Melbur China Clay Pit | 1920s ? | (?) | St. Stephen, England | Hand worked tramways | |
Pochins Tramway | 1880 | 1933 | (?) | Gothers Gothers Gothers is a hamlet near St Dennis in Cornwall, England, UK.... , England |
Railway connecting the Gothers china clay works with the GWR Great Western Railway The Great Western Railway was a British railway company that linked London with the south-west and west of England and most of Wales. It was founded in 1833, received its enabling Act of Parliament in 1835 and ran its first trains in 1838... . May have been gauge. The last of the four steam locomotives was scrapped on site in 1953. |
Quarry Close China Stone Works | 1863 | 1973 | Nanpean Nanpean Nanpean is a village in the civil parish of St Stephen-in-Brannel in Cornwall, United Kingdom. It is situated on the B3279 road approximately four miles northwest of St Austell in the heart of 'clay country', the china clay quarrying area of mid-Cornwall.Nanpean church was built in 1879... , England |
A network of lines connecting several quarries to the GWR Great Western Railway The Great Western Railway was a British railway company that linked London with the south-west and west of England and most of Wales. It was founded in 1833, received its enabling Act of Parliament in 1835 and ran its first trains in 1838... branch line from Drinnick Mill. |
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Restowrack China Clay Kiln | 1907 | 1969 | Treviscoe, England | A hand-worked tramway from a loading wharf on the St. Dennis junction to Burngallow branch line into the kiln. | |
Tregargus China Stone Quarry | 1890s | 1968 | St. Stephen, England | A network of lines and inclines connecting the quarry with six mills. | |
Wheal Remfry China Clay Pit | after 1910 | Retew Retew Retew was a village near St Austell in Cornwall that was demolished in the early 1960s when the nearby Wheal Remfrey china clay quarry and waste heaps were expanded.... , England |
Horse worked internal tramway |
Sand and gravel extraction
The sand and gravel extraction industries made extensive use of narrow gauge railways, and several of these lasted into the 1980s - this was one of the last industries to make significant use of narrow gauge industrial railways in the UK.Name | Opened | Closed | Gauge | Location | Notes |
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Ace Sand and Gravel Co. Ltd. Marsh House quarries | by 1979 | Aore, England | Locomotive-worked line | ||
Ballast Producers Ltd. Farnham Pits | before 1934 | 1952 | Farnham Farnham Farnham is a town in Surrey, England, within the Borough of Waverley. The town is situated some 42 miles southwest of London in the extreme west of Surrey, adjacent to the border with Hampshire... , England |
Diesel locomotive worked line serving the gravel pits around Farnham | |
Bretts Faversham Sand Quarry railway | 1930s (?) | 1969 (?) | Faversham Faversham Faversham is a market town and civil parish in the Swale borough of Kent, England. The parish of Faversham grew up around an ancient sea port on Faversham Creek and was the birthplace of the explosives industry in England.-History:... , England |
Sand and gravel haulage | |
Bretts Sturry Gravel railway | ? | after 1968, by 1979 | Sturry Sturry Sturry is a village on the Great Stour river three miles north-east of Canterbury in Kent. The large parish of Sturry Church incorporates the former mining village of Hersden and several hamlets.-Geography:... , England |
Served gravel pits on the River Stour River Stour, Kent The River Stour is the river in Kent, England that flows into the English Channel at Pegwell Bay. Above Plucks Gutter, where the Little Stour joins it, the river is normally known as the Great Stour. The upper section of the river, above its confluence with the East Stour at Ashford is sometimes... |
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Biddenham Gravel Pit railway | by 1920 | 1930s | Biddenham Biddenham Biddenham is a large village and a civil parish in Bedfordshire, England, located to the west of Bedford near the A428 road.The village largely serves as a dormitory settlement for Bedford, and also for commuters to London, being on the same side of the town centre as Bedford railway station... , England |
Short horse-worked line serving Biddenham gravel pit, near Bedford Bedford Bedford is the county town of Bedfordshire, in the East of England. It is a large town and the administrative centre for the wider Borough of Bedford. According to the former Bedfordshire County Council's estimates, the town had a population of 79,190 in mid 2005, with 19,720 in the adjacent town... . |
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British Industrial Sand Ltd. Middleton Towers railway | 1977 | Kings Lynn, England | Extensive locomotive-worked sand quarry system. Five remaining diesel locomotives acquired by the LBLR Leighton Buzzard Light Railway The Leighton Buzzard Light Railway is a narrow gauge light railway in Leighton Buzzard in Bedfordshire, England. It operates on a gauge, and is just under long. The line was built after the First World War to serve sand quarries north of the town... in 1980. |
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Buckland Sand & Silica Co. | before 1934 | after 1935 | Reigate Reigate Reigate is a historic market town in Surrey, England, at the foot of the North Downs, and in the London commuter belt. It is one of the main constituents of the Borough of Reigate and Banstead... , England |
Short steam-hauled railway working sand from the pits to a private BR-worked siding | |
Croxden Gravel Ltd. Twelve Yards Road Pit | ? | after 1979 | Irlam Irlam Irlam is a suburban town and unparished area within the City of Salford in Greater Manchester, England. At the 2001 census it had a population of 18,504. The town lies on flat ground on the south side of the M62 motorway and the north bank of the Manchester Ship Canal, and is west-southwest of... , England |
Locomotive-worked line | |
Earls Barton sand quarry railway | after 1975 | Earls Barton Earls Barton Earls Barton is a village and civil parish in eastern Northamptonshire, notable for its Saxon church and shoe-making heritage.The village was the inspiration for the film Kinky Boots and part of the film was shot here... , England |
Small sand pit with internal locomotive worked line | ||
East Sussex Transport and Trading Company | early 1930s | 1964 | Cuckmere Haven Cuckmere Haven Cuckmere Haven is an area of flood plains in Sussex, England where the river Cuckmere meets the English Channel between Eastbourne and Seaford. The river is an example of a meandering river, and contains several oxbow lakes... , England |
Hauled gravel extracted from the Cuckmere Haven beach to Exceat. | |
G.F.X Hartigan Ltd. Woad Farm Pits | 1933 | 1959 (dismantled 1962) | Newport Pagnell Newport Pagnell Newport Pagnell is a town in the Borough of Milton Keynes , England. It is separated by the M1 motorway from Milton Keynes itself, though part of the same urban area... , England |
Line serving gravel pits on the River Great Ouse River Great Ouse The Great Ouse is a river in the east of England. At long, it is the fourth-longest river in the United Kingdom. The river has been important for navigation, and for draining the low-lying region through which it flows. Its course has been modified several times, with the first recorded being in... . Used four diesel-mechanical locomotives. |
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Hall & Co. | before 1938 | late 1960s | Eastbourne Eastbourne Eastbourne is a large town and borough in East Sussex, on the south coast of England between Brighton and Hastings. The town is situated at the eastern end of the chalk South Downs alongside the high cliff at Beachy Head... , England |
Shingle extraction railway on The Crumbles. | |
Hall & Ham River Co. North Station Pits | before 1964 | 1970 | Farnborough Farnborough Farnborough may refer to:* Farnborough, Berkshire, a small village and civil parish in the English county of Berkshire* Farnborough, Hampshire, a town in the Rushmoor district of Hampshire, England... , England |
Gravel extraction railway using diesel locomotives, at least two of which went to the Brockham Museum after the line closed. | |
Ham River Grit Co. Ltd. Bletchingley Pits | after 1963 | Redhill Redhill, Surrey Redhill is a town in the borough of Reigate and Banstead, Surrey, England and is part of the London commuter belt. Redhill and the adjacent town of Reigate form a single urban area.-History:... , England |
Steam and diesel locomotive worked line | ||
Ham River Grit Co. Ltd. Ham Pits | before 1932 | Kingston Kingston upon Thames Kingston upon Thames is the principal settlement of the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames in southwest London. It was the ancient market town where Saxon kings were crowned and is now a suburb situated south west of Charing Cross. It is one of the major metropolitan centres identified in the... , England |
Steam locomotive worked line | ||
Heavers Gravel | 1920s | 1962 | Drayton Drayton - In the United Kingdom :* Drayton, Hampshire* Drayton, Leicestershire* Drayton, Lincolnshire* Drayton, Norfolk* Drayton, Northamptonshire** Drayton Reservoir, Northamptonshire* Drayton, Cherwell, Oxfordshire* Drayton, Vale of White Horse, Oxfordshire... , England |
Internal gravel pit line | |
Hoveringham Gravels Ltd. Holme Pierrepoint Pit | by 1979 | Holme Pierrepoint, England | Internal gravel pit line | ||
Hoveringham Gravels Ltd. Hoveringham Works | by 1979 | Hoveringham Hoveringham Hoveringham is a small village in Nottinghamshire about northeast of Nottingham and on the west side of the River Trent, just off the A612 trunk road to Southwell... , England |
