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I have been a narrow gauge freak for over 30 years, back then, many countries
boasted working narrow gauge steam - by which I mean (by and large) railways
with a gauge of less than one metre, but which are not 'miniature' again it is
an arbitrary decision on my part. Now those countries with real narrow gauge
steam can be counted on the fingers of one hand and nowhere is it remotely
plentiful. So this page has to widen its scope to include operating museums and
railways which will organise charter trains for visiting groups etc. If you have
got to this page through search engines, please be aware that similar
information is available for those who are broader minded through my
main international steam pages. See also my museums
page which will include references to non-active steam.
As always, updates, additions and corrections will be very welcome.
If your interest extends beyond steam, then the following sites will provide
useful information along with that on steam:
This page covers non-European narrow
gauge steam railways, either scroll down the page or click on a
continent for a further menu - the European list is
now kept separately.
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If you are interested in narrow gauge
steam then check out
our ISV DVDs. These are
properly researched quality
documentary films with a story to tell.
'National Geographic Stuff' said one purchaser.
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I don't include gratuitous advertisements to commercial products, but I am
happy to make exceptions for
Narrow
Gauge World, a bi-monthly UK publication with a significant international
slant
Voie Etroite a bi-monthly
French publication with a significant international slant
Recent additions/updates of non-European countries
are given in chronological order. The European page incorporates the latest
updates in the Index.
These are the list of
updates:
October/November 2011 several USA updates
30th June 20011 USA updated (parallel Canada
link added).
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Africa
Narrow gauge railways were never common here, of those not
mentioned which survived into the late 20th century, the public railways and
industrial systems in Mocambique and Angola merit mention and relics of the
Sierra Leone narrow gauge are covered in my museums' page.
Eritrea
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This did threaten to become the steam story of the 90's with long stored Mallets being
put back into service on the rehabilitated 950mm gauge railway between the port
of Massawa and the mountain top capital of Asmara, with its spectacular
operation, it just took a little
longer than originally hoped. If you need convincing of the photographic rewards of joining one of
the regular tours here, then you can check my own report on the 'Darjeeling of Africa'
dating from late 2002.
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South Africa
(updated 24th June 2011)
There are a number of preserved operations of which
Sandstone (http://www.sandstone-estates.com/)
is the most notable as there is a more than an element of reality about the
trains they run at harvest time. However, it has been announced that the
running lines will close and be disposed of. The Apple Express out of Port
Elizabeth (http://www.apple-express.co.za/)
was normally steam hauled until the service was suspended with effect from
1st January 2011 and it seems unlikely it will restart - the stock will need
rescuing soon. The Patons
Country Narrow Gauge Railway runs between Ixopo and Carisbrooke. The last I heard was that these operators were
still hoping to restart the Alfred County Railway Banana Express which
having been in limbo following financial
difficulties was operated by them for some time, but was apparently closed down by Spoornet in
April 2006...
Americas
One of my favourite steam travel books is 'World of South
American Steam' which lists many, many places which are now just history. It
may be that there are other working 'preserved sites' in, say, Argentina and
Brazil which I am not aware of.
Argentina
The Patagonian Esquel railway operation is still a classic, even in days of
preservation. La Trochita's own website is www.latrochita.org.ar
and contact email latrochita@epuyen.net.ar.
Ferrocaril
Austral Feugo - El Tren del Fin del Mundo (AR) is 500mm gauge, miniature
or narrow gauge? See also the Americas
section of this site.
Brazil
The operational narrow gauge railway and museum at São João d'El Rey in West
Minas is very special - see http://www.revistaferroviaria.com.br/memoriaferroviaria/materia3P.htm.
Canada (added
30th June 2011)
The 3ft gauge White Pass & Yukon Railroad - http://www.whitepassrailroad.com/
is an international operation across the USA/Canada border. Its operation is
covered in some detail in James Waite's extended
report including chartered specials in June 2011 (30th June 2011)
Colombia (updated
16th December 2011)
This barely counts as a narrow gauge railway in my book at three foot and
large scale operation. There are occasional public and private steam specials - see
the Americas
section of this site. James Waite spent
a long weekend here in December 2011, he thoroughly recommends the railway
and its steam operation (16th December 2011).
Cuba
Until a few years ago, real narrow gauge steam was one of the great
features of the annual sugar harvest (the 'Zafra'). Now it has finished, there
are a few museum mills which may run the odd tourist train, operation is a bit
hit and miss, see the Americas
section of this site.
