Owners of the Gartell Light Railway John and Christine Gartell and also their family and friends who operate the railway on open days, all look forward to welcoming you to the narrow gauge Gartell Light Railway (GLR). The GLR opened its doors to the public in 1991 and from its humble beginnings has steadily expanded its operations to become a popular Somerset tourist attraction. Step back in time to a more leisurely age and ride through the beautiful Blackmore Vale countryside along the route of the old Somerset & Dorset Railway - sadly closed to 'main line' trains in 1966. Our delightful trains are operated in exactly the same way as their full-size counterparts, with every train movement safely governed by an interesting array of semaphore and colour-light signals controlled by the signalmen in two signal boxes. It is therefore no exaggeration to say that the Gartell Light Railway is a working museum of traditional railway practice with its steam engines, signal boxes and 'old fashioned' signals!

The Garw Valley, located in Bridgend County, is in the centre of the South Wales coalfields. The opening of the Garw railway line in the 1870s made the valley’s huge coal reserves accessible and facilitated the development of the Valley. Originally a passenger and freight line, it was closed to passenger traffic in 1953 but continued to be used by coal trains until the mid-1990s. The Garw Valley Railway are working to rebuild the line from Pontycymer to Brynmenyn, conserving the industrial heritage of the South Wales Valleys.

The railway has been built to the Irish narrow gauge of three feet (0.915m) and runs for two miles along the trackbed of the former Giant’s Causeway Tram line.

Enjoy a Heritage steam & diesel Railway in the spectacular scenic Cotswolds. The Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway is a volunteer operated heritage railway in Gloucestershire and Worcestershire offering a round trip of 28 miles. It uses part of the route of the former Great Western Railway's main line from Birmingham to Cheltenham, which used to run via Stratford-upon-Avon. It now operates steam and heritage diesel trains between Cheltenham Racecourse and Broadway, through some of the most spectacular scenery in the Cotswolds. The line commands wonderful views of the nearby sleepy hamlets and villages, with outstanding outlooks across to the Malvern Hills and beyond.

We normally operate on selected mid-week dates; all weekends and Bank Holidays throughout the season from April to late October. The running line is almost a mile in length and operates as one of a number of attractions at the Midland Railway - Butterley, Nr Ripley, Derbyshire. Steam and diesel hauled trains run through the Country Park and terminate at Newlands Inn Station, which overlooks the disused Cromford Canal.

Trains run every weekend of the year, bank holidays and selected week days through the summer. In addition, First Class Restaurant Car Services provide five course meals whilst travelling between Loughborough and Leicester. Childhood dreams can come true with a Drive a Locomotive Experience when you can take the regulator on a mighty steam locomotive or notch up on a powerful diesel. We also run many special events, including Steam Galas, Peppa Pig, Bonfire Night, 1940s Wartime Weekend and Santa Specials.

Arriving at the railway, you will be able to buy your tickets at the Ticket Office. The Booking Clerk will be able to explain the routes to you and to advise about ticket options, queue lengths, waiting times and help you with any queries you may have. You have a choice of ticket options and routes, the Red route or the Green route. A double ticket can save you money so why not try both?

The railway's terminus is located at the Valley Gardens which was once the site of the Great Laxey Mine's Washing Floors. Passengers travel in a tiny carriage, hauled by a replica of one of the original steam engines, through the Island's only railway tunnel and along the line which once carried wagons loaded with the metal ores. At the Mines Yard terminus of the railway, a series of information boards explain the surviving mining features. The Laxey Wheel, the Lady Isabella, is just a short walk away from the terminus. Built in 1854 to pump floodwater from the mine, it is the largest working waterwheel in the world and is the Island's most visited tourist attraction. In 2006, the former Snaefell Mine waterwheel was restored to working order on the Valley Gardens. No other railway can boast of a waterwheel at each end!

The journey begins at Victoria Station, a short distance from Llandudno’s seaside and pier. Climb aboard one of our beautifully restored tramcars and start your ascent through the winding roads of the Great Orme.

Take a ride on one of our two impressive steam engines, Excelsior and Superior, as they weave their way through the territories of some of the world's most inspiring animals. Elephants, rhinos, camels and deer are just some of the mammals you can expect to see on your journey on The Great Whipsnade Railway. We will take you on a safari adventure you will never forget. Asked why people love the trains so much, driver and engineer Kevin Edwins said: “It’s the sheer magic of a steam-hauled railway. People love to hear the whistle and see the smoke - very few zoos have them.â€

Your journey trundles over the long bridge, playground to the left, duck pond to the right meandering through trees and shrubs and into the back straight, Onward over the level crossing, into a short bend then slowly entering Grosvenor Park station. The park is well known for wildlife especially the abundance of grey squirrels seen dancing playfully in and out of the trees. They regularly race the trains darting fearlessly back and forth across the track.

This unique line was built in 1896 by Richard Maltby Broadbent as part of the new Groudle Glen pleasure grounds. It ran as a tourist attraction until the early 1960’s when it fell into disrepair, and during the 1970’s the line was scrapped and the rolling stock sold. The line was saved from total extinction by a band of enthusiastic volunteers in 1982, reopening to passengers in 1986.

Beyond the locomotives, history and scenery, the railway's appeal lies in the friendliness and enthusiasm of the volunteers who maintain the railway and operate the services. They're justly proud of the part they play in recreating the golden age of steam and their love of the railway is infectious - they'll be happy to regale you with information and stories about Gwili and its historic locomotives.