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Inns & Co. Ltd. Farnborough Pits | before 1964 | 1967 | Farnborough Farnborough Farnborough may refer to:* Farnborough, Berkshire, a small village and civil parish in the English county of Berkshire* Farnborough, Hampshire, a town in the Rushmoor district of Hampshire, England... , England |
Diesel locomotive worked line | |
Inns & Co. Ltd. Savay Farm Gravel Pits | 1949 | abur 1964 | Denham Denham - People :* Carl Denham, fictional character from King Kong* Daryl Denham, British radio DJ* Digby Denham, Australian politician* Dixon Denham, British explorer* Henry Denham, British printer* Henry Mangles Denham, , Royal navy... , England |
Diesel locomotive worked line, east of the River Colne River Colne, Hertfordshire The Colne is a river in England which is a tributary of the River Thames. It flows mainly through Hertfordshire and forms the boundary between the South Bucks district of Buckinghamshire and the London Borough of Hillingdon... |
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Leighton Buzzard Light Railway Leighton Buzzard Light Railway The Leighton Buzzard Light Railway is a narrow gauge light railway in Leighton Buzzard in Bedfordshire, England. It operates on a gauge, and is just under long. The line was built after the First World War to serve sand quarries north of the town... |
1919 | 1969 | Leighton Buzzard Leighton Buzzard -Lower schools:*Beaudesert Lower School - Apennine Way*Clipstone Brook Lower School - Brooklands Drive*Greenleas Lower School - Derwent Road*Dovery Down Lower School - Heath Road*Heathwood Lower School - Heath Road*Leedon Lower School - Highfield Road... , England |
Industrial railway Industrial railway An industrial railway is a type of railway that is not available for public transportation and is used exclusively to serve a particular industrial, logistics or military site... that carried sand from the quarries around Leighton Buzzard |
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Marlow Sand and Gravel Co. Ltd. Westhorpe Pits | ? | after 1979 | Little Marlow Little Marlow Little Marlow is a village and civil parish in Buckinghamshire, England.It is on the north bank of the River Thames, about a mile east of Marlow. The toponym "Marlow" is derived from the Old English for "land remaining after the draining of a pool"... , England |
Locomotive worked sand pit railway | |
Penfolds Ltd. | ? | 1963 | Eartham Eartham Eartham is a village and civil parish in the District of Chichester in West Sussex, England located north east of Chichester east of the A285 road.... , England |
Gravel extraction line | |
Pentewan Dock & Concrete Company | 1939 | 1966 | Pentewan Pentewan Pentewan is a coastal village and former port in south Cornwall, United Kingdom. It is situated at three miles south of St Austell at the mouth of the St Austell River.... , England |
Diesel locomotive worked line carrying sand from the shoreline dunes to the grading equipment. Used some of the trackbed of the earlier Pentewan Railway. | |
Piel & Walney Gravel Co. Ltd. | ? | 1962 | Barrow-in-Furness Barrow-in-Furness Barrow-in-Furness is an industrial town and seaport which forms about half the territory of the wider Borough of Barrow-in-Furness in the county of Cumbria, England. It lies north of Liverpool, northwest of Manchester and southwest from the county town of Carlisle... , England |
Steam locomotive operated gravel line running to a pier at Walney. | |
Pilkington Glass Pilkington Pilkington Group Limited is a multinational glass manufacturing company headquartered in St Helens, United Kingdom. It is a subsidiary of the Japan-based NSG Group... Mill lane siding |
? | by 1979 | Rainford Rainford Rainford is a village and civil parish within Metropolitan Borough of St Helens, in Merseyside, England. It is around north of St Helens. At the 2001 Census the population of the civil parish was 8,344.... , England |
Locomotive-worked line | |
Pilkington Glass Pilkington Pilkington Group Limited is a multinational glass manufacturing company headquartered in St Helens, United Kingdom. It is a subsidiary of the Japan-based NSG Group... St. Helens quarry railway |
? | after 1968 | St. Helens St Helens, Merseyside St Helens is a large town in Merseyside, England. It is the largest settlement and administrative centre of the Metropolitan Borough of St Helens with a population of just over 100,000, part of an urban area with a total population of 176,843 at the time of the 2001 Census... , England |
Temporary locomotive-worked railways used for sand extraction for glass making | |
Twickenham Gravel Company Waltham Cross Gravel Pits Railway | 1931 | 1964? | Waltham Cross Waltham Cross Waltham Cross is the most southeasterly town in Hertfordshire, England. It is 12 miles from the City of London and immediately north of the M25 motorway, forming part of the Greater London Urban Area and London commuter belt. Part of Waltham Cross is located within Greater London.-Geography:It is... , England |
Locomotive-worked railways connecting gravel pits and crushing plant | |
Thomas Patterson & Sons Weydon Hill sand pit | around 1919 | Farnham Farnham Farnham is a town in Surrey, England, within the Borough of Waverley. The town is situated some 42 miles southwest of London in the extreme west of Surrey, adjacent to the border with Hampshire... , Surrey Surrey Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford. Surrey County Council sits at Kingston upon Thames, although this has been part of... , England |
One of the first sand railways installed using ex-WDLR War Department Light Railways The War Department Light Railways were a system of narrow gauge trench railways run by the British War Department in World War I. Light railways made an important contribution to the Allied war effort in the First World War, and were used for the supply of ammunition and stores, the transport of... surplus equipment. |
Slate
The most well-known of the British industrial narrow gauge railways were those serving the slate industry of north Wales. Many of the quarries had internal tramways and feeder lines connecting them to transhipment points on local railways, rivers, roads or coastal ports.Granite
Name | Opened | Closed | Gauge | Location | Notes |
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Bearah Tor Quarry | ? | late 1980s | Liskeard Liskeard Liskeard is an ancient stannary and market town and civil parish in south east Cornwall, England, United Kingdom.Liskeard is situated approximately 20 miles west of Plymouth, west of the River Tamar and the border with Devon, and 12 miles east of Bodmin... , England |
Short, hand worked internal quarry railway. | |
Brada Quarry railway | 1935 | 1950s | Bamburgh Bamburgh Bamburgh is a large village and civil parish on the coast of Northumberland, England. It has a population of 454.It is notable for two reasons: the imposing Bamburgh Castle, overlooking the beach, seat of the former Kings of Northumbria, and at present owned by the Armstrong family ; and its... , England |
Internal quarry system; locomotive worked until 1944 by two Lister petrol locos | |
Carreg-y-Llam Quarry railway | before 1900 | 1963 | and | Llithfaen Llithfaen Llithfaen is a small village on the Llyn Peninsula in Gwynedd, Wales. It is located around 4 miles north-east of Nefyn and lies just south-west of Yr Eifl mountain. There used to be three quarries close to the village, the last of which closed in 1963.-References:... , Wales |
Original locomotive-worked internal railway removed in 1949, but a new gauge line was installed in the mid 1950s. |
Ceiriog Granite Quarries railway | 1914 | 1959 | Criggion Criggion Criggion is a village in Powys, Wales. Criggion radio station was located nearby. A branch of the now defunct Shropshire and Montgomeryshire Railway stopped at Criggion.- External links :**... , Wales |
Internal quarry system worked by a single steam locomotive until 1921, when it was replaced by cable-haulage. | |
Charnwood Granite Quarries railway | 1850s | 1963 | Shepshed Shepshed Shepshed, often known until 1888 as Sheepshed, is a town in Leicestershire, England with a population of around 14,000 people... , England |
Early horse worked quarry system; steam locomotives introduced in late 1890s, replaced by internal combustion locos in 1937. | |
Cliffe Hill Mineral Railway Cliffe Hill Mineral Railway The Cliffe Hill Mineral Railway was an industrial narrow gauge railway that connected the Cliffe Hill granite quarry to the nearby London Midland and Scottish Railway between Leicester and Coalville. The line opened in 1896 and operated until 1948.... |
1896 | 1948 | Stanton under Bardon Stanton under Bardon Stanton-under-Bardon is a village and civil parish in the Hinckley and Bosworth district of Leicestershire, England. Population approx 1000 residents.. The houses are generally constructed out of red brick, with many on Main Street being Terraced and having long, thin gardens... , England |
Hauled stone from the Cliffe Hill Granite Quarry. | |
Groby Granite Quarries railway | 1893 | 1943 | Groby Groby Groby is a large English village in the county of Leicestershire, to the north west of the city of Leicester. The population at the time of the 2001 census was 7,301.-Description:... , England |
Extensive internal quarry system worked by five Hunslet Hunslet Engine Company The Hunslet Engine Company is a British locomotive-building company founded in 1864 at Jack Lane, Hunslet, Leeds, West Yorkshire, England by John Towlerton Leather, a civil engineering contractor, who appointed James Campbell as his Works Manager.In 1871, James Campbell bought the company for... steam locomotives. |
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Haytor Granite Tramway Haytor Granite Tramway The Haytor Granite Tramway was a unique granite-railed tramway running down from Haytor Down, Dartmoor, Devon. The tramway was built in 1820 to carry Haytor granite, which was of fine grain and high quality, down from the heights of Dartmoor for the construction of houses, bridges and other... |
