A ridable miniature railway (US: riding railroad or grand scale railroad) is a large scale, usually ground-level railway that hauls passengers using locomotives that are often models of full-sized railway locomotives (powered by diesel or petrol engines, live steam or electric motors).
Typically miniature railways have a rail track gauge between 5 in (127 mm) and under 15 in (381 mm), though both larger and smaller gauges are used.
At gauges of 5 in (127 mm) and less, the track is commonly raised above ground level. Flat cars are arranged with foot boards so that driver and passengers sit astride the track. The track is often multi-gauged, to accommodate 5 in (127 mm), 3+1⁄2 in (89 mm), and sometimes 2+1⁄2 in (64 mm) gauge locomotives.
The smaller gauges of miniature railway track can also be portable and is generally 3+1⁄2 in (89 mm)/5 in (127 mm) gauge on raised track or as 7+1⁄4 in (184 mm)/10+1⁄4 in (260 mm) on ground level. Typically portable track is used to carry passengers at temporary events such as fêtes and summer fairs. [1]
Typically miniature lines are operated by not for profit organisations - often model engineering societies - though some are entirely in private grounds and others operate commercially.
There are many national organisations representing and providing guidance on miniature railway operations including the Australian Association of Live Steamers and Southern Federation of Model Engineering Societies.
The first miniature railroads were built in the United Kingdom, as actual methods of transportation, such as the Jaywick railroad.
The Duffield Bank Railway was built by Sir Arthur Percival Heywood in the grounds of his house on a hillside overlooking Duffield, Derbyshire in 1874. Although the Ordnance Survey map circa 1880 does not show the railway itself, it does show two tunnels and two signal posts. However, the online map archive of the National Library of Scotland includes a map of 1914 from the 25 inches to the foot series (Derbyshire XLV.9) that shows the full extent of the railway. Sir Arthur wished to explore the possibilities of minimum gauge railways for mining, quarrying, agriculture etc. He believed that they would be relatively easy to build, and to move. He saw possibilities for military railways behind the lines carrying ammunition and supplies.
The original Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway was a 3 ft (914 mm) line opened on 24 May 1875 to transport hematite iron ore from three mines near and around the village of Boot to the Furness Railway standard gauge line at Ravenglass. [2] [3] In the early 1880s, a tramway was built between Beckfoot and another mine at Gill Force. [4] Locals and railway enthusiasts formed Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway Preservation Society to save the line, with financial backing by Sir Wavell Wakefield, Member of Parliament (MP) for Marylebone and owner of the Ullswater Steamers. In September 1960, the society made the winning bid and saved the railway from closure. Control of the railway passed to a new private company, with the backing of the preservation society, an arrangement that is still in place. [5] [6]
The Downs Light Railway is the world's oldest private miniature railway, [7] with a track gauge of 9+1⁄2 in (241 mm). The railway was built and opened in 1925 under the guidance of Geoffrey Hoyland (Headmaster) as a 7+1⁄4 in (184 mm) gauge railway, for the principal purpose of education. The railway is located within the grounds of The Downs Malvern, a private school in Colwall, near the town of Malvern, Worcestershire in the English Midlands. It is owned by the 'Downs Light Railway Trust. It is maintained and operated principally by the school children, aged between 7 and 13 years. It is part of the Heritage Railway Association membership. [8]
The Jaywick Miniature Railway was built by FC Stedman, who owned the Jaywick Sands Estate on the Essex coast just south of Clacton-on-Sea. This railroad was built in order to transpoirt indiviudal potential buyers to view the homes for sale. [9] It was built in 1935, by Miniature Railway & Specialists Engineering, of Terminus Road, Eastbourne. [9]
Stapleford Miniature Railway is an historic steam locomotive-hauled 10+1⁄4 in (260 mm) gauge railway at Stapleford Park, Stapleford near Melton Mowbray in Leicestershire, England. [10] Considered one of the finest examples of its type,[ citation needed ] the railway is now private but still attracts thousands of visitors from the UK and abroad during its two public charity events each year.
A 'model railway' is one where the gauge is too small for people to ride on the trains. Due to the use of mixed gauge tracks, passengers may ride on a miniature railway which shares the same gauge as, and is pulled by, a large model locomotive on a smaller model gauge, although this is rare.
'Miniature railways' are railways that can be ridden by people and are used for pleasure/as a pastime for their constructors and passengers. In the US, miniature railways are also known as 'riding railroads' or 'grand scale railroads'. The track gauges recognised as being miniature railways vary by country, but in the UK the maximum gauge is 350 mm (13+25⁄32 in). [11]
A 'minimum-gauge railway', which generally starts at 15 in (381 mm) gauge, is one that was originally conceived as a commercial railway with small gauge track, with a working function as an estate railway, an industrial railway, or a provider of public transport links, such as the Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch Railway, Fairbourne Railway or the Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway.
In the UK, a gauge of 350 mm (13+25⁄32 in) [or above] or crossing a carriageway are the criteria used by the Office of Rail and Road (ORR), at which a railway is no longer classed as miniature and is therefore subject to formal regulation: they may be minor railways and/or heritage railways; the concept of minimum gauge is not recognised for the purposes of regulation.