Mexico
(added 1st September 2008)
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Ferrocarril Interoceanico heritage railway & museum.
Cuautla, Morelos -
http://www.rinconestudiantil.com/morelosnatural/Webs/Turismo/Tren_escenico.htm.
According to this website - http://www.surf-mexico.com/states/Morelos/Cuautla/index.php
- there seems to be an active operational site here:
"Railroad Station - Inaugurated in 1881, the station now houses narrow gauge Steam Engine No. 279, built by Baldwin Locomotive Works out of Philadelphia and originally put into service in 1904. The train made
its last run in October of 1973, the day before the new wide gauge tracks were put into function. The engine and cars were later donated to the Municipality, who now runs them on a still-functioning, short, narrow gauge track that runs between Cuautla and the town of
Yecapixtla, renowned for its cecina (dried & salt cured meat)."
Picture, I believe is by Sammy King, courtesy of Thomas Schultz.
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Peru
Uruguay
The Indare
narrow gauge museum has 27 steam locomotives but just one is operational.
USA (updated
1st November 2011)
This site lists all known operational steam locomotives - http://www.steamlocomotive.com/cgi-bin/search.cgi?operational
This site lists all known tourist operations - http://www.railserve.com/Tourist/North_America/
This site is devoted to the world of the 2ft narrow gauge railway
especially in New England but not much is steam - www.thetwofooters.com,
see also James Waite's visit to Maine in
October 2011 (1st November 2011).
Using the above, I have tried to eliminate 'theme parks' for the most part
(Dollywood,
anybody?). Beware also of replicas...
Three Foot (and Three Foot Six Inch = %%) Railways
- Tanana Valley Railroad - http://www.fairnet.org/agencies/tvrr/tvrr.html
- probably the most northerly active steam loco in the world, see James
Waite's 2011 report (14th July 2011)
- White Pass & Yukon Railroad, AK - http://www.whitepassrailroad.com/
This operation is covered in some detail in James
Waite's extended report including chartered specials in June 2011
(30th June 2011)
- East Broad Top Railroad, PA - http://www.ebtrr.com/,
see also James Waite's report of a September 2011 visit
(13th October 2011)
- Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad, NM - http://www.cumbresandtoltec.com/
- see also Trevor Heath's visit http://www.trevorheath.com/livesteaming/chama.htm
(added 3rd November 2007) and James Waite's report of a September 2011 visit
(20th October 2011)
- Durango & Silverton, CO - http://www.durangotrain.com/
and http://www.durangorailway.com
- see also Trevor Heath's visits http://www.trevorheath.com/livesteaming/chama.htm
and http://www.trevorheath.com/livesteaming/Durango.htm
(added 3rd November 2007),
see also James Waite's report of a September 2011 visit
(20th October 2011)
- Georgetown Loop Railroad, CO - http://www.georgetownlooprr.com/
- Sumpter Valley Railway, OR - http://www.svry.com/
- Roaring Camp and Big Trees Narrow Gauge Railroad, CA - http://www.roaringcamprr.com/steam.html
- Yosemite Mt. Sugar Pine RR, CA - http://www.ymsprr.com/
- Colorado Railroad Museum, CO - http://www.crrm.org/
- Connecticut Antique Machinery Association, CT - http://www.ctamachinery.com/
- Midwest Central Railroad, IA - http://www.mcrr.org/
- Huckleberry Railroad, MI - http://www.jonra.com/village/train.shtml,
also http://www.geneseecountyparks.org/pages/huckleberry
(second link added 8th August 2011)
- Lake Linden & Torch Lake RR, MI - http://www.houghtonhistory.org/
- Kings Island, OH - http://www.pki.com/
- Cedar Point & Lake Erie Railroad, OH - http://www.cplerr.com/
- Historic Jefferson Railway, TX - http://www.jeffersonrailway.com/
- LaPorte Co Historical Steam Society, IN - http://www.hesston.org/
- Pioneer Park, Fairbanks, AK (Tanana Valley Railroad #1) http://www.ftvrr.org/
and http://www.co.fairbanks.ak.us/ParksandRecreation/PioneerPark/
- Oahu Railway, HI (not yet operational) http://www.hawaiianrailway.com/
- Poway Midland RR, CA - http://www.powaymidlandrr.org/
- Pioneer Coal Mine Tunnel, (%%) PA - http://www.pioneertunnel.com
Other Narrow Gauges
- Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad, ME - http://www.mngrr.org/
- Wiscasset, Waterville, and Farmington Railway, ME - http://www.wwfry.org/
- Bucksgahuda & Western’s Railroad, PA - http://www.bnwrr.com
- Cripple Creek & Victor Narrow Gauge RR - http://www.cripplecreekrailroad.com/
- Foster Brook and State Line Railroad, Bradford, PA has a 2ft Shay (no
known website)
- California State Railroad Museum, CA - http://www.csrmf.org/
- Grove Farm Museum, Kauai, HI - Try http://www.kauaiplantationrailway.com/rrhist.htm
and http://www.hsengco.com/trains/
- see also Trevor Heath's visit http://www.trevorheath.com/livesteaming/kauai.htm
- Boothbay Railway Village, ME - http://www.railwayvillage.org/
- Northfield & Cannon Vy, MN - http://www.steamlocomotive.com/mnsteam/
- Alder Gulch Shortline, MT - http://www.virginiacitymt.com/AlderGulch.asp
- Rock River & Thresheree Park RR, WI - http://www.thresheree.org/
Barely Narrow Gauge
Asia
Asia (particularly the sub-continent) epitomises narrow gauge
steam for me, it was love at first sight in India in 1976. Alas, as everywhere,
most of it is history.