by 1824 | 1858 | Dartmoor Dartmoor Dartmoor is an area of moorland in south Devon, England. Protected by National Park status, it covers .The granite upland dates from the Carboniferous period of geological history. The moorland is capped with many exposed granite hilltops known as tors, providing habitats for Dartmoor wildlife. The... , England |
Horse-drawn tramway serving the granite quarries around Haytor. Used granite "setts" as rails. | |
Jee's Hartshill Granite Quarry | ? | 1956? | Nuneaton Nuneaton Nuneaton is the largest town in the Borough of Nuneaton and Bedworth and in the English county of Warwickshire.Nuneaton is most famous for its associations with the 19th century author George Eliot, who was born on a farm on the Arbury Estate just outside Nuneaton in 1819 and lived in the town for... , England |
Granite quarry with an extensive locomotive-worked tramway system. | |
Llanelwedd Granite Quarries railways | 1929 | after 1969 | and | Builth Wells Builth Wells Builth Wells is a town in the county of Powys, within the historic boundaries of Brecknockshire, mid Wales, lying at the confluence of the River Wye and the River Irfon, in the Welsh of the Wye Valley. It has a population of 2,352.... , Wales |
Internal quarry system; the gauge line was horse-worked and closed in 1953; the gauge was hand-worked apart from between 1953 and 1961 when a Lister locomotive was used. |
Lunedale Whinstone Company railway | 1878 | around 1918 | Mickleton Mickleton, County Durham Mickleton is a village in Teesdale, in the Pennines of England. It was historically located in the North Riding of Yorkshire but along with the rest of the former Startforth Rural District it was transferred to County Durham for administrative and ceremonial purposes on 1 April 1974, under the... , England |
Steam locomotive worked line connecting the quarry with a siding on the North Eastern Railway North Eastern Railway (UK) The North Eastern Railway , was an English railway company. It was incorporated in 1854, when four existing companies were combined, and was absorbed into the London and North Eastern Railway at the Grouping in 1923... |
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Newcastle Granite and Whinstone Company | 1902 | 1939 | Haltwhistle Haltwhistle Haltwhistle is a small town and civil parish in Northumberland, England, situated east of Brampton, near Hadrian's Wall, and the villages of Plenmeller, Rowfoot and Melkridge... , England |
Locomotive worked line connecting Cawfields Quarry to Haltwhistle station | |
Penmaenbach Stone quarry tramway | 1875 | 1962 | Penmaenmawr Penmaenmawr PenmaenmawrConwyPenmaenmawr is a town in the parish of Dwygyfylchi, in Conwy County Borough, Wales. The population was 3857 in 2001. It is a quarrying town, though the latter is no longer a major employer, on the North Wales coast between Conwy and Llanfairfechan.The town was bypassed by the A55... , 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. Penmaenmawr & Welsh Granite Co. The Penmaenmawr & Welsh Granite Co. owned and operated a major granite quarry on the north Wales coast located between Conwy and Llanfairfechan. Granite axe-heads and other implements from Neolithic quarries at Penmaenmawr have been found throughout Britain.... |
1830s | 1967 | Penmaenmawr Penmaenmawr PenmaenmawrConwyPenmaenmawr is a town in the parish of Dwygyfylchi, in Conwy County Borough, Wales. The population was 3857 in 2001. It is a quarrying town, though the latter is no longer a major employer, on the North Wales coast between Conwy and Llanfairfechan.The town was bypassed by the A55... , Wales |
Extensive steam-hauled internal railway system in granite quarry complex. | |
Trefor Quarry railway Trefor Quarry railway The Trefor Quarry railway was an industrial narrow gauge railway connecting the Trefor granite quarry with the pier at Llanaelhaearn on the Llŷn Peninsula.- History :... |
1850 | 1962 | Llanaelhaearn Llanaelhaearn Llanaelhaearn is a village and community in the Welsh county of Gwynedd, located on the Llŷn Peninsula. The community includes the village of Trefor, and has a population of 1,067.... , Wales |
Internal quarry railway, with large incline Cable railway A cable railway is a steeply graded railway that uses a cable or rope to haul trains.-Introduction:... to a steam locomotive worked pier branch |
Other stone
Name | Opened | Closed | Gauge | Location | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Downhead Basalt Quarry | by 1904 | 1925 | Downhead Downhead Downhead is a village and civil parish close to Leigh-on-Mendip and north east of Shepton Mallet, in the Mendip district of Somerset, England. The parish includes the medieval settlement of Tadhill.-History:... , England |
Steam locomotive worked quarry line | |
East Cornwall Mineral Railway East Cornwall Mineral Railway The East Cornwall Mineral Railway was a narrow gauge industrial railway opened in 1872 to serve the iron ore and stone quarries around Callington in Cornwall.... |
1872 | 1891/1908 | Callington, England | Early steam Steam locomotive A steam locomotive is a railway locomotive that produces its power through a steam engine. These locomotives are fueled by burning some combustible material, usually coal, wood or oil, to produce steam in a boiler, which drives the steam engine... -worked railway serving the iron ore and stone quarries around Callington. |
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Harecrag Quarry railway | 1969 | Shilbottle Shilbottle Shilbottle is a village in Northumberland, north-east England, located 3 miles south-east of Alnwick, and 5 miles from the coast and Alnmouth... , England |
Roadstone quarry operated by Northumberland County Council operated by six Hunslet Hunslet Engine Company The Hunslet Engine Company is a British locomotive-building company founded in 1864 at Jack Lane, Hunslet, Leeds, West Yorkshire, England by John Towlerton Leather, a civil engineering contractor, who appointed James Campbell as his Works Manager.In 1871, James Campbell bought the company for... diesel locomotives. |
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Long Rake Spar mine | after 1979 | Youlgreave Youlgreave Youlgreave or Youlgrave is a village in the Derbyshire Peak District, lying on the River Bradford, four kilometres south of Bakewell. Both spellings are used on different local signposts and on different maps. The name possibly derives from "yellow grove" , though was historically called "Giolgrave"... , England |
Underground aggregates mine railway operated by battery-electric locomotives. | ||
Monks Park Mine | before 1991 | present | Corsham Corsham Corsham is a historic market town and civil parish in north west Wiltshire, England. It is at the south western extreme of the Cotswolds, just off the A4 which was formerly the main turnpike road from London to Bristol, between Bath and Chippenham .... , England |
Bath stone underground mine. Surface lines were locomotive worked until 1991 | |
Penlee Quarry railway Penlee Quarry railway The Penlee Quarry railway was an industrial narrow gauge railway serving the Penlee Quarry at Newlyn in Cornwall. It was Cornwall's most westerly railway and one of the last operating narrow gauge industrial railways in the UK.- History :... |
about 1900 | 1972 | Newlyn Newlyn Newlyn is a town and fishing port in southwest Cornwall, England, United Kingdom.Newlyn forms a conurbation with the neighbouring town of Penzance and is part of Penzance civil parish... , 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. | |
St. Keverne & Associated Quarries | 1912 | 1958 | Porthoustock Porthoustock Porthoustock is a hamlet near St Keverne in Cornwall, United Kingdom, on the east coast of Lizard Peninsula. Aggregates are quarried nearby and Porthoustock beach is dominated by a large concrete stone mill. The mill was once used to crush stone but is now disused. Container ships of up to 82m can... , England |
Roadstone quarries connected by a network of railways. At least two lightweight Lister locomotives and several cable inclines were used. | |
Titterstone Clee Hill Quarry railway Titterstone Clee Hill Titterstone Clee Hill, sometimes referred to as Clee Hill or Titterstone Clee, is a hill in the rural English county of Shropshire, rising at the summit to 533 m above sea level.... |
before 1910 | 1952 | Ludlow Ludlow Ludlow is a market town in Shropshire, England close to the Welsh border and in the Welsh Marches. It lies within a bend of the River Teme, on its eastern bank, forming an area of and centred on a small hill. Atop this hill is the site of Ludlow Castle and the market place... , England |
Dhustone quarry with an internal horse worked railway; steam locomotive worked from 1910. Included a 1 mile long incline Cable railway A cable railway is a steeply graded railway that uses a cable or rope to haul trains.-Introduction:... |
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Tregongeeves Quarry | 1931 | 1961 | St. Mewan, England | Roadstone quarry with cable incline and three petrol locomotives. | |
West of England Quarry | by 1979 | St. Keverne, England | Aggregates quarry with a short locomotive-worked line |
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 BoardNational Coal Board
The National Coal Board was the statutory corporation created to run the nationalised coal mining industry in the United Kingdom. Set up under the Coal Industry Nationalisation Act 1946, it took over the mines on "vesting day", 1 January 1947...
(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
Forest of Dean
The Forest of Dean is a geographical, historical and cultural region in the western part of the county of Gloucestershire, England. The forest is a roughly triangular plateau bounded by the River Wye to the west and north, the River Severn to the south, and the City of Gloucester to the east.The...
regions.