There are over 1,000 miniature railways open to the public around the world, not counting private railways, with 7+1⁄4 in (184 mm) gauge being by far the most numerous. Many layouts have dual-gauge track combing two, three or even more different gauges.
Name | Gauge | Country | Location | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
Great Northern & Cascade Railway | US | Skykomish, Washington | [12] | |
Burton upon Trent Model Engineering Society. | Mixed gauges: 3+1⁄2 in (89 mm) | UK | Burton upon Trent, Staffordshire | Raised track: 3+1⁄2 in (89 mm) and 5 in (127 mm) Ground level: dual gauge 5 in (127 mm) and 7+1⁄4 in (184 mm) [13] |
Canterbury Society of Model and Experimental Engineers | Mixed gauges: 2+1⁄2 in (64 mm) 3+1⁄2 in (89 mm) 5 in (127 mm) 7+1⁄4 in (184 mm) | New Zealand | Halswell Domain, Christchurch | Canterbury Society of Model and Experimental Engineers. [14] [15] [16] Host of 2006 CANMOD International Convention. |
West Wiltshire Society of Model Engineers | Mixed gauges: 3+1⁄2 in (89 mm) | UK | Westbury, Wiltshire | Primarily a Model Engineering society with regular open days for the public. |
Kapiti Miniature Railway and Model Engineering Society Inc | Mixed gauges: 2+1⁄2 in (64 mm) | New Zealand | Paraparaumu | |
Maidstone Model Engineering Society | Mixed gauges: 2+1⁄2 in (64 mm) | New Zealand | Maidstone Park Upper Hutt | |
Nelson Society of Modellers | Mixed gauges: 2+1⁄2 in (64 mm) 3+1⁄2 in (89 mm) 5 in (127 mm) 6+1⁄4 in (159 mm) [17] 7+1⁄4 in (184 mm) | New Zealand | Nelson | |
New Plymouth Society of Model and Experimental Engineers | Mixed gauges: 2+1⁄2 in (64 mm) | New Zealand | New Plymouth | |
Tauranga Model Marine and Engineering Clubs | Mixed gauges: 2+1⁄2 in (64 mm) | New Zealand | Tauranga | |
Wirral Model Engineers Society | Mixed gauges: 2+1⁄2 in (64 mm) | UK | Royden Park, Wirral | |
Canberra Miniature Railway | 3+1⁄2 in (89 mm) | Australia | Canberra, Australia | [19] |
S.A.S.M.E.E. Park | 3+1⁄2 in (89 mm) | Australia | Adelaide, Australia | [20] |
Hamilton Model Engineers | Mixed gauges: 3+1⁄2 in (89 mm) 5 in (127 mm) 7+1⁄4 in (184 mm) | New Zealand | Minogue Park, Hamilton | Founded 1931. At Minogue Park since 1983. [21] |
Hawkes Bay Model Engineering Society | Mixed gauges: 3+1⁄2 in (89 mm) 5 in (127 mm) | New Zealand | Napier | |
Hutt Valley Model Engineering Society | Mixed gauges: 3+1⁄2 in (89 mm) 5 in (127 mm) 7+1⁄4 in (184 mm) | New Zealand | Lower Hutt | |
Manukau Live Steamers | Mixed gauges: 3+1⁄2 in (89 mm) 5 in (127 mm) 7+1⁄4 in (184 mm) | New Zealand | Manukau | |
Abbeydale miniature railway | Mixed gauges: 3+1⁄2 in (89 mm) 5 in (127 mm) 7+1⁄4 in (184 mm) | UK | Sheffield | Raised track: triple 3+1⁄2 in (89 mm), 5 in (127 mm) and 7+1⁄4 in (184 mm) Ground level: dual gauge 5 in (127 mm) and 7+1⁄4 in (184 mm) in [22] |
Ashton Court Railway | Mixed gauges: 3+1⁄2 in (89 mm) 5 in (127 mm) 7+1⁄4 in (184 mm) | UK | Bristol | Raised track: 3+1⁄2 in (89 mm) and 5 in (127 mm) Ground level: dual gauge 5 in (127 mm) and 7+1⁄4 in (184 mm) [13] |
Barton House Railway | Mixed gauges: 3+1⁄2 in (89 mm) 7+1⁄4 in (184 mm) | UK | Wroxham, Norfolk | |
Bridgend Miniature Railway | Mixed gauges: 3+1⁄2 in (89 mm) 5 in (127 mm) 7+1⁄4 in (184 mm) | UK | Bridgend | [23] |
Caldecotte Miniature Railway | Mixed gauges: 3+1⁄2 in (89 mm) 5 in (127 mm) 7+1⁄4 in (184 mm) | UK | Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire | Caldecotte Miniature Railway has a specially built disabled carriage. [24] |
Canvey Railway and Model Engineering Club | 3+1⁄2 in (89 mm) | UK | Canvey Island, Essex | Raised track dual gauge 3+1⁄2 in (89 mm) and 5 in (127 mm) |
Chelmsford City Miniature Railway | Mixed gauges: 3+1⁄2 in (89 mm) 5 in (127 mm) 7+1⁄4 in (184 mm) | UK | Chelmsford | Operated by Chelmsford Society of Model Engineers |
Cinderbarrow Miniature Railway | Mixed gauges: 3+1⁄2 in (89 mm) 5 in (127 mm) 7+1⁄4 in (184 mm) | UK | Yealand Redmayne, Lancashire | [25] |
Crowborough Miniature Railway | 3+1⁄2 in (89 mm) | UK | East Sussex | [26] Raised track & Ground Track (formally) dual gauge 3+1⁄2 in (89 mm) and 5 in (127 mm) |
Cutteslowe Park Miniature Railway | 3+1⁄2 in (89 mm) | UK | Oxford, Oxfordshire | [27] |
Derwen Fawr Miniature Railway | Mixed gauges: 3+1⁄2 in (89 mm) 5 in (127 mm) | UK | Swansea, Wales | Operated by the Swansea Society of Model Engineers [28] |
Keighley & District Model Engineering Society Marley Railway (KDMES) | Mixed gauges: 3+1⁄2 in (89 mm) | UK | Keighley, West Yorkshire | The KDMES trains [30] operate a 1,200 ft (370 m) scenic oval raised level track located at the Marley Activity Centre in Keighley. [31] The railway is open for public rides during the summer, and available for private functions [32] and corporate events. [33] |
Leyland Society of Model Engineers | 3+1⁄2 in (89 mm) and 5 in (127 mm) on raised level, and 7+1⁄4 in (184 mm) ground level | UK | Lancashire | [34] |
Maidstone Model Engineering Society | 3+1⁄2 in (89 mm) | UK | Mote Park, Maidstone, Kent | [35] |
Malden and District Society of Model Engineers Ltd | Mixed Gauges: 3+1⁄2 in (89 mm) 5 in (127 mm) 7+1⁄4 in (184 mm) | UK | Thames Ditton, Surrey | [36] |
Mid Cheshire Society of Model Engineers | Mixed gauges: 3+1⁄2 in (89 mm) 5 in (127 mm) 7+1⁄4 in (184 mm) | UK | Sandiway, Cheshire | [37] |
North London Society of Model Engineers (NLSME) | 3+1⁄2 in (89 mm) 5 in (127 mm) 7+1⁄4 in (184 mm) | UK | Hertfordshire | [38] |
Pembrey Miniature Railway | Mixed gauges: 3+1⁄2 in (89 mm) 5 in (127 mm) 7+1⁄4 in (184 mm) | UK | Pembrey Country Park, Carmarthenshire | [39] |
Polegate & District Model Engineering Club (PADMEC) | Mixed gauges: 3+1⁄2 in (89 mm) 5 in (127 mm) | UK | Polegate, East Sussex | Raised track: dual gauge 3+1⁄2 in (89 mm) and 5 in (127 mm) [40] |
Ridgeway Park light railway | 3+1⁄2 in (89 mm) | UK | Chingford, London | |
Roxbourne Railway | Mixed gauges: 3+1⁄2 in (89 mm) 5 in (127 mm) 7+1⁄4 in (184 mm) | UK | Roxbourne Park, Field End Rd, Ruislip HA4 9PB | Operated by Harrow and Wembley Society of Model Engineers |
Gilling Railway | Mixed gauges: 3+1⁄2 in (89 mm) 5 in (127 mm) 7+1⁄4 in (184 mm) | UK | Gilling East, Yorkshire | Operated by Ryedale Society of Model Engineers Limited. [41] |
