Editing Heritage railway (section)

== By country ==
[[File:Talyllyn Railway N°2 Dolgoch.jpg|thumb|The Talyllyn Railway]]
The first heritage railway to be rescued and run entirely by volunteers was the [[Talyllyn Railway]] in [[Wales]]. This [[narrow-gauge]] line, taken over by a group of enthusiasts in 1950, was the beginning of the preservation movement worldwide.

=== Argentina ===
[[Image:Tren a las nubes cruzando Viaducto la Polvorilla.jpg|thumb|alt=Orange, yellow and white train crossing a ravine|[[Tren a las Nubes]] (Train to the Clouds) crossing the Polvorilla viaduct in [[Salta Province]]]]
[[La Trochita]] (officially Viejo Expreso Patagónico, the Old Patagonian Express) was declared a [[List of National Historic Monuments of Argentina|National Historic Monument]] by the [[Government of Argentina]] in 1999.<ref>[http://www.clarin.com/diario/1999/04/23/e-03901d.htm 'El Kavanagh, entre los protegidos'] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091202074246/http://www.clarin.com/diario/1999/04/23/e-03901d.htm |date=2009-12-02 }}, [[Clarín (Argentine newspaper)|''Clarín'']], 1999-04-23 (Spanish)</ref> Trains on the [[Patagonia]]n {{Track gauge|750mm|lk=on}} [[narrow-gauge railway]] use steam locomotives. The {{convert|402|km|mi|adj=mid|-long}} railway runs through the foothills of the [[Andes]] between [[Esquel]] and [[El Maitén]] in [[Chubut Province]] and [[Ingeniero Jacobacci]] in [[Río Negro Province]].

In southern Argentina, the [[Train of the End of the World]] to the [[Tierra del Fuego Province (Argentina)|Tierra del Fuego]] National Park is considered the world's southernmost functioning railway. Heritage railway operations started in 1994, after restoration of the old {{Track gauge|500mm|lk=on}} (narrow-gauge) [[steam locomotive|steam railway]].

In [[Salta Province]] in northeastern Argentina, the [[Tren a las Nubes]] (Train to the Clouds) runs along {{convert|220|km|mi|abbr=on}} of {{Track gauge|1000mm|allk=on}} track in what is one of the [[List of highest railways in the world|highest railways in the world]]. The line has 29 bridges, 21 tunnels, 13 viaducts, two [[Spiral (railway)|spirals]] and two [[Zig zag (railway)|zigzags]], and its highest point is {{convert|4,220|m}} above sea level.

In the [[Misiones Province]], more precisely in the Iguazú National Park, is the Ecological Train of the Forest. With a speed below 20&nbsp;km per hour to avoid interfering with wildlife and the formations are propelled to [[liquefied petroleum gas]] (LPG), a non-polluting fuel.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://iguazuargentina.com/es/atractivos/tren-ecologico-de-la-selva |title=Iguazu Argentina |access-date=2020-02-23 |archive-date=2020-02-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200223034438/https://iguazuargentina.com/es/atractivos/tren-ecologico-de-la-selva |url-status=dead }}</ref>

The [[Villa Elisa Historic Train]] (operated by Ferroclub Central Entrerriano) runs steam trains between the cities of [[Villa Elisa, Entre Ríos|Villa Elisa]] and [[Caseros, Entre Ríos|Caseros]] in [[Entre Ríos Province]], covering {{convert|36|km|mi|abbr=on}}<ref>[http://www.girasolhosteria.com.ar/tren-historico-de-villa-elisa.php Tren turístico de Villa Elisa] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150606204007/http://www.girasolhosteria.com.ar/tren-historico-de-villa-elisa.php|date=2015-06-06}} on Girasol Hostería</ref> in 120 minutes.<ref>[http://www.clarin.com/todoviajes/Trenes-turisticos_0_1363063685.html "15 trenes turísticos de la Argentina"], ''Clarín'', 24 May 2015</ref>

=== Australia ===
{{Main|List of heritage railways in Australia}}
[[File:Puffing Billy (3708462529).jpg|thumb|[[Puffing Billy Railway]] bridge]]
The world's second preserved railway, and the first outside the United Kingdom, was Australia's [[Puffing Billy Railway]]. This railway operates on {{convert|15|mi|km}} of track, with much of its original rolling stock built as early as 1898. Just about over half of Australia's heritage lines are operated by narrow gauge tank engines, much like the narrow gauge lines of the United Kingdom.

