Tourist and Enthusiast Railways
South East
London Brighton & South Coast Railway class A1X locomotive
Stepney
with a train of Victorian carriages, passing Lindfield Wood on
the Bluebell Railway
- Alexandra Park Woodland Railway
- Alexandra Park, Hastings. 7¼ in (184 mm) gauge line about
250 yards (230 m) in length. Diesel hauled. Operates weekends
throughout the year, and most weekdays during school holidays.
- Amberley Museum Narrow Gauge Railway
- Near Arundel. 2 ft (610 mm) gauge line about ½ mile (0.8 km)
in length. Steam and diesel hauled. An admission fee to the Museum is
payable. Open Wednesdays to Sundays and Bank Holiday Mondays,
February to October; Wednesdays and weekends, November to January.
- Ascot Locomotive Society
- Adjacent to Royal Ascot Golf Club. Line about ¾ mile (1.2 km)
in length, 3½ / 5 / 7¼ in (89 / 127 / 184 mm) gauge. Steam, diesel,
or battery electric hauled. Club railway open to the public one Sunday
each month from April to October, or by private charter.
- Beale Railway
- Beale Park Wildlife Park and Gardens, Lower Basildon, near Reading.
Line about 1 mile (1.6 km) in length. 10¼ in (260 mm) gauge, steam
locomotive converted to diesel operation. Admission fee to the park
payable, advance booking recommended. Open most days throughout
the year.
- Beaulieu Monorail
- monorail circling the Beaulieu attraction, about 1 mile (1.6 km)
in length. Admission to the attraction is payable. Open every day
except Christmas day.
- Beech Hurst Park Miniature Railway
- Beech Hurst Park, Haywards Heath. Line a little under ½ mile
(0.8 km) in length, 3½ / 5 in (89 / 127 mm) gauge, ride astride;
usually steam hauled. Club railway open to the public Saturdays
and various other days, April to September
- Bekonscot Light Railway
- in Bekonscot Model Village, Beaconsfield. Line about 200 yards
(180 m) in length. 7¼ in (184 mm) gauge, diesel or battery electric
hauled. Admission fee to the Village is payable, advance booking
essential. Open every day, Easter to October.
- Bentley Miniature Railway
- Bentley Farm Estate, near Lewes. Line about 1 mile (1.6 km) in
length. 5 / 7¼ in (127 / 184 mm) gauge, steam, diesel or
battery electric hauled. Operates weekends and various other days,
April to September, and a few days in December.
- Blenheim Park Railway
- in the grounds of Blenheim Palace, conveying visitors between
the Palace and the Pleasure Gardens. Line about 1000 yards (910 m)
in length. 15 in (381 mm) gauge, diesel hauled. Admission fee to the
Park & Gardens (with or without admission to the Palace; advance
booking essential) payable in addition to train fare. With a few
exceptions, open daily March to early January.
- Bluebell Railway
- Sheffield Park (near Uckfield) to East Grinstead: 10½ miles (17 km).
Possible future branch line from Horsted Keynes to Ardingly, 2¼ miles
(3.6 km). Standard gauge. Usually steam hauled. Dining trains operate
at certain times. Operates most days, Easter to December.
- Bredgar & Wormshill Railway
- Bredgar, near Sittingbourne. Warren Wood to Stony Shaw, about
600 yards (560 m). 2 ft (610 mm) gauge. Usually diesel hauled,
steam hauled for special events. Operates Wednesdays and a
few other days, January to October, and by private charter.
- Brighton Tram 53 Society
- Group currently restoring a Brighton tram, with the object
of running in on a short line to be created at a site in the
city.
- Buckinghamshire Railway Centre
- Quainton Road. Two separate lines, each about ½ mile (0.8 km)
in length, on opposite sides of the Network Rail main line.
Standard gauge, steam hauled or diesel railcars. Operates Sundays,
Bank Holiday Mondays, and a few other days, April to October;
weekends late November and early December. There is also an
extensive 5 in (127 mm) / 7¼ in (184 mm) gauge Miniature Railway
operating on the same days.