Spenborough Model & Experimental Engineers Ltd | 3+1⁄2 in (89 mm) | UK | Cleckheaton, West Yorkshire, BD19 5LL | [42] |
Staines Society of Model Engineers | Mixed gauges: 2+1⁄2 in (64 mm) 3+1⁄2 in (89 mm) 5 in (127 mm) | UK | Staines Park, Staines, Surrey | Raised track. [43] [44] |
Tonbridge Model Engineering Society | 3+1⁄2 in (89 mm) | UK | Kent | |
Tyneside Society of Model & Experimental Engineers | Mixed gauges: 3+1⁄2 in (89 mm) 5 in (127 mm) 7+1⁄4 in (184 mm) | UK | Exhibition Park, Newcastle upon Tyne | [45] |
Welling and District Model Engineering Society | Mixed gauges: 3+1⁄2 in (89 mm) 5 in (127 mm) | United Kingdom | Hall Place, Bexley | Opening 2022. [46] [47] |
La Cañada Valley Railroad | 4+3⁄4 in (121 mm) | US | Flintridge, California | Located at the home of Disney animator Ollie Johnston. Influenced the design of Walt Disney's Carolwood Pacific Railroad. Defunct. |
Canberra Miniature Railway | 5 in (127 mm) | Australia | Canberra | [19] |
Hornsby Model Engineers, Galston, NSW | 5 in (127 mm) | Australia | Galston, New South Wales | 5 in (127 mm) [48] |
Illawarra Live Steamers | 5 in (127 mm) | Australia | North Wollongong | The ground level track is 5 in (127 mm). The elevated track is 5 in (127 mm), 3+1⁄2 in (89 mm) and 2+1⁄2 in (64 mm). There is also a garden gauge track inside the elevated track. [49] |
Northern Districts Model Engineering Society | 5 in (127 mm) | Australia | Balcatta, Western Australia | 2+1⁄2 in (64 mm), 3+1⁄2 in (89 mm), 5 in (127 mm) and 7+1⁄4 in (184 mm) |
Portarlington Miniature Railway | 5 in (127 mm) | Australia | Victoria | 5 in (127 mm) and 7+1⁄4 in (184 mm) [50] |
S.A.S.M.E.E. Park | 5 in (127 mm) | Australia | Adelaide | [51] |
Sydney Live Steam Locomotive Society | 5 in (127 mm) | Australia | West Ryde, New South Wales | 5 in / 127 mm and 89 mm / 3+1⁄2 in and 64 mm / 2+1⁄2 in [52] |
Willans Hill Miniature Railway | 5 in (127 mm) | Australia | Wagga Wagga, NSW | Located in Wagga Wagga Botanic Gardens. [53] Includes spiral based on Bethungra Spiral. |
Petit Train à Vapeur de Forest | Mixed gauges: 5 in (127 mm) 7+1⁄4 in (184 mm) | Belgium | Brussels | [54] |
Stoomgroep Turnhout | 5 in (127 mm) | Belgium | Turnhout | 5 in (127 mm) ground track [55] |
Mini train des marais | Mixed gauge: 5 in (127 mm) | France | Saint-Lô | [56] |
Petit train des Templiers | Mixed gauge: 5 in (127 mm) | France | Épinay-sur-Orge | Two circuits of 350 meters in 5 in (127 mm) and 7+1⁄4 in (184 mm). Nine electric locomotives and diesel. Mainly French locomotives. Open some Sundays from March to November. [57] |
Anyoji Garden Railway | 5 in (127 mm) | Japan | Toyoura, Yamaguchi, Shimonoseki City | 3+1⁄2 in (89 mm) and 5 in (127 mm) [58] |
Hakuba Mini Train Park | 5 in (127 mm) | Japan | Hakuba, Nagano | [59] |
Ichikawa Live Steamers | 5 in (127 mm) | Japan | Ichikawa, Chiba, Tokyo | [59] |
Sakuragi Railway | 5 in (127 mm) | Japan | Kumamoto City, Kumamoto | 3+1⁄2 in (89 mm) and 5 in (127 mm) |
Hitoyoshi Live Steam Club | 5 in (127 mm) | Japan | Hitoyoshi, Kumamoto | Mixed gauges: 3+1⁄2 in (89 mm) |
Stoomgroep West Zuiderpark | 5 in (127 mm) | Netherlands | The Hague | 3+1⁄2 in (89 mm) and 5 in (127 mm) mixed raised oval. [55] |
Eastern Bay of Plenty Model Engineering Society | Mixed gauges: 5 in (127 mm) | New Zealand | Whakatane | |
Havelock North and Live Steamers Associated | Mixed gauges: 5 in (127 mm) | New Zealand | Havelock North, Hastings | |
Hawkes Bay Model Engineering Society | 5 in (127 mm) | New Zealand | Anderson Park, Napier | 3+1⁄2 in (89 mm) and 5 in (127 mm) |
Palmerston North Model Engineering Club Inc | Mixed gauges: 5 in (127 mm) | New Zealand | Palmerston North | |
Thames Small Gauge Railway Society | Mixed gauges: 5 in (127 mm) | New Zealand | Thames | Started in 1995 [60] with a station on the site of the Grahamstown station of the Thames Branch. [61] |
Whangarei Model Engineering Club | Mixed gauges: 5 in (127 mm) | New Zealand | Whangarei | |
Ferrocarril de las Delicias [62] | 5 in (127 mm) | Spain | Madrid | Located inside Madrid's Railway Museum [63] |
Swiss Vapeur Parc | 5 in (127 mm) | Switzerland | Le Bouveret | Dual gauge: 7+1⁄4 in / 184 mm and 5 in / 127 mm. [64] |
Beech Hurst Park Miniature Railway | 5 in (127 mm) | UK | Haywards Heath, West Sussex | Raised track dual 3+1⁄2 in (89 mm) and 5 in (127 mm) [65] |
Bushey Miniature Railway | 5 in (127 mm) | UK | Hertfordshire | A 5 in (127 mm) gauge miniature railway in Bushey, Herts consisting of 230 ft or 70 m ground level track with various sidings and two bridges. A private railway, but viewing and rides are available by appointment. [66] |
Canvey Railway and Model Engineering Club | 5 in (127 mm) | UK | Canvey Island, Essex | Raised track dual gauge 3+1⁄2 in (89 mm) and 5 in (127 mm) |
Copsewood Miniature Railway | 5 in (127 mm) | UK | Copsewood Sports Ground, Binley, Coventry | Also 3+1⁄2 in (89 mm) & 7+1⁄4 in (184 mm) gauges [67] [68] |
Cutteslowe Park Miniature Railway | 5 in (127 mm) | UK | Oxford, Oxfordshire | Raised & ground level [27] |
Dampf-Bahn-Club Sprockhövel | Mixed gauges: 5 in (127 mm) 7+1⁄4 in (184 mm) | GER | Sprockhövel-Haßlinghausen | Includes steel bridge with underpass [69] |
East Grinstead Model Engineering Society | 5 in (127 mm) | UK | East Grinstead, West Sussex | Portable ground level [1] |
Eaton Park Miniature Railway | 5 in (127 mm) | UK | Norwich | Two lines, one 3+1⁄2 in (89 mm) and 5 in (127 mm) gauge track, one mixed 5 in (127 mm) and 7+1⁄4 in (184 mm) inch gauge |
Leyland Society of Model Engineers | 5 in (127 mm) | UK | Lancashire | [34] |
Maidstone Model Engineering Society | 5 in (127 mm) | UK | Mote Park, Maidstone, Kent | [35] |
Mount Edgcumbe House Railway | 5 in (127 mm) | UK | Mount Edgcumbe House, Cremyll, Cornwall | [70] |
Ribble Valley Live Steamers | 5 in (127 mm) | UK | Clitheroe, Lancashire | Also 2+1⁄2 in (64 mm) & 3+1⁄2 in (89 mm) gauges [71] |
Ridgeway Park light railway | 5 in (127 mm) | UK | Chingford, London | |
Riverside Miniature Railway | Mixed gauges: 5 in (127 mm) 7+1⁄4 in (184 mm) | UK | St Neots, Cambridgeshire | [72] |