Name | Opened | Closed | Gauge | Location | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ayle Colliery | 1932 | after 1996 | , , , | Alston Alston, Cumbria Alston is a small town in Cumbria, England on the River South Tyne. It is one of the highest elevation towns in the country, at about 1,000 feet above sea level.-Geography:... , England |
Private colliery with locomotive-worked mine railway. |
Bryn Oer Tramway Bryn Oer Tramway The Bryn Oer Tramway was a horse-worked narrow gauge railway built in South Wales in 1814.- History :... |
1815 | 1865 | Talybont on Usk, Wales | Early horse-drawn tramway | |
Copeland District Council Wellington Colliery | after 1987 | Whitehaven Harbour, England | Private colliery with preserved locomotive | ||
Doe Lee Colliery | before 1979 | Out of use by 1987 | Chesterfield Chesterfield Chesterfield is a market town and a borough of Derbyshire, England. It lies north of Derby, on a confluence of the rivers Rother and Hipper. Its population is 70,260 , making it Derbyshire's largest town... , England |
Underground locomotive worked mine railway | |
Flow Edge Colliery | before 1979 | by 1987 | Alston Alston, Cumbria Alston is a small town in Cumbria, England on the River South Tyne. It is one of the highest elevation towns in the country, at about 1,000 feet above sea level.-Geography:... , England |
Small battery-electric locomotive worked mine railway | |
Foxcote Colliery | 1890 | 1931 | Chilcompton Chilcompton Chilcompton is a civil parish and village in Somerset, England, situated in the Mendip Hills two miles south of Midsomer Norton and 2.5 miles south-west of Westfield, close to the A37 .-History:... , England |
Steam locomotive worked tramway | |
Hope Level Mine | ? | 1988 | ? | Stanhope Stanhope -Places:* Stanhope, Victoria, Australia* Stanhope, Prince Edward Island, Canada* Stanhope, Quebec, Canada* Stanhope, County Durham, England, UK* Stanhope, Kent, England, UK* Stanhope, Peeblesshire, Scotland, UK* Stanhope, Iowa, US* Stanhope, New Jersey, US... , England |
Small mine operation with loco-worked railway |
Huish Colliery | after 1824 | 1912 | Radstock Radstock Radstock is a town in Somerset, England, south west of Bath, and north west of Frome. It is within the unitary authority of Bath and North East Somerset and had a population of 5,275 according to the 2001 Census... , England |
Internal tramway | |
Kilmersdon Colliery | before 1886 | 1973 | Radstock Radstock Radstock is a town in Somerset, England, south west of Bath, and north west of Frome. It is within the unitary authority of Bath and North East Somerset and had a population of 5,275 according to the 2001 Census... , England |
Internal tramway | |
Little Eaton Gangway Little Eaton Gangway The Little Eaton Gangway, or, to give it its official title, the Derby Canal Railway, was a narrow gauge industrial wagonway serving the Derby Canal, in England, at Little Eaton in Derbyshire.- The Derby Canal :... |
1795 | 1908 | Little Eaton Little Eaton Little Eaton is a village in the English county of Derbyshire. The name originated from Anglo Saxon times and means the little town by the water.... , England |
Very early horse-drawn tramway serving the collieries north of Derby Derby Derby , is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands region of England. It lies upon the banks of the River Derwent and is located in the south of the ceremonial county of Derbyshire. In the 2001 census, the population of the city was 233,700, whilst that of the Derby Urban Area was 229,407... |
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Lower Writhlington Colliery | 1867 | 1973 | Chilcompton Chilcompton Chilcompton is a civil parish and village in Somerset, England, situated in the Mendip Hills two miles south of Midsomer Norton and 2.5 miles south-west of Westfield, close to the A37 .-History:... , England |
Steam locomotive worked tramway | |
Mendip Shaft | ? | 1968 | Chilcompton Chilcompton Chilcompton is a civil parish and village in Somerset, England, situated in the Mendip Hills two miles south of Midsomer Norton and 2.5 miles south-west of Westfield, close to the A37 .-History:... , England |
Private colliery with surface and underground tramway | |
Moorside Mining | ? | 1992 | Eckington, Derbyshire Eckington, Derbyshire Eckington is a town in North East Derbyshire, 7 miles north of Chesterfield and 8.5 miles south of Sheffield on the border with South Yorkshire.Eckington has a population of 11,152.... , England |
Private colliery, purchased twelve battery electric locomotives from South Crofty mine in 1992 | |
NCB BatesColliery | 1986 | Blyth Blyth, Northumberland Blyth is a town and civil parish in southeast Northumberland, England. It lies on the coast, to the south of the River Blyth and is approximately 21 kilometres northeast of Newcastle upon Tyne... , England |
Diesel locomotive worked underground colliery system | ||
NCB Berwick Drift Stockyard | ? | Present | Lynemouth Lynemouth Lynemouth is a village in Northumberland, England. The village is situated northeast of Ashington, and is in close proximity to the village of Ellington which is located to the north west... , England |
One of several locomotive-worked stock yard railways in the British coal industry. | |
NCB Clockburn Drift Mine railway | ? | after 1968 | County Durham County Durham County Durham is a ceremonial county and unitary district in north east England. The county town is Durham. The largest settlement in the ceremonial county is the town of Darlington... , England |
Substantially built double-track line for coal haulage from the main mine adit. | |
NCB Gascoigne Wood Colliery railway | ? | ? | South Milford South Milford South Milford is a small village and civil parish located in the district of Selby, in the county of North Yorkshire, England. Historically an agricultural village, the population has recently boomed due to housing development... , England |
Underground mine railway | |
NCB Harworth Colliery railway | ? | ? | Bircotes Bircotes Bircotes is a mining town in the Bassetlaw district of Nottinghamshire, on the border with the metropolitan borough of Doncaster . It is located at , and forms the civil parish of Harworth and Bircotes with its neighbour Harworth. The parish has a population of around 8,000 people. The nearest... , England |
Underground mine railway | |
NCB Hentley Training Centre | ? | 1991 | Hentley, England | Test incline and locomotive worked lines | |
NCB Kellingley Colliery railway | ? | ? | Kellingley, England | Underground mine railway | |
NCB Kellingley Training Centre railway | ? | ? | Kellingley, England | Mine training railway | |
NCB Lewis Merthyr Colliery railway | ? | 1983 | Rhondda Rhondda Rhondda , or the Rhondda Valley , is a former coal mining valley in Wales, formerly a local government district, consisting of 16 communities built around the River Rhondda. The valley is made up of two valleys, the larger Rhondda Fawr valley and the smaller Rhondda Fach valley... , Wales |
Stock yard line worked by diesel locomotives | |
NCB Parkside Colliery railway | ? | after 1972 | Newton-le-Willows Newton-le-Willows Newton-le-Willows is a small market town within the Metropolitan Borough of St Helens, in Merseyside, England. Historically a part of Lancashire, it is situated about midway between the cities of Manchester and Liverpool, to the east of St Helens, to the north of Warrington and to the south of... , England |
Stock yard line worked by diesel locomotives | |
NCB Prince of Wales Colliery railway | ? | ? | Pontefract Pontefract Pontefract is an historic market town in West Yorkshire, England. Traditionally in the West Riding, near the A1 , the M62 motorway and Castleford. It is one of the five towns in the metropolitan borough of the City of Wakefield and has a population of 28,250... , England |
Underground mine railway | |
NCB Riccall Colliery railway | ? | ? | Riccall Riccall Riccall is a village and civil parish situated in the Selby district of North Yorkshire, England, lying 3.5 miles north of Selby and 9 miles to the south of York. It is historically part of the East Riding of Yorkshire. According to the 2001 census the parish had a total population of... , England |
Underground mine railway | |
NCB Stillingfleet Colliery railway | ? | ? | Stillingfleet Stillingfleet Stillingfleet is a village and civil parish in the Selby district of North Yorkshire, England. It is about south of York and nearby settlements include Acaster Selby and Appleton Roebuck.... , England |
Underground mine railway | |
NCB Tilmanston Colliery | 1986 | Eythorne Eythorne Eythorne is a civil parish and small village of about 1000 homes, located 7.3 miles NNW of Dover in Kent. There are currently about 2500 residents. Eythorne holds many historical attributes. Situated a few miles away from Dover beach, it offers many articles of evidence of the war... , England |
Modern underground colliery system | ||
NCB Wentworth Drift Mine railway | 1947 | 1955 | Wentworth Wentworth, South Yorkshire Wentworth is a village and civil parish in the Metropolitan Borough of Rotherham in South Yorkshire, England. It has a population of 1,223.- History :... , England |
Locomotive-worked surface and underground railway system | |
NCB Wistow Colliery railway | ? | ? | Wistow Wistow, North Yorkshire Wistow is a small village and civil parish just north of Selby, North Yorkshire, England. Until 2004 Wistow had a small colliery.-External links:*... , England |
Underground mine railway | |
New Peacock Hay Colliery railway | ? | ? | Harecastle, England | Cable-hauled incline Cable railway A cable railway is a steeply graded railway that uses a cable or rope to haul trains.-Introduction:... from a small private coal mine |
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New Rock Colliery | 1968 | Chilcompton Chilcompton Chilcompton is a civil parish and village in Somerset, England, situated in the Mendip Hills two miles south of Midsomer Norton and 2.5 miles south-west of Westfield, close to the A37 .-History:... , England |
Internal tramway | ||
Norton Hill Colliery | 1966 | Midsomer Norton Midsomer Norton Midsomer Norton is a town near the Mendip Hills in Somerset, England, south-west of Bath, north-east of Wells, north-west of Frome, and south-east of Bristol. It has a population of 10,458. Along with Radstock and Westfield it used to be part of the conurbation and large civil parish of Norton... , England |
Surface and underground tramways | ||
Pensford Colliery | 1910 | 1957 | Pensford Pensford Pensford is a village in the civil parish of Publow and Pensford in Somerset, England. It lies in the Chew Valley south of Bristol and west of Bath... , England |
Mile long railway connecting the colliery to Bromley station. Initially steam locomotive worked, later cable hauled. | |
Pentwyn No.3 Mine | ? | after 1994 | Ystalyfera Ystalyfera Ystalyfera is a former industrial village in the upper Swansea Valley, on the River Tawe, about north-east of Swansea. It is an electoral ward and a community in the unitary authority of Neath Port Talbot, Wales, comprising a resident population of just over 3,000 people, approximately 60% of whom... , Wales |