=== Austria ===
The [[Höllental Railway (Lower Austria)|Höllental Railway]] is a {{convert|4.9|km|mi|adj=mid|-long}}, {{RailGauge|760mm}} narrow-gauge ([[Bosnian-gauge railways|Bosnian gauge]]) railway, operating in [[Lower Austria]]. It runs on summer weekends, connecting [[Reichenau an der Rax]] to the nearby [[Höllental (Lower Austria)|Höllental]].

=== Belgium ===
[[Flanders]], Belgium's northern Dutch-speaking region, has the [[Dendermonde–Puurs Steam Railway]]; whereas [[Wallonia]], with its strong history of 19th century heavy industries, has the [[Chemin de fer à vapeur des Trois Vallées]] and PFT operates the [[Patrimoine Ferroviaire et Tourisme#Chemin de fer du Bocq|Chemin de Fer du Bocq]].

=== Canada ===
==== Railways ====
{{Further|List of heritage railways in Canada}}

==== Tramways ====
[[File:HCRY-Peter-Witt-TTC-2984.jpg|thumb|Peter Witt streetcar at the [[Halton County Radial Railway]]]]
Heritage streetcar lines:
* [[Vancouver Downtown Historic Railway|Downtown Historic Railway]], in [[Vancouver|Vancouver, B.C]]. Replaced temporarily by the Olympic Line during the [[2010 Winter Olympics|2010 Vancouver Olympics]], abandoned in 2012.
* [[Nelson Electric Tramway]], in [[Nelson, British Columbia|Nelson, B.C.]]: two streetcars – Car 400 (formerly [[British Columbia Electric Railway|BCER]], owned by the [[Royal British Columbia Museum|Royal BC Museum]], operational since 1999)<ref>{{Cite web|title=Streetcar #400 {{!}} The Nelson Electric Tramway Society|url=https://www.nelsonstreetcar.org/photo-gallery/streetcar-400/|access-date=2021-01-22|language=en-US}}</ref> and Car 23 (operational since 1992)<ref>{{Cite web|title=Streetcar #23 {{!}} The Nelson Electric Tramway Society|url=https://www.nelsonstreetcar.org/photo-gallery/streetcar-23/|access-date=2021-01-22|language=en-US}}</ref> operate on a 1.2&nbsp;km route from City wharf to Lakeside Park.
* [[High Level Bridge Streetcar]], in [[Edmonton, Alberta]].
* [[Whitehorse trolley]], in [[Whitehorse, Yukon]]. Closed in 2019, re-opened in 2024.
Museums with operational heritage streetcar lines:
* [[Halton County Radial Railway]], in [[Rockwood, Ontario]]
* [[Canadian Railway Museum]], in [[Delson, Quebec|Delson]]/[[Saint-Constant, Quebec]]
* [[Heritage Park Historical Village]], in [[Calgary, Alberta]]
* [[Fort Edmonton Park]] in [[Edmonton, Alberta]], operated by the Edmonton Radial Railway society along with the High Level Bridge Streetcar.