Ryton Pools Miniature Railway | 5 in (127 mm) | UK | Ryton Pools Country Park | Coventry Model Engineering Society. Also 3+1⁄2 in (89 mm) gauge. |
Spenborough Model & Experimental Engineers Ltd | 5 in (127 mm) | UK | Cleckheaton, West Yorkshire BD19 5LL | [42] |
Wimbourne District Society of Model Engineers | 5 in (127 mm) | UK | Dorset | 5 in (127 mm) and a short raised level | 3+1⁄2 in (89 mm) and | 2+1⁄2 in (64 mm) track |
Modelbouwvereniging Hoekse Waard | Mixed Gauges: 5 in (127 mm) 7+1⁄4 in (184 mm) | Netherlands | Barendrecht, Zuid-Holland | [73] |
Altona Miniature Railway | 7+1⁄4 in (184 mm) | Australia | Victoria | 5 in / 127 mm and 7+1⁄4 in / 184 mm [74] |
Box Hill Miniature Steam Railway | 7+1⁄4 in (184 mm) | Australia | Victoria | 5 in / 127 mm and 7+1⁄4 in / 184 mm [75] |
Campbelltown Miniature Passenger Railway | 7+1⁄4 in (184 mm) | Australia | Victoria | |
Castledare Miniature Railway | 7+1⁄4 in (184 mm) | Australia | Wilson, Western Australia | |
Cohunu Park Railway | 7+1⁄4 in (184 mm) | Australia | Byford, Western Australia | |
Diamond Valley Railway | 7+1⁄4 in (184 mm) | Australia | Eltham Victoria | 7+1⁄4 in / 184 mm [76] |
Canberra Miniature Railway | 7+1⁄4 in (184 mm) | Australia | Canberra | [19] |
MVRail | 7+1⁄4 in (184 mm) | Australia | Morphett Vale Railway, Morphett vale, Weatsheaf Rd, South Australia | [77] |
Penwood Railroad Inc. | Australia | Jaspers Brush, NSW | [78] | |
Portarlington Miniature Railway | 7+1⁄4 in (184 mm) | Australia | Victoria | 5 in (127 mm) and 7+1⁄4 in (184 mm) [50] |
S.A.S.M.E.E. Park | 7+1⁄4 in (184 mm) | Australia | Adelaide | [51] |
Willans Hill Miniature Railway | 7+1⁄4 in (184 mm) | Australia | Wagga Wagga, NSW | [53] |
Stoomgroep Turnhout vzw | 7+1⁄4 in (184 mm) | Belgium | Turnhout | [79] |
Golden Horseshoe Live Steamers | 7+1⁄4 in (184 mm) | Canada | Hamilton, Ontario | [80] |
Roundhouse Park Miniature Railway | 7+1⁄4 in (184 mm) | Canada | Toronto | Two locomotives (replica steam with tender and diesel-electric), four passenger cars and one caboose |
Nábřeží paromilů dětská železnice | 7+1⁄4 in (184 mm) | Czech | Hradec Králové, Bohemia | 7+1⁄4 in / 184 mm and 5 in / 127 mm dual gauge [81] |
S.M.P.D. Parková dráha Olympia | 7+1⁄4 in (184 mm) | Czech | Brno, Moravia | 7+1⁄4 in (184 mm) + 5 in (127 mm) dual gauge |
Finnish Railway Museum | 7+1⁄4 in (184 mm) | Finland | Hyvinkää | |
Petit train de grenade | 7+1⁄4 in (184 mm) | France | Grenade | 7 1⁄4 in (184 mm) [82] |
Parkbahn Schmiden | 7+1⁄4 in (184 mm) | Germany | Fellbach | |
Hungarian Railway Museum | 7+1⁄4 in (184 mm) | Hungary | Budapest | |
John F. Kennedy Arboretum | 7+1⁄4 in (184 mm) | Ireland | Wexford | [83] |
Akubi Lightweight Railway | 7+1⁄4 in (184 mm) | Japan | Previously located in Bentengaoka [84] | |
Matsudayama Herb Garden | 7+1⁄4 in (184 mm) | Japan | Matsuda, Kanagawa | Includes 1/6 scale Romancecar (Odakyu 10000 series HiSE) replica [85] |
Lankelz Railway | 7+1⁄4 in (184 mm) | Luxembourg | Esch-sur-Alzette, south-eastern Luxembourg | [86] |
Stoomgroep West Zuiderpark | Ground level gauges: 7+1⁄4 in (184 mm) Mixed raised gauges: 3+1⁄2 in (89 mm)5 in (127 mm) | Netherlands | The Hague | A sizeable network in "Zuiderpark", a big city park [55] since 1975 in The Hague. The total length of the 7 1/4" gauge mainline routes combined is estimated at about 5 kilometers. Most of the track has working railway signalling, operated by signal boxes and a working full scale railroad crossing where the 7 1/4" tracks cross multiple (busy) public roads. The 3+1⁄2 in (89 mm) and 5 in (127 mm) gauges are mixed on a raised oval track. [55] |
Cambridge Model Engineering Society Inc | 7+1⁄4 in (184 mm) | New Zealand | Cambridge | |
Kapiti Miniature Railway & Associates | 7+1⁄4 in (184 mm) | New Zealand | Raumati Marine Gardens, Raumati Beach | 5 in / 127 mm and 7+1⁄4 in / 184 mm) dual gauge |
Keirunga Park Railway | 7+1⁄4 in (184 mm) | New Zealand | Havelock North | [87] |
Mana Ariki Railway Inc | 7+1⁄4 in (184 mm) | New Zealand | Taumaranui | |
Featherston Miniature Fell Society | 7+1⁄4 in (184 mm) | New Zealand | Featherston, Wairarapa | |
Pully | 7+1⁄4 in (184 mm) | Switzerland | [88] | |
Stainer Liliputbahn AG | 7+1⁄4 in (184 mm) | Switzerland | Stein am Rhein | [89] |
Swiss Vapeur Parc | 7+1⁄4 in (184 mm) | Switzerland | Le Bouveret | Dual gauge: 7+1⁄4 in / 184 mm and 5 in / 127 mm [64] |
There and Back Light Railway [90] | 7+1⁄4 in (184 mm) | UK | East Midlands | This railway is entirely portable and can be set up almost anywhere flat. Can be seen at events across the country and uses a Bagnall steam locomotive on a 450 ft (137.2 m) ground level track. |
Acton Miniature Railway | 7+1⁄4 in (184 mm) | UK | Acton London Transport Museum Depot, London | [91] |
Alexandra Park Miniature Railway | 7+1⁄4 in (184 mm) | UK | Alexandra Park, Hastings | |
Millerbeck Light Railway | 7+1⁄4 in (184 mm) | UK | Staveley-in-Cartmel, Cumbria | Opened in 1985, privately owned, while opened to the public [92] |
Barking Park Light Railway | 7+1⁄4 in (184 mm) | UK | Re-opened Easter 2009. [93] | |
Barnards Miniature Railway | 7+1⁄4 in (184 mm) | UK | ||
Barton House Railway | 7+1⁄4 in (184 mm) | UK | Wroxham, Norfolk | |
Beamish Cog Railway | 7+1⁄4 in (184 mm) | UK | Beamish Museum, Durham | |
Beer Heights Light Railway | 7+1⁄4 in (184 mm) | UK | Devon | |
Bekonscot Light Railway | 7+1⁄4 in (184 mm) | UK | Buckinghamshire | [94] |
Bentley Miniature Railway | 7+1⁄4 in (184 mm) | UK | [95] | |
Bents Miniature Railway | 7+1⁄4 in (184 mm) | UK | Warrington | 1982–88 [96] |
Brockwell Park Miniature Railway | 7+1⁄4 in (184 mm) | UK | South London | 1951–1961 & 2003–present [97] |
Brookside Miniature Railway | 7+1⁄4 in (184 mm) | UK | Poynton | 1988–99; [96] closed [98] Now running again under new management. |
Canvey Railway and Model Engineering Club | 7+1⁄4 in (184 mm) | UK | Canvey Island, Essex | Ground level |
Coate Water Miniature Railway | 7+1⁄4 in (184 mm) | UK | Coate Water Country Park, Swindon | Combined 7+1⁄4 in / 184 mm and 5 in / 127 mm |