One of the last coal mines using pit ponies Pit pony A pit pony was a type of pony commonly used underground in coal mines from the mid 18th up until the mid 20th century.-History:Ponies began to be used underground, often replacing child or female labour, as distances from pit head to coal face became greater... on a railway. |
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Saundersfoot Railway Saundersfoot Railway The Saundersfoot Railway was a Welsh industrial narrow gauge railway built in 1829 to carry coal from mines around Reynalton to the harbour at Saundersfoot on the Pembrokeshire coast. It was the first railway line to be built in Pembrokeshire, remaining independent until it closed in 1939... |
1829 | 1939 | Saundersfoot Saundersfoot Saundersfoot is a community in Pembrokeshire, west Wales. It is known as a seaside resort, and along with nearby Tenby is one of the most visited Welsh holiday destinations.-Harbour:... , Wales |
Early industrial railway Industrial railway An industrial railway is a type of railway that is not available for public transportation and is used exclusively to serve a particular industrial, logistics or military site... hauling coal. |
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Severn & Wye Railway | 1801 | 1869 | Forest of Dean Forest of Dean The Forest of Dean is a geographical, historical and cultural region in the western part of the county of Gloucestershire, England. The forest is a roughly triangular plateau bounded by the River Wye to the west and north, the River Severn to the south, and the City of Gloucester to the east.The... , England |
Coal and iron hauling tramway, eventually replaced by a broad gauge Broad gauge Broad-gauge railways use a track gauge greater than the standard gauge of .- List :For list see: List of broad gauges, by gauge and country- History :... line. |
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Weardale Minerals | ? | 1988 | Cambokeels, England | Colliery railway | |
Weardale Mining and Processing | ? | 1988 | West Blackdene West Blackdene West Blackdene is a village in County Durham, in England. It is situated to the north of the River Wear, opposite Ireshopeburn.... , England |
Colliery railway |
Peat extraction
Name | Opened | Closed | Gauge | Location | Notes |
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Country Kitchen Foods Lindow Moss railway | ? | after 1987 | Wilmslow Wilmslow -Economy:Wilmslow is well known, like Alderley Edge, for having many famous residents, notably footballers, stars of Coronation Street and rich North West businessmen. The town is part of the so-called Golden Triangle in the north west together with Alderley Edge and Prestbury... , England |
Peat moss tramway using diesel locomotives. | |
Cumberland Moss Litter railway | after 1979 | Wigton Wigton Wigton is a small market town and civil parish outside the Lake District, in the administrative county of Cumbria in England, and traditionally in Cumberland. It is the bustling and thriving centre of the Solway Plain, situated between the Caldbeck Fells and the Solway coast... , England |
Extremely lightly laid temporary lines for peat extraction | ||
Eden Park Nurseries | 1987 | ? | Wark Forest Wark Forest Wark Forest is the name of the southern part of Kielder Forest in Northumberland England. Wark Forest is found within the south-west tip of Northumberland National Park.... , England |
A relatively new narrow gauge industrial railway. | |
Haversham House Farm railway | ? | ? | Lancaster Lancaster, Lancashire Lancaster is the county town of Lancashire, England. It is situated on the River Lune and has a population of 45,952. Lancaster is a constituent settlement of the wider City of Lancaster, local government district which has a population of 133,914 and encompasses several outlying towns, including... , England |
Turf farm railway | |
Joseph Metcalf Ltd. | ? | 1999 ? | Irlam Irlam Irlam is a suburban town and unparished area within the City of Salford in Greater Manchester, England. At the 2001 census it had a population of 18,504. The town lies on flat ground on the south side of the M62 motorway and the north bank of the Manchester Ship Canal, and is west-southwest of... , England |
Lightly laid peat tramway using modern diesel locomotives. | |
L&P Ltd. Creca Moss | ? | Present? | Annan Annan, Dumfries and Galloway The royal burgh of Annan is a well-built town, red sandstone being the material mainly used. Each year in July, Annan celebrates the Royal Charter and the boundaries of the Royal Burgh are confirmed when a mounted cavalcade undertakes the Riding of the Marches. Entertainment includes a... , Scotland |
Peat extraction line | |
L&P Ltd. Letham Moss | ? | Present ? | Airth Airth Airth is a Royal Burgh, village, former trading port and civil parish in Falkirk, Scotland. It is north of Falkirk town and sits on the banks of the River Forth. Airth lies on the A905 road between Grangemouth and Stirling and is overlooked by Airth Castle, the village retains two market crosses... , Scotland |
Peat extraction line | |
L&P Ltd. Nutberry Works | ? | Present ? | Eastriggs Eastriggs Eastriggs is a village in the south of Dumfries and Galloway. It has a small number of shops, a restaurant, post office, public house, working men's club and a church... , Scotland |
Peat extraction line near Gretna Green Gretna Green Gretna Green is a village in the south of Scotland famous for runaway weddings. It is in Dumfries and Galloway, near the mouth of the River Esk and was historically the first village in Scotland, following the old coaching route from London to Edinburgh. Gretna Green has a railway station serving... . |
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Moodiesburn Peat Works railway | ? | ? | Glenboig Glenboig Glenboig is a village in the North Lanarkshire area of Scotland lying north of Coatbridge.Glenboig's railway station closed in 1960 and the local coal mining and brick-making industries ceased by the 1980s.The village's first school was built in 1875-6.... , Scotland |
Locomotive worked line a few hundred yards long | |
Richardson's Peat Work railway | ? | after 1979 | Longtown Longtown, Cumbria Longtown is a small town in northern Cumbria, England, with a population of around 3,000. It is in the parish of Arthuret and on the River Esk, not far from the Anglo-Scottish border. Nearby was the Battle of Arfderydd.... , England |
Peat tramway in Cumbria Cumbria Cumbria , is a non-metropolitan county in North West England. The county and Cumbria County Council, its local authority, came into existence in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972. Cumbria's largest settlement and county town is Carlisle. It consists of six districts, and in... . |
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Fisons Ltd. AstraZeneca AstraZeneca plc is a global pharmaceutical and biologics company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the world's seventh-largest pharmaceutical company measured by revenues and has operations in over 100 countries... Cumbria Peat Works |
after 1979 | after 1987 | Kirkbridge, England | Locomotive-worked peat railway. | |
Fisons Ltd. AstraZeneca AstraZeneca plc is a global pharmaceutical and biologics company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the world's seventh-largest pharmaceutical company measured by revenues and has operations in over 100 countries... Eclipse Peat Works |
1922 | after 1979 | Meare Meare Meare is a village and civil parish north west of Glastonbury on the Somerset Levels, in the Mendip district of Somerset, England. The parish includes the village of Westhay.-History:... , England |
Locomotive-worked peat railway. | |
Fisons Ltd. AstraZeneca AstraZeneca plc is a global pharmaceutical and biologics company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the world's seventh-largest pharmaceutical company measured by revenues and has operations in over 100 countries... Hatfield Peat Works |
? | Present | Hatfield Hatfield, Doncaster Hatfield is a town and civil parish in the Metropolitan Borough of Doncaster in South Yorkshire, England. It has a population of 16,184.-Geography:... , England |
One of the few remaining working industrial narrow gauge railways in England. | |
Fisons Ltd. AstraZeneca AstraZeneca plc is a global pharmaceutical and biologics company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the world's seventh-largest pharmaceutical company measured by revenues and has operations in over 100 countries... Swinefleet Peat Works |
? | after 1989 | Goole Goole Goole is a town, civil parish and port located approximately inland on the confluence of the rivers Don and Ouse in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England... , England |
Peat works railway employing at least 11 internal combustion locomotives. Two new Schoma Schöma Schöma is a company based in Diepholz, Germany, specialising in the construction of small diesel railway engines.-External links:*... locomotives delivered in 1989 |
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Solway Moss railway | ? | after 1987 | Cumbria Cumbria Cumbria , is a non-metropolitan county in North West England. The county and Cumbria County Council, its local authority, came into existence in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972. Cumbria's largest settlement and county town is Carlisle. It consists of six districts, and in... , England |
Peat tramway with at least 10 4wDM locomotives on site in 1987 | |
George Watson & Sons Middlemuir peat railway | approx. 1949 | 1989 | Fraserburgh Fraserburgh Fraserburgh is a town in Aberdeenshire, Scotland with a population recorded in the 2001 Census at 12,454 and estimated at 12,630 in 2006. It lies at the extreme northeast corner of Aberdeenshire, around north of Aberdeen, and north of Peterhead... , Scotland |
Peat tramway with three Lister locomotives in 1989 | |
White Moss Peat Co. Ltd. Simonswood Moss | after 1979 | Kirkby Kirkby Kirkby is a town in the Metropolitan Borough of Knowsley in the metropolitan county of Merseyside in England. The town was developed from the 1950s through 1970s as a means to house the overspill of Liverpool. It is situated roughly north of Huyton, the administrative HQ of the borough and about... , England |
Locomotive-worked line | ||
White Moss Peat Co. Ltd. White Moss Works railway | 1958 | Alsager Alsager Alsager is a town and civil parish in the unitary authority of Cheshire East and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England, to the north-west of the city of Stoke-on-Trent, and east of the railway town of Crewe... , England |
Very lightweight line of less than 1 mile length; worked using Lister locomotives | ||
William Sinclair Horticultural Auchencorth Moss railway | ? | ? | Leadburn, Scotland | ||
William Sinclair Horticultural Bolton Fell railway | ? | Present | Hethersgill Hethersgill Hethersgill is a village and a civil parish in the City of Carlisle district, in the county of Cumbria, England. Hethersgill has a church called St Mary's Church. In 2001 the population of the civil parish of Hethersgill was 382.- External links :*... , England |
Lightly laid, locomotive worked peat extraction line. | |
