Heritage railways · West Midlands
Heritage railways grand tour
Twelve preserved steam lines across England, Wales and Scotland.
Britain pioneered steam railway preservation in the 1950s — the world's first preserved standard-gauge line opened on the Talyllyn in Wales in 1951. Today, 150 heritage lines run scheduled steam, more than any other country. We've picked twelve worth a special trip, ranging from the world-famous (the Jacobite over the Glenfinnan viaduct) to the eccentric (the Romney, Hythe & Dymchurch miniature).
Places in this guide
★ Iconic📷 5Heritage railways · West Midlands
Severn Valley Railway
16-mile preserved steam railway from Kidderminster to Bridgnorth, since 1970.
★ Iconic📷 3Heritage railways · North West England
Settle to Carlisle Railway
England's most spectacular main-line railway, across the Yorkshire Dales since 1876.
📷 5Islands · Central Scotland
West Highland Line
West Highland Line in Scotland Islands, United Kingdom.
★ Iconic📷 3Heritage railways · Scottish Highlands
Jacobite Steam Train
Fort William to Mallaig steam train across the Glenfinnan Viaduct — the Harry Potter route.
★ Iconic📷 5Heritage railways · North Wales
Ffestiniog Railway
World's oldest narrow-gauge passenger railway (1832) — Snowdonia, double-Fairlie locos.
📷 5Historic bridges · South East England
Bluebell Railway
Bluebell Railway is a historic bridge in the United Kingdom.
Flagship📷 10Heritage railways · South East England
Mid-Hants Railway (Watercress Line)
Hampshire's 10-mile preserved steam railway, named for the watercress beds.
📷 3Heritage railways · Yorkshire & the Humber
North Yorkshire Moors Railway
North Yorkshire Moors Railway is a heritage railway in the United Kingdom.
📷 3Heritage railways · North Wales
Snowdon Mountain Railway
Snowdon Mountain Railway is a heritage railway in the United Kingdom.