Conwy Valley Railway Museum Miniature Railway | 7+1⁄4 in (184 mm) | UK | Wales | |
Cutteslowe Park | 7+1⁄4 in (184 mm) | UK | Oxford, Oxfordshire | [27] |
Danson Park | 7+1⁄4 in (184 mm) | UK | Bexleyheath | 1946–1948 [99] |
Dobwalls Forest Railroad | 7+1⁄4 in (184 mm) | UK | Cornwall | Closed |
Dragon Miniature Railway | 7+1⁄4 in (184 mm) | UK | Marple, Greater Manchester | [96] |
Eastbourne Miniature Steam Railway | 7+1⁄4 in (184 mm) | UK | East Sussex | [100] |
East Herts Miniature Railway | 7+1⁄4 in (184 mm) | UK | Great Amwell near Ware, Hertfordshire | [101] |
Echills Wood Railway | 7+1⁄4 in (184 mm) | UK | Kingsbury Water Park, Warwickshire | [102] |
Fancott Miniature Railway | 7+1⁄4 in (184 mm) | UK | Bedfordshire | [103] |
Foxfield Miniature Railway | 7+1⁄4 in (184 mm) | UK | Stoke-on-Trent | [104] |
Frimley Lodge Miniature Railway | 7+1⁄4 in (184 mm) | UK | [105] | |
Great Cockcrow Railway | 7+1⁄4 in (184 mm) | UK | [106] | |
Grosvenor Park Miniature Railway | 7+1⁄4 in (184 mm) | UK | Chester | [107] |
Guildford Model Engineering Society | 7+1⁄4 in (184 mm) | UK | Surrey | [108] |
Halton Miniature Railway Society | 7+1⁄4 in (184 mm) | UK | Runcorn, Cheshire | [109] |
High Legh Railway | 7+1⁄4 in (184 mm) | UK | High Legh Garden Centre, Cheshire | [110] |
Hollycombe Garden Railway | 7+1⁄4 in (184 mm) | UK | Iron Hill, Liphook, Hampshire | [111] |
Ilford & West Essex Model Railway Club | 7+1⁄4 in (184 mm) | UK | Chadwell Heath | [112] |
Leyland Society of Model Engineers | 7+1⁄4 in (184 mm) | UK | Lancashire | [34] |
Little Orchard Railway | 7+1⁄4 in (184 mm) | UK | Suffolk | [113] |
Little Western Railway | 7+1⁄4 in (184 mm) | UK | Newquay, Cornwall | [114] |
Lodge Farm Park Miniature Railway | 7+1⁄4 in (184 mm) | UK | Romford | |
Mid Cheshire Society of Model Engineers | 7+1⁄4 in (184 mm) | UK | Sandiway, Cheshire | [37] |
Fenn Bell Inn Zoo | 7+1⁄4 in (184 mm) | UK | St. Mary Hoo, Kent | [115] |
Mizens Railway | 7+1⁄4 in (184 mm) | UK | Woking, Surrey | [116] |
Moors Valley Railway | 7+1⁄4 in (184 mm) | UK | Dorset | [117] |
Mortocombe Railway | 7+1⁄4 in (184 mm) | UK | Chilton, Oxfordshire | [118] |
Museum of Power | 7+1⁄4 in (184 mm) | UK | Langford, Essex | |
National Railway Museum | 7+1⁄4 in (184 mm) | UK | York | |
Ness Islands Railway | 7+1⁄4 in (184 mm) | UK | Inverness, Scotland | |
North London Society of Model Engineers (NLSME) | 7+1⁄4 in (184 mm) | UK | [38] | |
Parkland Miniature Railway | 7+1⁄4 in (184 mm) | UK | Hemsby, Norfolk | |
Pinewood Miniature Railway | 7+1⁄4 in (184 mm) | UK | Wokingham, Berkshire | Combined 7+1⁄4 in (184 mm) and 5 in (127 mm) [119] |
Plowman's Railroad | 7+1⁄4 in (184 mm) | UK | Dorset | |
Porterswick Junction Light Railway | 7+1⁄4 in (184 mm) | UK | Hidden Valley Discovery Park, Cornwall | [120] |
Pugneys Light Railway | 7+1⁄4 in (184 mm) | UK | Wakefield | [121] |
Ridgeway Park light railway | 7+1⁄4 in (184 mm) | UK | Chingford, London | |
Saltwood Miniature Railway | 7+1⁄4 in (184 mm) | UK | Kent | [122] |
Sanday Light Railway | 7+1⁄4 in (184 mm) | UK | Braeswick, Sanday, Orkney | |
Spenborough Model & Experimental Engineers Ltd | 7+1⁄4 in (184 mm) | UK | Cleckheaton, West Yorkshire | [42] |
Strand Miniature Railway | 7+1⁄4 in (184 mm) | UK | Gillingham, Kent | [123] |
Swanley New Barn Railway | 7+1⁄4 in (184 mm) | UK | Kent | |
The Time Machine (Bosworth Line) | 7+1⁄4 in (184 mm) | UK | Funtington, West Sussex po18-9dh | |
Thornes Park Miniature Railway | 7+1⁄4 in (184 mm) | UK | Wakefield, West Yorkshire | |
South Weber Railroad Club | 7+1⁄2 in (190.5 mm) | USA | South Weber, Utah, USA | [124] |
Thompson Park Railway | 7+1⁄2 in (190.5 mm) | UK | Burnley | [125] |
Wellington Country Park Railway | 7+1⁄4 in (184 mm) | UK | Berkshire | [126] [127] |
Welsh Highland Heritage Miniature Railway | 7+1⁄4 in (184 mm) | UK | Porthmadog, Wales | |
Weston Park Railway | 7+1⁄4 in (184 mm) | UK | Shropshire | [128] |
Willen Miniature Railway | 7+1⁄4 in (184 mm) | UK | Milton Keynes | |
Willow Wood Railway | 7+1⁄4 in (184 mm) | UK | Stowupland, Suffolk | |
Woodseaves Miniature Railway | 7+1⁄4 in (184 mm) | UK | Shropshire | [129] [130] |
Wolds Way Lavender Narrow Gauge Railway | 7+1⁄4 in (184 mm) | UK | Wintringham, North Yorkshire | Used to transport harvested lavender, logs and passengers |
Wythall miniature railway | 7+1⁄4 in (184 mm) | UK | Worcestershire | It has a multigauge track consisting of 7+1⁄4 in (184 mm), 5 inch and 3+1⁄2 in (89 mm) gauge track. [131] |
Carolwood Pacific Railroad | 7+1⁄4 in (184 mm) | US | Holmby Hills, Los Angeles, California | Located at the home of Walt Disney. Influenced the design of the Disneyland Railroad. Defunct. |
Assiniboine Valley Railway | 7+1⁄2 in (190.5 mm) | Canada | Winnipeg, Manitoba | |
Burnaby Central Railway | 7+1⁄2 in (190.5 mm) | Canada | Burnaby, British Columbia | [132] |
Iron Horse Park Airdrie | 7+1⁄2 in (190.5 mm) | Canada | Airdrie, Alberta | |
Paradise Valley Railway | 7+1⁄2 in (190.5 mm) | Canada | Powell River, British Columbia | [133] |
Alaska Live Steamers | 7+1⁄2 in (190.5 mm) | US | Wasilla, Alaska | |
Annetta Valley & Western Railroad | 7+1⁄2 in (190.5 mm) | US | Annetta, Texas | [134] |
Adobe Mountain Desert Park | 7+1⁄2 in (190.5 mm) | US | Phoenix, Arizona | |
Carillon Park Railroad | 7+1⁄2 in (190.5 mm) | US | Carillon Historical Park, Dayton, Ohio | [135] [136] |
Central Pasco & Gulf Railroad | 7+1⁄2 in (190.5 mm) | US | Crews Lake Wilderness Park, Shady Hills, Florida | [137] |
Colorado Live Steamers | 7+1⁄2 in (190.5 mm) | US | Byers, Colorado | Primary gauge is 7 ½ in but also some 4 ¾ in on site [138] |
Grand Concourse Railroad | 7+1⁄2 in (190.5 mm) | US | Shady Hills, Florida | [139] |
Great Lakes Live Steamers | 7+1⁄2 in (190.5 mm) | US | Royal Oak and Southgate, Michigan | [140] |
Hesston Steam Museum | 7+1⁄2 in (190.5 mm) | US | Hesston, Indiana | [141] |
Houston Area Live Steamers | 7+1⁄2 in (190.5 mm) | US | Hockley, Texas | [142] |
Illinois Live Steamers | 7+1⁄2 in (190.5 mm) | US | Chicago, Illinois | [143] |
Kitsap Live Steamers | 7+1⁄2 in (190.5 mm) | US | Port Orchard, Washington | [144] |