- Caldecotte Miniature Railway
- Caldecotte Lake, near Milton Keynes. 5 inch (127 mm) and 7¼ inch
(184 mm) gauge miniature railway. Steam or diesel hauled.
Operates Sundays and Bank Holidays, April to September.
- Chichester
Model Engineers
- Chichester. 7¼ in (184 mm) and 10¼ in (260 mm) gauge miniature
railway 245 yards (224 m) in length. Steam and diesel hauled. Club
railway open to the public typically one Sunday each month, April
to December.
- Chinnor
& Princes Risborough Railway
- Princes Risborough (Chiltern Railways station) to Chinnor, 3½ miles
(5.6 km). Possible future extension to Aston Rowant, a further
2½ miles (4 km). Standard gauge. Steam and diesel hauled. Operates
Sundays and a few other days, May to early November.
- Cholsey & Wallingford Railway
- Wallingford to Cholsey. 2½ miles (4 km). Standard gauge.
Steam or diesel hauled. Runs various days throughout the year,
but not to a regular pattern. Refer to the website.
- Cotswold Wildlife Park Railway
- Cotswold Wildlife Park, near Burford. 2 ft (610 mm) gauge
railway. Operates most days throughout the year. Admission fee to
the Park is payable.
- Crowborough Miniature Railway
- Crowborough Leisure Centre. Various gauges, steam or
diesel hauled. Operates Saturdays and many other days,
mid April to early November, or by private charter.
- Cutteslowe Park Miniature Railway
- Oxford. 5 / 7¼ in (127 / 184 mm) gauge, ride astride;
usually steam hauled. Club railway open to the public
typically 2 or 3 Sundays each month and various other days,
April to October and in December.
- Didcot Railway Centre
- Offers train rides on one or two short standard gauge lines
within the museum grounds. Steam or diesel hauled or diesel
railcar. Operates most weekends and various other days,
late May to October and in December.
- Drusillas Park
- Near Alfriston. 2 ft (610 mm) gauge railway about 375 yards
(340 m) in length. Diesel powered, steam outline locomotive.
Operates most days throughout the year. Admission fee to the park
is payable.
- East
Kent Railway
- Shepherdswell (near the Southeastern Trains Shepherds Well station)
to Wigmore Lane, with a station at Eythorne: 2 miles (3.2 km). Possible
future extension to Tilmanstone. Standard gauge. Diesel hauled or diesel
railcars. A steam locomotive is in the course of restoration. Operates
Sundays and various other days, March to September. There is also a
7¼ in (184 mm) gauge miniature railway, the Knees Woodland Railway,
at Shepherdswell, which operates on special event days at the main railway.
- Eastbourne Miniature
Steam Railway
- Eastbourne. Miniature railway almost 1 mile (1.6 km) in length. 7¼ in
(184 mm) gauge, steam or diesel hauled. Operates every day, April
to October.
- Eastleigh
Lakeside Railway
- Lakeside Park, near Southampton Airport. 10¼ / 7¼ in
(260 / 184 mm) dual gauge miniature railway a little over ¾ mile
(1.3 km) in length. Usually steam hauled. Operates weekends and
school holidays, April to September.
- Elham Valley Railway Museum
- Newington, near Folkestone. 7¼ in (184 mm) gauge miniature railway
about 100 yards (90 m) in length. Steam or hauled. Operates weekends
and bank holidays, late March to November. A small admission charge to
the Museum is payable in addition to the train fare.
- Exbury Steam Railway
- Exbury Gardens, near Southampton. 12¼ inch (311 mm) gauge railway
about 1¼ miles (2 km) in length. Steam hauled. Admission fee to the
Gardens is payable in addition to train fare.
- Fancott
Miniature Railway
- The Fancott pub, Toddington, near
Dunstable. 7¼ in (184 mm) gauge railway about 585 yards (535 m) in
length. Diesel, petrol or battery electric hauled. Operates
weekends, Bank Holidays, and Wednesdays during school holidays,
also various days in December.
- Faversham Miniature Railway
- Brogdale Farm, near Faversham.
9 inch (229 mm) gauge railway about 900 yards (810 m) in length.
Diesel hauled. Operates Sundays, Bank Holiday Mondays, and for
special events, March to November.