China
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Ten years ago, the country was opening up and visitors were discovering
new lines, almost as fast as known ones were closing. Now there is just one accessible remaining known working narrow gauge
steam railways (there is at least one more which is off limits to visitors).
For our reports click below, the later ones are updates and rely on the
earlier ones for basic information:
We even have two DVDs of this fabulous railway - Shibanxi
Heaven (2004-07) and Shibanxi Gold
(2008-2011). For current information the best source is SY Country.
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Cook Islands
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The Cook Islands was an unlikely site for a new steam enterprise in the 21st
century, a former Polish narrow gauge loco in exile - see the
Asia East page on this site.
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India
The famous Darjeeling Himalayan Railway now has its own official website http://www.dhr.in/,
but it's rarely if ever updated.
It is (was?) one of
the great steam narrow gauge railways of the world until, having acquired
World Heritage status, Indian Railways promptly dieselised the main services
in 2000 although steam has continued to put ever more rare appearances since
then. The so-called 'school train' from Kurseong to Darjeeling (vice
versa in recent years) is sometimes diesel
hauled but may be rostered for steam. Watch out for the effects of monsoon
landslides which have kept the railway closed for long periods in recent
years. See my Asia (West) page for
up-to-date information.
The mountain railways Neral-Matheran and Kalka-Simla have steam locomotives
which come out on special occasions...
Indonesia
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The sugar mills of Java (in season, roughly June to September) now
represent the greatest concentration (about 50) of working narrow gauge steam
locomotives in the world. What is left is but a pale shadow of activity 20
years ago but is still very special in my book. For the latest information on
the scene, Check out the
Java 2011 reports. And if you can't get there, why not consider buying a
copy of Sweet
Spot - the story of the steamiest sugar mill in Java.
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Myanmar
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There are occasional private steam charters on the Burma Mines Railway -
check out my own report of a
1999 visit.
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Nepal
There are very occasional private steam charters on the Janakpur Railway.
Pakistan
The Changa Manga Forest Railway still uses steam - click here for the most
recent report, confirmed operational again by Aya Kakuma and Chris Jeffery
in February 2006.
Philippines
One or two steam locomotives are held in reserve at Hawaiian-Philippine
and La Carlota on Negros island - see the Asia
East page on this site..
Sri Lanka
The narrow gauge out of Colombo is defunct but I believe the steam railcar
and one of the 4-6-4T are still steamable for visitors to Dematogoda shed.
Taiwan
Hsin-Ying Sugar Factory has repaired 762mm gauge Tubize 370 to run tourist trains on the
Wu-Shu-Lin Sugar mill system and now 46 at Hsi-Hu sugar mill is also under
overhaul. These days at least 2 Shays at Alishan are 'runners' but no
doubt only on special occasions. This information is believed accurate in
August 2007, read my Taiwan summary page
summary page for possible updates
See also http://www.taiwanrailways.com/
for a comprehensive set of maps and pictures of the 'modern' narrow gauge
scene.
Australasia
Australia
See anz/ausop.htm
and Association
of Tourist and Heritage Rail Australia (ATHRA) - www.athra.asn.au.
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