Lakes Park & Gulf Railroad | 7+1⁄2 in (190.5 mm) | US | Lakes Regional Park, Fort Myers, Florida | [145] |
Largo Central Railroad | 7+1⁄2 in (190.5 mm) | US | Largo Central Park, Largo, Florida | [146] |
Los Angeles Live Steamers Railroad Museum | 7+1⁄2 in (190.5 mm) | US | Los Angeles, California | |
North Georgia Live Steamers | 7+1⁄2 in (190.5 mm) | US | Conyers, Georgia | [147] |
Orange County Model Engineers | 7+1⁄2 in (190.5 mm) | US | Costa Mesa, California | [148] |
Riverside Live Steamers | 7+1⁄2 in (190.5 mm) | US | Riverside, California | [149] |
Sacramento Valley Live Steamers | 7+1⁄2 in (190.5 mm) | US | Rancho Cordova, California | 7+1⁄2 in (190.5 mm) gauge and 4+1⁄4 in (108 mm) gauge [150] |
Sagebrush Short Line Railroad | 7+1⁄2 in (190.5 mm) | US | Ridgecrest, California | [151] |
Scottsdale Live Steamers | 7+1⁄2 in (190.5 mm) | US | McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park, Scottsdale, Arizona | |
Sandy Ridge & Clear Lake Railway | 7+1⁄2 in (190.5 mm) | US | Battle Creek, Michigan | |
Shady Dell Pacific | 7+1⁄2 in (190.5 mm) | US | Pacific Northwest Live Steamers, Molalla, Oregon | [152] |
South Coast Railroad Museum | 7+1⁄2 in (190.5 mm) | US | Goleta Short Line, Goleta, California | [153] |
Southern California Live Steamers | 7+1⁄2 in (190.5 mm) | US | Wilson Park | Adjacent to Wilson Park |
Torrey Pacific Railroad | 7+1⁄2 in (190.5 mm) | US | Del Mar, California | Private/defunct; owner died |
Tradewinds & Atlantic Railroad | 7+1⁄2 in (190.5 mm) | US | Tradewinds Park, Coconut Creek, Florida | [154] |
Train Mountain Railroad | 7+1⁄2 in (190.5 mm) | US | Chiloquin, Oregon | [155] |
Triad Live Steamers | 7+1⁄2 in (190.5 mm) | US | Farmington and Harrisburg, North Carolina | [156] |
Wales West Light Railway | 7+1⁄2 in (190.5 mm) | US | Silverhill, Alabama | [157] |
White Creek Railroad | 7+1⁄2 in (190.5 mm) | US | Michigan | [158] |
Willow Creek Railroad | 7+1⁄2 in (190.5 mm) | US | at Antique Powerland, Brooks, Oregon | [159] |
Holly Tree Railway | 7+3⁄4 in (197 mm) | UK | at the Holly Tree PH, Leytonstone, London | [160] |
Bankside Miniature Railway | 8+1⁄4 in (210 mm) | UK | Brambridge Park Garden Centre, Eastleigh, Hampshire | [161] |
Faversham Miniature Railway | 9 in (229 mm) | UK | Brogdale Farm, near Faversham, Kent | |
Torry Hill Park | 9 in (229 mm) | UK | Near Frinsted, Kent | Private miniature railway |
Becker Farm Railroad | 9+7⁄16 in (240 mm) | US | Roseland, New Jersey | Defunct |
Key Western Railroad | 9+7⁄16 in (240 mm) | US | Florida | Defunct |
Barking Park Miniature Railway | 9+1⁄2 in (241 mm) | UK | Barking, Essex | Being relaid in 7+1⁄4 in (184 mm) gauge, scheduled to reopen Easter 2009 [93] |
Clevedon Miniature Railway | 9+1⁄2 in (241 mm) | UK | Clevedon, Somerset | 1952–2013 [162] |
Danson Park | 9+1⁄2 in (241 mm) | UK | Bexleyheath, Kent | 1942 (temporary line for Holidays at Home exhibition); 1949–1962 [99] |
Downs Light Railway | 9+1⁄2 in (241 mm) | UK | Colwall, Near Malvern, Worcestershire | |
East Ham Miniature Railway | 9+1⁄2 in (241 mm) | UK | East Ham, London | 1945–1949 |
Hall Leys Park | 9+1⁄2 in (241 mm) | UK | Matlock, Derbyshire | |
Lakeshore Railroad | 9+1⁄2 in (241 mm) | UK | South Marine Park, South Shields, Tyne & Wear | |
Sidcup Miniature Railway | 9+1⁄2 in (241 mm) | UK | Sidcup, Kent | 1945–1951 |
Fenglin Miniature Railway | 254 mm | China | Yingde, Guangdong | [163] |
Ferrocarril Piedra Baya | 10+1⁄4 in (260 mm) | Argentina | Province of San Luis | [164] |
Highfields Pioneer Village Miniature Railway | 10+1⁄4 in (260 mm) | Australia | Highfields, QLD, 4352. | [165] |
Palmerston North Esplanade Scenic Railway Inc | 10+1⁄4 in (260 mm) | New Zealand | Palmerston North, Manawatu | |
Masterton Miniature Train Society | 10+1⁄4 in (260 mm) | New Zealand | Queen Elizabeth Park, Masterton Wairarapa | |
Audley End Railway | 10+1⁄4 in (260 mm) | UK | Audley End, Saffron Walden, Essex | [166] |
Beale Park | 10+1⁄4 in (260 mm) | UK | Pangbourne, Berkshire | [167] |
Berkeley Light Railway | 10+1⁄4 in (260 mm) | UK | Gloucestershire | [168] |
Bickington Steam Railway | 10+1⁄4 in (260 mm) | UK | Trago Mills, Liverton, Newton Abbot, Devon | [169] |
Brechin Castle Centre Railway | 10+1⁄4 in (260 mm) | UK | Haughmuir, Brechin, Scotland | Defunct [170] |
Bressingham Garden Railway | 10+1⁄4 in (260 mm) | UK | Norfolk | [171] |
Brooklands Miniature Railway | 10+1⁄4 in (260 mm) | UK | Brooklands Pleasure Park, Worthing, Sussex | Closed September 2018 [172] [173] |
Watford Miniature Railway | 10+1⁄4 in (260 mm) | UK | Cassiobury Park, Watford, Hertfordshire | [174] |
Chichester & District Society of Model Engineers | 10+1⁄4 in (260 mm) | UK | Chichester, Sussex | |
Drayton Manor Miniature Railway | 10+1⁄4 in (260 mm) | UK | Drayton Manor Theme Park, Staffordshire | Closed |
Eastleigh Lakeside Railway | 10+1⁄4 in (260 mm) | UK | Hampshire | [175] |
Melton Mowbray Miniature Railway | 10+1⁄4 in (260 mm) | UK | Wilton Park, Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire | [176] [177] |
Exmouth Express | 10+1⁄4 in (260 mm) | UK | Exmouth, Devon | |
Ferry Meadows Miniature Railway | 10+1⁄4 in (260 mm) | UK | Nene Park, Peterborough, Cambridgeshire | |
Happy Mount Park | 10+1⁄4 in (260 mm) | UK | Bare, Morecambe, Lancashire | |
Hastings Miniature Railway | 10+1⁄4 in (260 mm) | UK | Hastings, Sussex | |
Isle of Mull Railway | 10+1⁄4 in (260 mm) | UK | Mull, Scotland | |
Kerr's Miniature Railway | 10+1⁄4 in (260 mm) | UK | West Links Park, Arbroath, Scotland | 1935–2020. [178] |
Kirkby Green Light Railway | 10+1⁄4 in (260 mm) | UK | Sleaford, Lincolnshire | Private with open days |
Knebworth Park Miniature Railway | 10+1⁄4 in (260 mm) | UK | Hertfordshire | |
Ropley Miniature Railway | 10+1⁄4 in (260 mm) | UK | Mid-Hants Railway, Hampshire | Opened 2015 [179] |
Manor Railway | 10+1⁄4 in (260 mm) | UK | Ingfield Manor, Billingshurst, Sussex | |
Mortocombe Railway | 10+1⁄4 in (260 mm) | UK | Chilton, Oxfordshire | [118] |
Newby Hall Miniature Railway North Yorkshire | 10+1⁄4 in (260 mm) | UK | ||