- Fawley Hill
Railway
- privately owned railway that may be visited by members of the public
by prior arrangement on occasional Open Days, or hired for events.
Standard gauge, a little over ½ mile (800 m) in length, steeply graded.
Steam hauled.
- Folkestone
Leas Lift
- Cliff railway connecting Marine Parade and The Leas. Out of
service since 2017, planned reopening 2026.
- Frimley Lodge
Miniature Railway
- Frimley Lodge Park, Frimley Green, near Farnborough. 3½ / 5
/ 7¼ in (89 / 127 / 184 mm) gauge railway about 1100 yards (1 km)
in length. Steam or diesel hauled. Club railway open to the public
typically 1 or 2 Sundays each month and a few other days, March
to December.
- Great Bush
Railway
- Hadlow Down (near Buxted). Private railway in Tinkers Park, open to
the public typically 5 days each year. About ¼ mile (0.4 km), 2 ft
(610 mm) gauge. Steam and diesel hauled.
- Great
Cockcrow Railway
- Lyne (near Chertsey). 7¼ in (184 mm) gauge miniature railway with
lines totalling over 1 mile (1.8 km) in length. Usually steam Hauled.
Operates Sundays, May to October.
- Hampton
Kempton Waterworks Railway
- Kempton, near the Steam Museum. 2 ft (610 mm) gauge line about 300 yards
(275 m) in length; extensions proposed totalling over 1½ miles (2.4 km).
Usually diesel hauled, steam hauled for special events. Operates Sundays and
some Saturdays, March to October.
- Hastings Cliff Railways
-
- East Hill Cliff Railway
- from Rock-a-Nore Road to Hastings Country Park. The higher of
the two lifts, with a rise of 208 feet (63 m), it has the distinction
of being the steepest cliff railway in the UK, the gradient being
1 in 1.28 (78%). Operates daily throughout the year, except Christmas
Day and Boxing Day.
- West Hill Cliff Railway
- from George Street. Operates daily, April to September.
- Hastings Miniature Railway
- Rock-a-Nore to Marine Parade, about 600 yards (540 m).
10¼ in (260 mm) gauge, steam or diesel hauled. No details of
operating dates given on website.
- Hayling Light Railway
- Hayling Island. Beachlands to Eastoke Corner: a little over
1 mile (1.8 km). 2 ft (610 mm) gauge. Diesel hauled. Operates
weekends and Wednesdays throughout the year, daily during
school holidays.
- Hollycombe Steam in the Country
- Liphook. 2 ft (610 mm) gauge railway about 1½ miles (2.4 km)
in length, and a 7¼ in (184 mm) gauge miniature railway, about 400
yards (365 m) in length. Both usually steam hauled. Admission
fee to the Museum Park is payable. Operates Sundays, May to mid
October, and various weekdays during August.
- Hotham Park Miniature Railway
- Hotham Park, Bognor Regis. Line about 900 yards (820 m)
in length. 12¼ in (311 mm) gauge, diesel locomotives, one of which is steam outline.
Operates weekends and school holidays, April to October and in December.
- Hythe Pier
Railway
- Hythe Promenade to Pier Head, about 700 yards (640 m). 2 ft
(610 mm) gauge, electric hauled. Advertised as “the oldest pier
railway in the world.” Operates daily. Ferry tickets to/from
Southampton include train fare, tickets for train only may be
purchased separately but trains only run when a ferry is due.
- Isle
of Wight Steam Railway
- Isle of Wight, Wootton to Smallbrook Junction (South Western
Railway station), 4¾ miles (7.6 km). Possible future extension
to Ryde St Johns Road, parallel to the South Western Railway
Island Line, a further 1 mile (1.6 km). Standard gauge. Usually
steam hauled. Operates most days, May to early November.
- Jocks Lane Miniature Railway
- Jocks Lane Recreation Ground, Bracknell. Miniature railway about
400 yards (350 m) in length. Steam or battery electric hauled.
Operates Sundays and bank holiday Mondays, April to October.
- Kent & East
Sussex Railway
- Tenterden to Bodiam: 10 miles (16 km). Standard gauge. Steam hauled.
