Page 3 - Notes of Explanation

The railway preservation movement in the UK started in the early 1950's when a group of railway enthusiuasts took over the family run narrow gauge Talyllyn Railway in Mid Wales and saved it from closure. This development was soon followed (in 1954) by the takeover and reopening of the Ffestiniog Railway at Portmadog, North Wales which had ceaseds operations in 1946. Some time later the standard gauge Bluebell Railway in Sussex was purchased from British Railways and reopened in 1959 using former BR steam locomotives. At the same time the Middleton Railway in Leeds (a former Industrial line) was also reopened using steam locomotives rescued from industrial sources.

Heritage Railways also benefited from the closure of many branch lines due to the infamous 'Beeching Axe' of the mid 1960's and the demise of the steam locomotive as motive power on BR. Many groups up and down the length of the UK were formed to both reopen closed railways and also rescue unwanted steam locomotives which otherwise would have ended up as scrap metal. Over 400 former BR steam locomotives have now been preserved and many have been refurbished and can be seen on the numerous Heritage Railways and Steam Centres which are featured in this Website.

The Narrow Gauge Railways in the UK are mainly located in Wales (many serving former slate Quarries) but a few were located in England and these closed in the mid 1930's. However, one line, the famous Lynton & Barnstaple Railway, has now been reborn and is gradually being extended and hopefully one day will reach both Lynton and Barnstaple.

A number of Steam Railway Centres have opened which are located on the sites of former BR Motive Power Depots (such as Didcot, Tyseley, Barrowhill, etc.) and former Industrial Locations (such as Chatham Dockyard, Foxfield & Middleton Railways, etc.).