Paignton Zoo | 10+1⁄4 in (260 mm) | UK | Paignton, Devon | 1940–2021. [180] |
Paradise Wildlife Park | 10+1⁄4 in (260 mm) | UK | Broxbourne, Hertfordshire | |
Pettit's Animal Adventure Park | 10+1⁄4 in (260 mm) | UK | Reedham, Norfolk | |
Poole Park Railway | 10+1⁄4 in (260 mm) | UK | Poole Park, Poole, Dorset | 1949–2016, [181] reopened 2017 [182] |
Radwell Manor Railway | 10+1⁄4 in (260 mm) | UK | Radwell, Bedfordshire | Closed |
Rio Grande Miniature Railway | 10+1⁄4 in (260 mm) | UK | Selby Road, Garforth, Leeds, UK | [183] |
Royal Victoria Railway | 10+1⁄4 in (260 mm) | UK | Royal Victoria Country Park, Netley, Southampton, Hampshire | [184] |
Rudyard Lake Steam Railway | 10+1⁄4 in (260 mm) | UK | Rudyard, near Leek, Staffordshire | [185] |
Smokey Oak Railway | 10+1⁄4 in (260 mm) | UK | Woodland Park, Brokerswood, Westbury, Wiltshire | |
South Downs Light Railway | 10+1⁄4 in (260 mm) | UK | Pulborough, Sussex | |
Southsea Miniature Railway | 10+1⁄4 in (260 mm) | UK | Southsea, Hampshire | Closed 1989 [186] |
St. Anne's Miniature Railway | 10+1⁄4 in (260 mm) | UK | St. Annes-on-Sea, Lancashire | |
Stapleford Miniature Railway | 10+1⁄4 in (260 mm) | UK | Stapleford Park, Leicestershire | Private but opens mid-June and August each year [187] |
Sutton Hall Railway | 10+1⁄4 in (260 mm) | UK | Rochford, Essex | [188] |
Vanstone Woodland Railway | 10+1⁄4 in (260 mm) | UK | Vanstone Park Garden Centre, Codicote, Hertfordshire | [189] |
Wat Tyler Miniature Railway | 10+1⁄4 in (260 mm) | UK | Wat Tyler Country Park, Pitsea, Basildon | [190] |
Wells and Walsingham Light Railway | 10+1⁄4 in (260 mm) | UK | Smallest gauge used on a minimum gauge railway authorised by a Light Railway Order. [191] | |
Weymouth Bay Miniature Railway | 10+1⁄4 in (260 mm) | UK | Lodmoor, Weymouth, Dorset[ citation needed ] | |
Wells Harbour Railway | 10+1⁄4 in (260 mm) | UK | Wells-next-the-Sea, Norfolk | Closed September 2021, [192] [193] |
Wenatchee Riverfront Railway | 10+1⁄4 in (260 mm) | US | Wenatchee, Washington | [194] |
Ruislip Lido Railway | 12 in (305 mm) | UK | Greater London | [195] |
Argyle & Eastern Railroad at The Toy Train Barn | 12 in (305 mm) | US | Argyle, Wisconsin | |
Atchison & Western Railroad | 12 in (305 mm) | US | Atchison Rail Museum, Atchison, Kansas | [196] |
C&H Railroad | 12 in (305 mm) | US | Tecumseh, Kansas | [197] |
Casey's Silver Streak at Estes Park Ride-A-Kart | 12 in (305 mm) | US | Estes Park, Colorado | |
Central Park (San Mateo) Mini Train | 12 in (305 mm) | US | San Mateo, California | [198] [199] [200] [201] [202] |
Emerald Hills Railway | 12 in (305 mm) | US | Emerald Hills, California | [203] |
Fairview Line at Fair Oaks | 12 in (305 mm) | US | Gadsden, Alabama | Private |
Folsom Valley Railway | 12 in (305 mm) | US | Folsom, California | [204] |
Little Falls Railroad and Doll Museum | 12 in (305 mm) | US | Sparta, Wisconsin | Private |
Midway Shortline Railroad | 12 in (305 mm) | US | S & S Shortline Railroad Park and Museum, Farmington, Utah | |
Northview and Frisco Railroad | 12 in (305 mm) | US | Northview, Missouri | Private |
Rails of Fun | 12 in (305 mm) | US | St. Louis, Missouri | Portable amusement business for events |
Rothwell Park Railroad | 12 in (305 mm) | US | Moberly, Missouri | Club/members only |
Poco Loco Railroad | 12 in (305 mm) | US | LaPorte, Indiana | |
Sierra Rainier Railroad | 12 in (305 mm) | US | Orting, Washington | Defunct/closed. Private. Very few records exist. |
Sonora Short Line Railway | 12 in (305 mm) | US | Tuolumne, California | Defunct/closed. Private. Very few records exist. |
Wabash Frisco & Pacific Railway | 12 in (305 mm) | US | Missouri | [205] |
Washington Stage Theater | 12 in (305 mm) | US | La Porte, Indiana | Private |
Watson Steam Train & Depot | 12 in (305 mm) | US | Missouri Valley, IA | |
Zilker Zephyr | 12 in (305 mm) | US | Zilker Park, Austin, Texas | Damaged by storms and without a current operator; subject of lawsuits [206] |
Exbury Gardens Steam Railway | 12+1⁄4 in (311 mm) | UK | Beaulieu, Hampshire | |
Exmoor Steam Railway | 12+1⁄4 in (311 mm) | UK | Bratton Fleming, Devon | Closed to the public in 2001 [207] |
Fairbourne Railway | 12+1⁄4 in (311 mm) | UK | Gwynedd, Wales | Originally 15 in gauge |
Hotham Park Miniature Railway | 12+1⁄4 in (311 mm) | UK | Bognor Regis, West Sussex | [208] |
Littlehampton Miniature Railway | 12+1⁄4 in (311 mm) | UK | Littlehampton, West Sussex | [209] |
Newchapel, Horne & Burstow Grand Junction Railway | 12+1⁄4 in (311 mm) | UK | Horne, Horley, Surrey | |
Mease Valley Light Railway | 12+1⁄4 in (311 mm) | UK | Tamworth, Staffordshire | Opened in 2023 at the Statfold Barn Railway. [210] |
Midland Beach Railway Company | 12+5⁄8 in (321 mm) | US | Midland Beach, Staten Island, New York | Defunct |
Zoo Train, DierenPark Amersfoort | 13+3⁄8 in (340 mm) | Netherlands | ||
Adventure City Express Train | 14 in (356 mm) | US | Adventure City, Anaheim, California | [211] |
Hesston Steam Museum | 14 in (356 mm) | US | Hesston, Indiana | [141] |
Kiddieland Limited | 14 in (356 mm) | US | Kiddieland Amusement Park, Melrose Park, Illinois | Defunct |
Riverside Express | 14 in (356 mm) | US | Castle Park, Riverside, California | [212] |
Pine Valley Miniature Railway | Mixed Gauge: 21⁄2 in (64 mm) | Australia | Warner, Queensland | [213] |
Model Park Denmark | 7+1⁄4 in (184 mm) | Denmark | Modelparken Danmark, Viby J, Egå | [214] [215] |
Brandhøjbanen dk , at Hedeland veteran railway dk | Mixed Gauge: 5 in (127 mm) | Denmark | Hedeland veteran railway, Hedehusene, Høje-Taastrup | , [216] [217] there are also one at Denmark’s railway museum in Odense [218] [219] [220] and one at the Tramway Museum Skjoldenæsholm [221] and many other model-miniature railways in Denmark [222] [223] [224] [225] and Model lane Europe [226] and many others. [227] [228] [229] [230] |
Ascot Locomotive Society | Mixed Gauge: 21⁄2 in (64 mm) | UK | Ascot, Berkshire | Large track layout with working turntable adjacent to Ascot Racecourse |
Railway modelling or model railroading is a hobby in which rail transport systems are modelled at a reduced scale.