Dining trains operate at certain times. Operates 5 to 7 days each week,
May to October, and a few days in December.
- Lavender
Line
- Isfield (near Uckfield) to Worth Halt: ¾ mile (1.2 km).
Standard gauge. Steam or diesel hauled, diesel railcar or railbus.
There is also a miniature railway at Isfield. Operates Sundays and
Bank Holidays, mid-April to September.
- Legoland Windsor
- theme park has 2 railways. Admission fee to the park is payable.
Open daily, mid May to early November.
- Littlehampton Miniature Railway
- Mewsbrook Park, Littlehampton, to the sea front, about 800 yards
(730 m) in length. 12¼ in (311 mm) gauge, usually diesel hauled, steam
hauled for special events. Operates weekends, Bank Holidays, and most
days during school holidays, April to October, weather permitting.
- Maidstone MES
- Mote Park, Maidstone. 3½ / 5 in (89 / 127 mm) gauge, ride
astride; usually steam hauled. Club railway open to the public
Sundays and Bank Holiday Mondays, late March to October.
- Malden
& District Society of Model Engineers
- Thames Ditton. Two miniature railways: a 7¼ in
(184 mm) gauge line about 550 yards (503 m) in length, and a 3½
in (89 mm) gauge line about 500 yards (457 m) in length. Steam and
diesel hauled. Club railway open to the public typically one or
two days each month during the summer.
- Mizens Railway
- Woking. 7¼ in (184 mm) gauge miniature railway with two circuits
totalling nearly 1 mile (1.5 km) in length. Steam or diesel hauled.
Operates Sundays, April to September, Wednesdays in August, and a
few days in December.
- Moors Valley Railway
- Although this line has a Hampshire postal address, it is actually
located in Dorset. Please see Tourist and
Enthusiast Railways - South West
- Old Kiln Light Railway
- at the Rural Life Living Museum,
Tilford (near Farnham). Reeds Road to Mills Wood, about 600 yards (550 m).
2 ft (610 mm) gauge. Steam and diesel hauled. An admission fee to the
Museum is payable in addition to the train fare. Operates weekends
and various other days, mid February to early November.
- Paradise Park Miniature Railway
- Paradise Park, Newhaven. Line about 200 yards (180 m) in length.
7¼ in (184 mm) gauge, diesel hauled. An admission fee to the Park
is payable in addition to the train fare. Open daily throughout
the year, except Christmas Day and Boxing Day.
- Pinewood
Miniature Railway
- Pinewood Leisure Centre, Wokingham. Dual gauge (5 in / 127 mm
and 7¼ in / 184 mm) miniature railway almost ½ mile (0.8 km) in length.
Steam, diesel and battery electric hauled. Club railway open to the public
typically one Sunday each month, March to October.
- Polegate Oaks
Miniature Railway
- William Daly Recreation Ground, Polegate. 3½ in (89 mm) and
5 in (127 mm) ride astride miniature railway. Steam or diesel hauled.
Club railway open to the public Sundays, May to October.
- Professor Blasts’s Expedition Express
- Paultons Park, near Romsey. 15 inch (381 mm) gauge miniature
railway about 700 yards (640 m) in length. Diesel hauled, steam
outline locomotive. Admission fee to the Park is payable. Operates
most days when the park is open.
- Prospect Park Railway
- Prospect Park, Reading. 5 in (127 mm) and 7¼ in (184 mm) gauge
miniature railway about ¼ mile (400 m) in length. Steam and diesel
hauled. Club railway open to the public typically one Sunday each
month, or by private charter.
- Richmond Light Railway
- Hawkenbury, near Headcorn. 2 ft (610 mm) gauge railway, about
730 yards (670 m) in length. Steam or diesel hauled. Private railway
open to the public one or two days each year, advance booking required.
- Romney, Hythe
& Dymchurch Railway
- Hythe to Dungeness (Romney Marsh): 13½ miles (21.7 km). 15 in
(381 mm) gauge. Steam and diesel hauled. Operates daily, Easter
to October, weekends during November, and a few other days.
