Narrow Gauge Steam Railways round the World

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 you want a historical list of 30 inch (750/760/762mm) lines in the world check out http://www.pearcedale.com/c&b/thirty.html - this represents by far the most common gauge selected for construction. (Be aware that the site has not been updated since 2004 and many of the links appear dead.) Similarly for 24 inch or so (600/610mm) lines see http://members.shaw.ca/twofooter/ww2ftrr.htm. 

If your interest extends beyond steam, then the following sites will provide useful information along with that on steam:

• Steve Thomason's site on European Industrial narrow gauge railways - http://www.ingr.co.uk/index.html.
• The Narrow Gauge Railway Society - http://www.ngrs.org

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.

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:

3rd November 2007 USA updated.

1st September 2008 Mexico added

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

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.

South Africa

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.  The Apple Express out of Port Elizabeth (http://www.apple-express.co.za/) is normally steam hauled. 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.

Colombia

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.  

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)

Ferrocarril Interoceanico heritage railway & museum. Cuautla, Morelos - http://www.rinconestudiantil.com/morelosnatural/Webs/Turismo/Tren_escenico.htm. According to this site - 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 it´s 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, reknowned for its cecina (dried & salt cured meat)." Picture, I believe is by Sammy King, courtesy of Thomas Schultz.

Peru

There is a small museum operation on the Surco Park Railway in the suburbs of Lima.

Uruguay

The Indare narrow gauge museum has 27 steam locomotives but just one is operational.

USA (updated 3rd November 2007)

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 

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 

• East Broad Top Railroad, PA - http://www.ebtrr.com/
• 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)
• 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)
• Georgetown Loop Railroad, CO - http://www.georgetownlooprr.com/
• White Pass & Yukon Railroad, AK - http://www.whitepassrailroad.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
• 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/ 
•  

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 history.

China

Ten years ago, the country was opening up and visitors were discovering new lines. Now there are just four accessible remaining known working narrow gauge steam railways (there is at least one more which is off limits to visitors) - and the first 3 at least were not known when I first went to China in 1995:

Shibanxi (Sichuan),  Xingyang (Henan), Huanan (Heilongjiang)

For current information the best source is SY Country. 

I have been to them all several times, but in recent times only Shibanxi - the latest comprehensive report is on http://www.chinasteam.co.uk/trains/china244.htm. We even have a DVD of this fabulous railway - Shibanxi Heaven.   

Cook Islands

The Cook Islands are 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.

India

The famous Darjeeling Himalayan Railway now has its own official website http://www.dhr.in/. 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 has been diesel hauled at times but the last report I had (12th March 2007) said that it was currently rostered for steam.

The mountain railways Neral-Matheran and Kalka-Simla have steam locomotives which come out on special occasions...

The Tipong Colliery Railway in Upper Assam is a genuine working railway. You can read the report of my latest visit (February 2008) and our DVD covering it.

Indonesia

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 2008 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.

Myanmar

There are occasional private steam charters on the Burma Mines Railway - check out my own report of a 1999 visit.

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 Dermatogoda 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 

Australasia

Australia

See http://www.internationalsteam.co.uk/anz/ausop.htm and Association of Tourist and Heritage Rail Australia (ATHRA) - www.athra.asn.au.