William Sinclair Horticultural Cladence Moss railway | 1998 | Present | East Kilbride East Kilbride East Kilbride is a large suburban town in the South Lanarkshire council area, in the West Central Lowlands of Scotland. Designated as Scotland's first new town in 1947, it forms part of the Greater Glasgow conurbation... , Scotland |
Lightly laid, locomotive worked peat extraction line. | |
William Sinclair Horticultural Ryflat Moss railway | late 1990s | Present ? | Strathclyde Strathclyde right|thumb|the former Strathclyde regionStrathclyde was one of nine former local government regions of Scotland created by the Local Government Act 1973 and abolished in 1996 by the Local Government etc Act 1994... , Scotland |
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William Sinclair Horticultural Springfield Moss railway | ? | ? | Leadburn, Scotland | ||
Wilmslow Peat Farm railway | before 1979 | 2000 | Wilmslow Wilmslow -Economy:Wilmslow is well known, like Alderley Edge, for having many famous residents, notably footballers, stars of Coronation Street and rich North West businessmen. The town is part of the so-called Golden Triangle in the north west together with Alderley Edge and Prestbury... , England |
Locomotive-worked peat tramway near Manchester Manchester Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater... |
Other mineral extraction
Name | Opened | Closed | Gauge | Location | Notes |
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Blue Circle Industries Ltd. Kilvington Gypsum Works | after 1979 | Newark Newark-on-Trent Newark-on-Trent is a market town in Nottinghamshire in the East Midlands region of England. It stands on the River Trent, the A1 , and the East Coast Main Line railway. The origins of the town are possibly Roman as it lies on an important Roman road, the Fosse Way... , England |
Locomotive-worked railway. | ||
British Gypsum Mines Ltd. Gotham Works | after 1979 | Gotham, Nottinghamshire Gotham, Nottinghamshire Gotham is a village in Nottinghamshire, England, south of Nottingham and north-east of Kegworth. Gotham has a population of about 1,600. It is administered as part of the Rushcliffe district of Nottingham, and has a parish council.... , England |
Underground locomotive-worked railway. | ||
British Gypsum Mines Ltd. Mountfield Works | 1945 | after 1966 | Mountfield Mountfield, East Sussex Mountfield is a village and civil parish in the Rother District of East Sussex three miles north-west of Battle. It is mentioned in the Domesday Book.... , England |
Inclined adit and works railway. | |
British Steel Corporation Beaumont Fluor Mine | after 1979 | Allenheads Allenheads Allenheads is a village in Northumberland, England, situated in the Pennines to the north of Weardale. It is the village at the highest altitude in England. Allenheads is situated 8 miles further along the river East Allen from Allendale... , England |
Underground locomotive-worked fluor Fluor Fluor Corporation is a publicly owned engineering, procurement, construction, and maintenance services organization. Fluor is headquartered in the Las Colinas area of Irving, Texas. The company employs more than 41,000 international employees and maintains offices in over 25 countries... mine. |
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British Steel Corporation Blackdene Fluor Mine | after 1979 | Ireshopeburn Ireshopeburn Ireshopeburn is a village in County Durham, in England. It is situated on the south side of Weardale, between St John's Chapel and Wearhead, and on the other side of the Wear from West Blackdene and New Ho... , England |
Underground locomotive-worked fluor Fluor Fluor Corporation is a publicly owned engineering, procurement, construction, and maintenance services organization. Fluor is headquartered in the Las Colinas area of Irving, Texas. The company employs more than 41,000 international employees and maintains offices in over 25 countries... mine. |
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British Steel Corporation Blanchland Fluor Mines | after 1979 | Ireshopeburn Ireshopeburn Ireshopeburn is a village in County Durham, in England. It is situated on the south side of Weardale, between St John's Chapel and Wearhead, and on the other side of the Wear from West Blackdene and New Ho... , England |
Underground locomotive-worked fluor Fluor Fluor Corporation is a publicly owned engineering, procurement, construction, and maintenance services organization. Fluor is headquartered in the Las Colinas area of Irving, Texas. The company employs more than 41,000 international employees and maintains offices in over 25 countries... mine. |
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Hagdale Chromate Railway | 1907 | 1937 | Isle of Unst, Scotland | Remote line hauling chromate Chromate Chromate salts contain the chromate anion, CrO42−. Dichromate salts contain the dichromate anion, Cr2O72−. They are oxyanions of chromium in the oxidation state +6. They are moderately strong oxidizing agents.- Chemical properties :... from quarries to a pier on Balta Sound Balta Sound Balta Sound is a sound on the east coast of the island of Unst in the Shetland Islands, Scotland. The sound is sheltered from the North Sea to the east by the uninhabited island of Balta.The settlement at the west of the sound is Baltasound.... . Worked by gravity and horse-power. |
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J. Parish Loam works | 1849 | 1957 | Erith Erith Erith is a district of southeast London on the River Thames. Erith's town centre has undergone a series of modernisations since 1961.-Pre-medieval:... , England |
Steam locomotive hauled railway moving loam Loam Loam is soil composed of sand, silt, and clay in relatively even concentration . Loam soils generally contain more nutrients and humus than sandy soils, have better infiltration and drainage than silty soils, and are easier to till than clay soils... for metal casting molds. |
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Laporte Industries Ltd. Ladywash Mine | after 1987 | Eyam Eyam Eyam is a small village in Derbyshire, England. The village is best known for being the "plague village" that chose to isolate itself when the plague was discovered there in August 1665, rather than let the infection spread... , England |
Underground fluorite Fluorite Fluorite is a halide mineral composed of calcium fluoride, CaF2. It is an isometric mineral with a cubic habit, though octahedral and more complex isometric forms are not uncommon... mine with locomotive worked railway |
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Laporte Industries Ltd. Sallet Hole Mine | after 1987 | Stoney Middleton Stoney Middleton Stoney Middleton is a village in the Derbyshire Dales district of Derbyshire, England. It lies in the White Peak area of the Peak District southeast of Eyam and northwest of Calver, on the A623 road at the foot of the limestone valley of Middleton Dale.... , England |
Underground fluorite Fluorite Fluorite is a halide mineral composed of calcium fluoride, CaF2. It is an isometric mineral with a cubic habit, though octahedral and more complex isometric forms are not uncommon... mine with locomotive worked railway |
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Laporte Industries Ltd. Watersaw Rake Mine | after 1987 | Stoney Middleton Stoney Middleton Stoney Middleton is a village in the Derbyshire Dales district of Derbyshire, England. It lies in the White Peak area of the Peak District southeast of Eyam and northwest of Calver, on the A623 road at the foot of the limestone valley of Middleton Dale.... , England |
Underground mine with battery electric locomotive worked railway | ||
Lealt Valley Diatomite Railway | 1890 | 1915 | 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 Wolframite Wolframite WO4, is an iron manganese tungstate mineral that is the intermediate between ferberite and huebernite . Along with scheelite, the wolframite series are the most important tungsten ore minerals. Wolframite is found in quartz veins and pegmatites associated with granitic intrusives... ore which is used in steel making. |
Scropton Tramway Scropton Tramway The Scropton Tramway was a British industrial narrow gauge railway connecting several gypsum mines with the North Staffordshire Railway station at Scropton in Staffordshire. It was also used to transport munitions during WWII.- Locomotives :-See also:... |
1889 | 1949 | Scropton Scropton Foston and Scropton is a civil parish in the Dove valley in South Derbyshire. It includes the village of Scropton and hamlet of Foston.The Domesday book records that in 1086 Henry de Ferrers held a manor here.... , England |
Steam hauled tramway serving Gypsum mines south of Scropton station. |
Tin, lead and zinc
Name | Opened | Closed | Gauge | Location | Notes |
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Ardda Tramway | 1853 | 1864 | probably | Dolgarrog Dolgarrog Dolgarrog is a small village in the Conwy County Borough in North Wales situated between Llanrwst and Conwy, very close to the Conwy River. The village is well known for its industrial history since the 18th century and the Eigiau dam disaster, which occurred in 1925... , Wales |
Iron sulphide mine with 1 mile long tramway |
Athole G. Allen Ltd. Closehouse Barytes Mine | after 1979 | and |
Middleton-in-Teesdale Middleton-in-Teesdale Middleton-in-Teesdale is a small market town in County Durham, in England. It is situated on the north side of Teesdale between Eggleston and Newbiggin, a few miles to the north west of Barnard Castle... , England |
Locomotive-worked barytes mine. | |
Basset Mines Tramway | before 1907 | 1918 | Redruth Redruth Redruth is a town and civil parish traditionally in the Penwith Hundred in Cornwall, United Kingdom. It has a population of 12,352. Redruth lies approximately at the junction of the A393 and A3047 roads, on the route of the old London to Land's End trunk road , and is approximately west of... , England |
Steam locomotive worked line connecting the West Basset Mine and the stamps at Carnike | |
Botallack Mine | before 1864 | St Just St Just in Penwith St Just is a town and civil parish in Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. The parish encompasses the town of St Just and the nearby settlements of Trewellard, Pendeen and Kelynack: it is bounded by the parishes of Morvah to the north-east, Sancreed and Madron to the east, St Buryan and Sennen to... , England |
300 yard surface line and cliff-side inclines into the mine. | ||
Cae-Coch Mine railway | 1860 | 1919 | unknown | Trefriw Trefriw Trefriw is a village in Conwy County Borough, Wales. It lies on the river Conwy in North Wales, a few miles south of the site of the Roman fort of Canovium, sited at Caerhun. The parish population in 2001 was 924.... , Wales |
Tramway serving a remote iron sulphide mine |
Camborne Mines Ltd. Pendarves Mine | after 1979 | Camborne Camborne Camborne is a town and civil parish in west Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. It is at the western edge of a conurbation comprising Camborne, Pool and Redruth.... , England |
Underground railway serving the Pendarves tin mine | ||
Carrock Fell mine | after 1979 | Mungrisdale Mungrisdale Mungrisdale is a small village and civil parish in the north east of the English Lake District in Cumbria. It is also the name of the valley in which the village sits.... , England |