- Rother Valley
Railway
- Planned extension of the Kent & East Sussex Railway from
Bodiam to Robertsbridge Junction, near Robertsbridge Southeastern
Railway station: 3½ miles (5.6 km). Standard gauge.
- Royal Gunpowder Mills
- Waltham Abbey. 2ft 6in (762 mm) gauge railway about 1100 yards
(1 km) in length. Diesel hauled using former industrial equipment.
Admission fee to the Museum is payable, advance booking advised.
Open Sundays and some Bank Holidays, Easter to October.
- Royal Victoria Railway
- Royal Victoria Country Park, Netley (near Southampton): 10¼ in
(260 mm) gauge miniature railway about 1 mile (1.6 km) in length.
Steam and diesel hauled. Open weekends and many weekdays throughout
the year.
- Sittingbourne &
Kemsley Light Railway
- Viaduct station, Sittingbourne to Kemsley Down: 1½ miles (2.6 km).
The railway originally served an adjacent paper mill. 2 ft 6 in
(762 mm) gauge. Steam hauled. Operates Sundays, April to October, and
various other days.
- South Downs Light Railway
- Pulborough Garden Centre. Line about 1100 yards (1000 m) in length.
10¼ in (260 mm) gauge. Steam and diesel hauled. Operates weekends,
Bank Holidays, and Wednesdays during school holidays, March to
September, also a few days in December.
- Spa
Valley Railway
- Eridge (Southern station) to Tunbridge Wells West: 5 miles (8 km).
Standard gauge. Steam and diesel hauled. Operates weekends and various
other days, mid May to October.
- Stansted Park Light Railway
- adjacent to Stansted Park Garden Centre, near Rowlands Castle.
Line about 850 yards (780 m) in length. 7¼ in (184 mm)
gauge. Steam and petrol hauled. Operates Wednesdays and Saturdays
throughout the year.
- Strand Miniature Railway
- The Strand, Gillingham. Line about 400 yards (360 m)
in length. 7¼ in (184 mm) gauge. Diesel hauled
(Website contains little information relating to railway)
- Sutton Hall Railway
- Tabors Farm, near Rochford. Miniature railway about 1 mile
(1.6 km) in length. Steam or diesel hauled. Operates typically
one Sunday each month and a few other days.
- Swanley
New Barn Railway
- Swanley Park, Swanley: 7¼ in (184 mm) gauge miniature railway a
little over ½ mile (0.9 km) in length. Steam and diesel hauled.
Operates weekends and school holidays, mid April to October.
- Thames Ditton
Miniature Railway
- in Thames Ditton. 7¼ in (184 mm) gauge miniature railway about
600 yards (550 m) in length. Usually steam hauled, with locomotives
modelled on narrow gauge prototypes. Club railway open to the public
typically one Sunday each month and Bank Holidays from Easter to
October.
- Tonbridge MES
- The Slade, Tonbridge. Line about 580 yards (535 m) in length,
3½ / 5 in (89 / 127 mm) gauge, ride astride; usually steam hauled.
Club railway open to the public weekends during the summer.
- Volk’s Electric Railway
- Brighton. Pioneering electric railway still operating after over
100 years along 1 mile (1.6 km) of seafront. 2ft 8½in (825mm) gauge.
Operates daily, April to September, weather permitting.
- Watercress Line
- Alton to Alresford: 10 miles (16 km). Standard gauge. Steam and
diesel hauled. Dining trains operate at certain times. Operates
weekends and most weekdays, May to October. There is also
a miniature railway (200 yards / 180m, 10¼ in / 260 mm gauge, diesel
or petrol hauled) at Ropley station.
- Wellington Country Park Miniature Railway
- Riseley, near Hackfield. Line about 500 yards (450 m) in length.
12¼ in (311 mm) gauge. Diesel or battery electric hauled. Admission
fee to the park is payable in addition to train fare. Open
daily, late February to early November.
- Wotton Light Railway
- Wotton Underwood. 15 in (381 mm) gauge railway about 1 mile
(1.6 km) in length in the grounds of Wotton House. Usually steam
hauled. Private railway infrequently open to the public by
prior arrangement (No website located at present)
© 2000-2026 Glyn Williams
Photo image by Derek Hayward, Bluebell Railway