Bassett-Lowke was an English toy manufacturing company based in Northampton. Founded by Wenman Joseph Bassett-Lowke in 1898 or 1899, the company specialized in model railways, boats and ships, and construction sets. Bassett-Lowke started as a mail-order business, although it designed and manufactured some items.
The Midland Railway – Butterley is a heritage railway and museum complex at Butterley, near Ripley in Derbyshire.
The Carolwood Pacific Railroad (CPRR) was a 7+1⁄4-inch gauge ridable miniature railroad run by Walt Disney in the backyard of his home in the Holmby Hills neighborhood of Los Angeles, California. It featured the Lilly Belle, a 1:8-scale live steam locomotive named after Disney's wife, Lillian Disney, and built by the Walt Disney Studios' machine shop. The locomotive made its first test run on December 24, 1949. It pulled a set of freight cars, as well as a caboose that was almost entirely built by Disney himself. It was Disney's lifelong fascination with trains, as well as his interest in miniature models, that led to the creation of the CPRR. The railroad, which became operational in 1950, was 2,615 feet (797 m) long and encircled his house. The backyard railroad attracted visitors to Disney's home; he invited them to ride and occasionally drive his miniature train. In 1953, after an accident occurred in which a guest was injured, the CPRR was closed to the public.
The Fairbourne Railway is a 12+1⁄4 in gauge miniature railway running for 2 miles (3.2 km) from the village of Fairbourne on the Mid-Wales coast, alongside the beach to the end of a peninsula at Barmouth Ferry railway station, where there is a connection with the Barmouth Ferry across the Mawddach estuary to the seaside resort of Barmouth.
Live steam is steam under pressure, obtained by heating water in a boiler. The steam may be used to operate stationary or moving equipment.
A backyard railroad is a privately owned, outdoor railroad, most often in miniature, but large enough for one or several persons to ride on. The rail gauge can be anything from 2+1⁄2 in to 7+1⁄2 in or more. Smaller backyard or outdoor railroads that cannot be ridden are called garden railroads. Some backyard railroads use full-size rolling stock, such as the former 3 ft narrow gauge Grizzly Flats Railroad owned by railfan and Disney animator Ward Kimball.
The Redwood Valley Railway is a 15 in gauge miniature railway at Tilden Regional Park near Berkeley, California.
Travel Town Museum is a railway museum dedicated on December 14, 1952, and located in the northwest corner of Los Angeles, California's Griffith Park. The history of railroad transportation in the western United States from 1880 to the 1930s is the primary focus of the museum's collection, with an emphasis on railroading in Southern California and the Los Angeles area.
Hudswell, Clarke and Company Limited was an engineering and locomotive building company in Jack Lane, Hunslet, Leeds, West Yorkshire, England.
Minimum-gauge railways are railways with track gauges smaller than those of narrow-gauge railways, primarily designed for light, industrial, or tourist transportation. The most common gauges for minimum-gauge railways include:
Rail transport modelling uses a variety of scales to ensure scale models look correct when placed next to each other. Model railway scales are standardized worldwide by many organizations and hobbyist groups. Some of the scales are recognized globally, while others are less widespread and, in many cases, virtually unknown outside their circle of origin. Scales may be expressed as a numeric ratio or as letters defined in rail transport modelling standards The majority of commercial model railway equipment manufacturers base their offerings on Normen Europäischer Modellbahnen (NEM) or National Model Railroad Association (NMRA) standards in most popular scales.
The 15 in gauge, single track Lakeside Miniature Railway runs along the seaward side of the Marine Lake in Southport, England.
Dalegarth railway station is the easterly terminus of the 15-inch gauge Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway in the English county of Cumbria. It has a café and shop for passengers, along with a run-round loop, turntable and siding for trains.
The Grizzly Flats Railroad (GFRR) was a 3-foot narrow-gauge heritage railroad owned by Disney animator Ward Kimball at his home in San Gabriel, California. The railroad had 900 feet (274.3 m) of track, and was operated from 1942 to 2006. It was the first full-size backyard railroad in the United States.
This article gives details of the locomotives used on the Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway, a 15 in narrow gauge preserved railway line running for 7 miles (11 km) from Ravenglass on the Cumbrian coast to Dalegarth near the village of Boot, in Eskdale.
The Los Angeles Live Steamers Railroad Museum (LALSRM) is a non-profit public-benefit corporation founded in 1956 by live steam enthusiasts for the purpose of educating the public about railroad history and lore, and to promote live steam and scale model railroad technology. The museum is located in Griffith Park in Los Angeles, California and is open from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. every Sunday weather permitting. In 1956, all of the model locomotives were steam-powered, hence the name "Live Steamers". Over the years, gasoline-powered models of diesel locomotives and battery-electric locomotives and trolleys have also become popular. The museum operates a 7+1⁄2 in gauge miniature railway on which these locomotives pull trains that the public can ride.
Fifteen-inch gauge railways were pioneered by Sir Arthur Percival Heywood who was interested in what he termed a minimum gauge railway for use as estate railways or to be easy to lay on, for instance, a battlefield. In 1874, he described the principle behind it as used for his Duffield Bank Railway, distinguishing it from a "narrow-gauge" railway. Having previously built a small railway of 9 in gauge, he settled on 15 in gauge as the minimum that he felt was practical.
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: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link){{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)The first 7 ½" gauge loop was completed in June of 1998. To date we have laid approximately 11,000 feet of track with two tunnels and one 102 ft wooden bridge and a second steel truss bridge. The organization's overall goal is a 2.5 mile, 7 ½" gauge point-to-point mainline railroad. ... We have two different gauges of track; 7 ½ inch and 4 ¾ inch track laid at ground level.
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: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)Physical Address: 50 E. 5th Avenue San Mateo, CA 94403 Train Hours: Saturday, Sunday, Holidays 11:00am–3:00pm Weekdays: June 15-August 15 11:00am-3:00pm
Est. 1948