Lead mine with a single battery-electric locomotive | ||
Cononish Farm Mine railway | ? | Present? | Tyndrum Tyndrum Tyndrum is a small village in Scotland. Its Gaelic name translates as "the house on the ridge". It lies in Strathfillan, at the southern edge of Rannoch Moor.The village is notable mainly for being at an important crossroads of transport routes... , Scotland |
Mine railway in intermittent use. | |
Cornwall Tin and Mining Corporation Mount Wellington Mine | by 1979 | Twelveheads Twelveheads Twelveheads is a hamlet in Cornwall, England, in the United Kingdom. It lies between Truro and Redruth.Twelveheads has a small Methodist chapel; Billy Bray, the Methodist preacher, was born here. The former village pub and post office are both now private housing.The name comes from the hamlet's... , Cornwall, England |
Underground Tin mine | ||
Cornish Hush Mine railway | ? | Late 1970s | Bishop Auckland Bishop Auckland Bishop Auckland is a market town and civil parish in County Durham in north east England. It is located about northwest of Darlington and southwest of Durham at the confluence of the River Wear with its tributary the River Gaunless... , Scotland |
Railway at a Fluorspar mine, operated by a battery electric locomotive | |
CTS Mining Ltd. Wheal Concord mine | after 1987 | Blackwater, Cornwall Blackwater, Cornwall Blackwater is a village in Cornwall, United Kingdom. It is situated in the parish of St Agnes between Truro and Redruth. The village lies on the old course of the A30 north of the current course which bypasses it... , England |
Underground mine railway using battery electric locomotives | ||
Force Crag Mine Ltd. Braithwaite Barytes Mine | after 1987 | Keswick Keswick, Cumbria Keswick is a market town and civil parish within the Borough of Allerdale in Cumbria, England. It had a population of 4,984, according to the 2001 census, and is situated just north of Derwent Water, and a short distance from Bassenthwaite Lake, both in the Lake District National Park... , England |
Railway at a Barytes mine, operated by a battery electric locomotive | ||
Geevor Tin Mines Ltd. Pendeen Mine Geevor Tin Mine Geevor Tin Mine is a tin mine in the far west of Cornwall, England, United Kingdom, between the villages of Pendeen and Trewellard. It was operational between 1911 and 1990 during which time it produced about 50,000 tons of black tin. It is now a museum and heritage centre left as a living history... |
1911 | 1991 | St Just St Just in Penwith St Just is a town and civil parish in Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. The parish encompasses the town of St Just and the nearby settlements of Trewellard, Pendeen and Kelynack: it is bounded by the parishes of Morvah to the north-east, Sancreed and Madron to the east, St Buryan and Sennen to... , England |
Extensive underground tin mine railway. Part of the site, with reinstated tramway, has been reopened as the Geevor Tin Mines Museum. | |
Glenn Sannox Railway | around 1900 | late 1940s | unknown | Sannox Sannox Sannox is a village on the Isle of Arran, Scotland. The name comes from the name the Vikings gave to the area, Sandvik, meaning the Sandy Bay.Sannox sits with a stunning backdrop of scenery to it in the shape of Glen Sannox... , Arran Isle of Arran Arran or the Isle of Arran is the largest island in the Firth of Clyde, Scotland, and with an area of is the seventh largest Scottish island. It is in the unitary council area of North Ayrshire and the 2001 census had a resident population of 5,058... |
Incline Cable railway A cable railway is a steeply graded railway that uses a cable or rope to haul trains.-Introduction:... and pier railway serving a barytes Barium sulfate Barium sulfate is the inorganic compound with the chemical formula BaSO4. It is a white crystalline solid that is odorless and insoluble in water. It occurs as the mineral barite, which is the main commercial source of barium and materials prepared from it... mine. |
Great Laxey Mines Railway | by 1854 | 1929 | Laxey Laxey Laxey is a village on the east coast of the Isle of Man. Its name derives from the Old Norse Laxa meaning 'Salmon River'.The village lies on the A2, the main Douglas to Ramsey road. Laxey Glen is one of the Manx National Glens, with Dhoon Glen being located close by... , Isle of Man Isle of Man The Isle of Man , otherwise known simply as Mann , is a self-governing British Crown Dependency, located in the Irish Sea between the islands of Great Britain and Ireland, within the British Isles. The head of state is Queen Elizabeth II, who holds the title of Lord of Mann. The Lord of Mann is... |
Lead, zinc and silver mines with steam locomotive worked railway by the Laxey Wheel Laxey Wheel The Laxey Wheel is a large waterwheel built in the village of Laxey in the Isle of Man. Designed by Robert Casement, it has a diameter, is wide and revolves at approximately three revolutions per minute.-History:... . |
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Mineral Industries Ltd. Scraithole Mine | after 1979, by 2003 | Nenthead Nenthead The small village of Nenthead in the county of Cumbria is one of England's highest villages, at 1,500 feet. It was not built until the middle of the 18th century and was one of the earliest purpose-built industrial villages in Britain... , England |
Zinc mine with underground locomotive-worked railway | ||
Parc Mine tramway | 1951 | after 1960 | Trefriw Trefriw Trefriw is a village in Conwy County Borough, Wales. It lies on the river Conwy in North Wales, a few miles south of the site of the Roman fort of Canovium, sited at Caerhun. The parish population in 2001 was 924.... , Wales |
Lead mines with extensive underground locomotive-hauled railway system. | |
Rosevale Historical Mining Company | 1974 | present | and | Zennor Zennor Zennor is a village and civil parish in Cornwall in England. The parish includes the villages of Zennor, Boswednack and Porthmeor and the hamlet of Treen. It is located on the north coast, about north of Penzance. Alphabetically, the parish is the last in Britain—its name comes from the Cornish... , England |
Newly re-opened tin mine using battery-electric locomotives |
Snailbeach District Railways Snailbeach District Railways Snailbeach District Railways was a British narrow gauge railway in Shropshire. It was built to carry lead ore from mines in the Stiperstones to Pontesbury where the ore was transshipped to the Great Western Railway's Minsterley branch line. Coal from the Pontesford coal mines travelled in the... |
1873 | 1961 | or | Snailbeach Snailbeach Snailbeach is a village in Shropshire, England, located near Shrewsbury at . The village was formerly home to a large lead mine.-Early history:A village was built for workers at the local lead mine - Snailbeach Mine, which reputedly dates back to Roman times... , England |
Served the lead and other mineral mines around Snailbeach. |
South Crofty Mine South Crofty South Crofty is a metalliferous Tin and Copper mine located in the village of Pool, Cornwall, England UK. An ancient mine, it has seen production for over 400 years, and extends almost two and a half miles across and down and has mined over 40 lodes. Evidence of mining activity in South Crofty has... |
1900 | 1998 | and | Camborne Camborne Camborne is a town and civil parish in west Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. It is at the western edge of a conurbation comprising Camborne, Pool and Redruth.... , England |
Extensive tin mine with internal railway. The mine was re-opened in 2001 although currently without the use of railway transport. |
Swiss Aluminium Mining (UK) Ltd. Burtree Pasture Mine | after 1979 | Cowshill Cowshill Cowshill is a village in County Durham, in England. It is situated at the top of Weardale, between Lanehead and Wearhead.... , England |
Fluorite Fluorite Fluorite is a halide mineral composed of calcium fluoride, CaF2. It is an isometric mineral with a cubic habit, though octahedral and more complex isometric forms are not uncommon... mine using battery-electric locomotives |
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Swiss Aluminium Mining (UK) Ltd. Cambokeels Mine | after 1979 | Stanhope Stanhope -Places:* Stanhope, Victoria, Australia* Stanhope, Prince Edward Island, Canada* Stanhope, Quebec, Canada* Stanhope, County Durham, England, UK* Stanhope, Kent, England, UK* Stanhope, Peeblesshire, Scotland, UK* Stanhope, Iowa, US* Stanhope, New Jersey, US... , England |
Fluorite Fluorite Fluorite is a halide mineral composed of calcium fluoride, CaF2. It is an isometric mineral with a cubic habit, though octahedral and more complex isometric forms are not uncommon... mine using battery-electric locomotives |
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Swiss Aluminium Mining (UK) Ltd. Redburn Mine | after 1979 | Stanhope Stanhope -Places:* Stanhope, Victoria, Australia* Stanhope, Prince Edward Island, Canada* Stanhope, Quebec, Canada* Stanhope, County Durham, England, UK* Stanhope, Kent, England, UK* Stanhope, Peeblesshire, Scotland, UK* Stanhope, Iowa, US* Stanhope, New Jersey, US... , England |
Fluorite Fluorite Fluorite is a halide mineral composed of calcium fluoride, CaF2. It is an isometric mineral with a cubic habit, though octahedral and more complex isometric forms are not uncommon... mine using battery-electric locomotives |
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Swiss Aluminium Mining (UK) Ltd. Stanhope Burn Mine | after 1979 | Stanhope Stanhope -Places:* Stanhope, Victoria, Australia* Stanhope, Prince Edward Island, Canada* Stanhope, Quebec, Canada* Stanhope, County Durham, England, UK* Stanhope, Kent, England, UK* Stanhope, Peeblesshire, Scotland, UK* Stanhope, Iowa, US* Stanhope, New Jersey, US... , England |
Fluorite Fluorite Fluorite is a halide mineral composed of calcium fluoride, CaF2. It is an isometric mineral with a cubic habit, though octahedral and more complex isometric forms are not uncommon... mine using battery-electric locomotives |
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Weardale Fluorspar Ltd. Frasers Grove Mine | after 1989 | County Durham County Durham County Durham is a ceremonial county and unitary district in north east England. The county town is Durham. The largest settlement in the ceremonial county is the town of Darlington... , England |
Fluorspar mine with at least 15 battery electric locomotives on site in 1989 | ||
Wheal Jane Ltd. Clemo's Shaft Wheal Jane Wheal Jane is a disused tin mine near Baldhu and Chacewater in West Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. The area itself consisted of a large number of mines.-History:Wheal Jane was probably seriously worked for tin from the mid-18th century... |
1965 | 1992 | Baldhu Baldhu Baldhu is a village and parish in Cornwall, United Kingdom.The parish church is the burial place of Billy Bray, the revivalist preacher who was born at nearby Twelveheads.... , England |
Locomotive-worked Cornish tin mine. | |
Wheal Pendarves Ltd. Wheal Pendarves mine | after 1987 | Camborne Camborne Camborne is a town and civil parish in west Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. It is at the western edge of a conurbation comprising Camborne, Pool and Redruth.... , England |
Locomotive-worked Cornish tin mine. | ||
Willoughby Mine Tramway | 1877 | 1914 | Trefriw Trefriw Trefriw is a village in Conwy County Borough, Wales. It lies on the river Conwy in North Wales, a few miles south of the site of the Roman fort of Canovium, sited at Caerhun. The parish population in 2001 was 924.... , Wales |
Tramway serving lead and zinc mine. An early (1904) Kerr Stuart Kerr Stuart Kerr, Stuart and Company Ltd was a locomotive manufacturer from Stoke-on-Trent, England.-History:It was founded in 1881 by James Kerr as James Kerr & Company, and became Kerr, Stuart & Company from 1883 when John Stuart was taken on as a partner... locomotive worked here. |
Iron
Mainly ironstone quarriesName | Opened | Closed | Gauge | Location | Notes |
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British Steel Corporation Beckermet Ore Mine railway | after 1979 | Beckermet Beckermet Beckermet is a village, civil parish and post town in the English county of Cumbria, located near the coast between Egremont and Seascale. Historically within Cumberland, it is served by Braystones railway station and is less than a mile west of the A595 road... , England |
Underground mine railway. | ||
Brymbo Ironworks railway Brymbo Ironworks railway The Hook Norton ironstone quarries were ironstone quarries near Hook Norton in Oxfordshire. The quarries were in operation from 1899 to 1946 supplying ironstone to the Brymbo Steelworks in Wrexham and were served by an extensive narrow gauge industrial railway.- History :The original Brymbo... |
1899 | 1946 | Hook Norton Hook Norton Hook Norton is a village and civil parish in the Cotswold Hills in Oxfordshire, England. It is northeast of Chipping Norton.-Toponym and early history:... , England |
Major ironstone quarry and calcination works served by a steam-hauled railway. | |
Colton Iron Ore Mine | 1880? | Brendon Hill, England | Steam locomotive worked tramway connecting the iron ore mine with the West Somerset Mineral Railway West Somerset Mineral Railway The West Somerset Mineral Railway was a line which operated in the UK county of Somerset. It ran from the ironstone mines in the Brendon Hills to the port of Watchet on the Bristol Channel. From there the ore was carried across by ship to Newport and thence to Ebbw Vale for smelting to extract... |
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Eastwell Quarries | 1880s (?) | 1958 | Eastwell, Leicestershire Eastwell, Leicestershire Eastwell is a village and ecclesiastical parish in Leicestershire, England.For the purposes of administration Eastwell is part of the civil parish of Eaton that, in turn, forms part of the borough of Melton. Eastwell lost its own civil parish status in 1936... , England |
Extensive system of steam-hauled lines with a cable-hauled incline Cable railway A cable railway is a steeply graded railway that uses a cable or rope to haul trains.-Introduction:... . |
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Eaton Quarries | ? | 1958 | Eaton, Leicestershire Eaton, Leicestershire Eaton is a village and civil parish in Leicestershire, England. It is situated in the Vale of Belvoir and its current population is about 900 people. Eaton has a church, a village hall, a public house called "The Castle", a children's park and a new village shop... , England |
Unusual in its use of French locomotives. | |
Finedon Hill Quarries railway | 1874 | late 1940s | Finedon Finedon Finedon is a civil parish and village in the Borough Council of Wellingborough, Northamptonshire, with a population at the 2001 census of 4,188 people. Along with Wellingborough, it is twinned with Wittlich, Germany, and Niort, France.... , England |
Cable-hauled ironstone quarry tramway | |
Florence Iron Ore Mine railway | ? | after 1987 | Egremont Egremont Egremont may refer to:Places* Egremont, Cumbria, England* Egremont, Merseyside, England* Egremont, Massachusetts, United States of AmericaOther* Earl of Egremont... , England |
Underground mine tramway worked by battery-electric locomotives | |
Irchester Quarries railway | 1871 | 1884 | Irchester Irchester Irchester is a civil parish and village in the county of Northamptonshire, England. It is about 2 miles south-east of the town of Wellingborough and 2 miles south-west of Rushden, and equidistant from London, south, and Birmingham, to the north-west... , England |
Early ironstone quarry system using one steam locomotive. | |
Irthlingborough Quarries railway | after 1958 | Irthlingborough Irthlingborough Irthlingborough , originally called Artleborough, is a small town on the River Nene in Northamptonshire, England with a population of 6,179 people according to the 2001 census. It is the smallest town in England to have possessed a league association football team, Rushden & Diamonds. The parish... , England |
Underground mines using electric locomotives with a double-track adit to the surface | ||
Kettering Ironstone Railway Kettering Ironstone Railway The Kettering Ironstone Railway was an industrial narrow gauge railway that served the ironstone quarries around Kettering.- Locomotives :-See also:* British industrial narrow gauge railways... |
1879 | 1951 | Kettering Kettering Kettering is a market town in the Borough of Kettering, Northamptonshire, England. It is situated about from London. Kettering is mainly situated on the west side of the River Ise, a tributary of the River Nene which meets at Wellingborough... , England |
Extensive system of steam-hauled lines serving the ironstone quarries west of Kettering. | |
Midland Brick Quarries | after 1901 | by 1940 | Wellingborough Wellingborough Wellingborough is a market town and borough in Northamptonshire, England, situated some from the county town of Northampton. The town is situated on the north side of the River Nene, most of the older town is sited on the flanks of the hills above the river's current flood plain... , England |
Small hand-worked ironstone quarry line | |
Myers Burn Mine | 1985 | 1988 | ? | Eaglesham Eaglesham Eaglesham , is a village and parish set in the west central Lowlands of Scotland - population 3,127 . Today it is chiefly a dormitory town for commuters to nearby Glasgow. The village is distinctive in being based around a large triangular green... , Scotland |
Small iron pyrites mine with underground railway system. |
Rosedale Branch Rosedale Branch The Rosedale Branch was an goods-only railway line running from Battersby Junction across the heights of the North York Moors in North Yorkshire, England to reach iron ore deposits in the remote hills of Rosedale valley... |
? converted Gauge conversion In rail transport, gauge conversion is the process of converting a railway from one rail gauge to another, through the alteration of the railway tracks... to (standard gauge Standard gauge The standard gauge is a widely-used track gauge . Approximately 60% of the world's existing railway lines are built to this gauge... ) |
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Scaldwell Ironstone Quarries | 1963 | Brixworth Brixworth Brixworth is a village and civil parish in the Daventry district of Northamptonshire, England. The 2001 census recorded a parish population of 5,162. The village is particularly notable for All Saints' Church, Brixworth, its historic Anglo-Saxon church.... , England |
Steam locomotive worked connecting the ironstone quarry south of Scaldwell Scaldwell Scaldwell is a village and civil parish in the Daventry district of Northamptonshire in England.Scaldwell is tiny and has neither shops nor pubs; at the time of the 2001 census the parish had a population of 271 living in 113 households. It has an ageing population. The nearest place for school,... to the British Rail British Rail British Railways , which from 1965 traded as British Rail, was the operator of most of the rail transport in Great Britain between 1948 and 1997. It was formed from the nationalisation of the "Big Four" British railway companies and lasted until the gradual privatisation of British Rail, in stages... branch to Lamport Lamport, Northamptonshire Lamport is a village and civil parish in the Daventry district of the county of Northamptonshire, England. The village is on the A508, about south of Market Harborough and north of Northampton. Nearby is Lamport Hall... |
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South Hill Farm Quarries | 1912 | about 1926 | probably | Finedon Finedon Finedon is a civil parish and village in the Borough Council of Wellingborough, Northamptonshire, with a population at the 2001 census of 4,188 people. Along with Wellingborough, it is twinned with Wittlich, Germany, and Niort, France.... , England |
Locomotive worked ironstone quarry tramway connected to Finedon Hill quarry tramway |
Thingdon Quarries | 1882 | 1933 | Finedon Finedon Finedon is a civil parish and village in the Borough Council of Wellingborough, Northamptonshire, with a population at the 2001 census of 4,188 people. Along with Wellingborough, it is twinned with Wittlich, Germany, and Niort, France.... , England |
Cable-hauled tramway with horse-worked upper section. | |
Wellingborough Iron Company | 1874 | 1966 | Finedon Finedon Finedon is a civil parish and village in the Borough Council of Wellingborough, Northamptonshire, with a population at the 2001 census of 4,188 people. Along with Wellingborough, it is twinned with Wittlich, Germany, and Niort, France.... , England |
28 gauge feeder lines at the quarries, latterly worked by diesel locos. |
Gold
Name | Opened | Closed | Gauge | Location | Notes |
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Clogau Clogau The Clogau Gold Mine was once the largest and richest mine of all the gold mines in the Dolgellau gold mining area... mine |
1880s | Present | Bontddu Bontddu Bontddu, Dolgellau, Gwynedd, Wales is a small settlement east of Barmouth.Local tourism information describes a popular walk in the area of Bontddu:- External links :**... Wales |
Hand-worked gold mine railway, in intermittent use | |
Gwynfynydd Gwynfynydd Gwynfynydd Gold Mine near Ganllwyd, Dolgellau, Gwynedd, Wales, was discovered in 1860. It was active until 1998 and has produced 45,000+ troy ounces of Welsh gold since 1884. The Queen was presented with a kilogram of Welsh gold on her 60th birthday from this mine... mine |
Present | Dolgellau Dolgellau Dolgellau is a market town in Gwynedd, north-west Wales, lying on the River Wnion, a tributary of the River Mawddach. It was the county town of the former county of Merionethshire .-History and economy:... Wales |
Hand-worked gold mine railway, in intermittent use |
See also
- British narrow gauge railwaysBritish narrow gauge railwaysThere were more than a thousand British narrow gauge railways ranging from large, historically significant common carriers to small, short-lived industrial railways...
- British industrial narrow gauge railwaysBritish industrial narrow gauge railwaysBritish 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...
- Industrial railwayIndustrial railwayAn industrial railway is a type of railway that is not available for public transportation and is used exclusively to serve a particular industrial, logistics or military site...