=== Finland ===
[[Image:Porvoon asema.jpg|thumb|alt=Blue-and-yellow railbus at a rural station|Preserved [[railbus]] at the [[Porvoo]] railway station]]
On the Finnish state-owned [[Rail transport in Finland|rail network]], the section between Olli and [[Porvoo]] is a dedicated museum line. In southern [[Finland]], it is the only line with many structural details abandoned by the rest of the network which regularly carries passenger traffic. Wooden [[Railroad tie|sleepers]], gravel ballast and low [[Rail profile#Rail weights and size|rail weight]] with no [[overhead catenary]] make it uniquely historical.<ref>http://www2.liikennevirasto.fi/julkaisut/pdf3/lv_2012-05_finnish_railway_web.pdf Finnish Railway Network Statement 2014</ref> Along the line, the Hinthaara railway station and the Porvoo railway station area are included in the National Board of Antiquities' inventory of cultural environments of national significance in Finland. Also on the list is scenery in the [[Porvoonjoki]] Valley, through which the line passes.<ref>http://www.rky.fi/read/asp/r_kohde_list.aspx  the National Board of Antiquities' inventory of built cultural environments of national significance in Finland. In Finnish</ref>

The [[Jokioinen Museum Railway]] is a stretch of preserved narrow-gauge railway between [[Humppila]] and [[Jokioinen]]. Nykarleby Järnväg is a stretch of rebuilt narrow-gauge railway on the bank of the old Kovjoki–[[Nykarleby]] line.<ref>http://nykarlebyjernvag.webs.com/inenglish.htm  the National Board of Antiquities' inventory of built cultural environments of national significance in Finland. In Finnish</ref>

=== Germany ===
[[File:Bahnhof Müncheberg (Mark), Bahnsteig Kleinbahn (2).JPG|thumb|right|The Buckower Kleinbahn at [[Müncheberg (Mark) station]].]]
The {{ill|Buckower Kleinbahn|de}} is a {{convert|4.9|km|mi|adj=on}} [[Branch line|spur line]] of the [[Prussian Eastern Railway]], located in the [[Märkische Schweiz Nature Park]] in [[Brandenburg]]. It was originally constructed in 1897 as a [[narrow-gauge railway]], with a gauge of {{track gauge|750mm|lk=on}}, connecting [[Buckow]] to the [[Müncheberg (Mark) station]]. This line was electrified and changed to [[Standard-gauge railway|standard gauge]] in 1930. It has operated as a heritage railway since 2002.

=== India ===
{{main|Mountain railways of India}}
[[File:DHR 780 on Batasia Loop 05-02-21 08.jpeg|thumb|alt=Blue narrow-gauge train at the edge of a drop|The [[Darjeeling Himalayan Railway]] in [[West Bengal]]]]
The [[Mountain railways of India]] are the railway lines that were built in the mountainous regions of [[India]]. The term mainly includes the [[narrow-gauge]] and [[metre-gauge]] railways in these regions but may also include some [[broad-gauge]] railways.

Of the Mountain railways of India, the [[Darjeeling Himalayan Railway|Darjeeling Himalayan]], [[Nilgiri Mountain Railway|Nilgiri Mountain]] and [[Kalka–Shimla Railway]]s have been collectively designated as a [[UNESCO]] [[World Heritage Site]].<ref name="unesco">{{Cite web|title=Mountain Railways of India|url=https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/944|access-date=2010-02-19|publisher=World Heritage:UNESCO}}</ref><ref name="Kholi">{{Cite book|last1=Kohli|first1=M.S.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GIs4zv17HHwC&q=mountain+railways+of+india&pg=PA97|title=Mountains of India: Tourism, Adventure, Pilgrimage|first2=Ashwani |last2=Lohani|quote=mountain railways of india Search|publisher=Indus Publishing|year=2004|isbn=81-7387-135-3|pages=97–106|access-date=2010-02-20 }}</ref><ref name="luxury">{{Cite web|title=Luxury Trains of India|url=http://www.touristplacesinindia.com/luxury-trains/hill-trains.html|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040103095224/http://www.touristplacesinindia.com/luxury-trains/hill-trains.html|archive-date=January 3, 2004|access-date=2010-02-20}}</ref> To meet World Heritage criteria, the sites must retain some of their traditional infrastructure and culture.

The [[Nilgiri Mountain Railway]] is also the only [[rack and pinion railway]] in India. The [[Matheran Hill Railway]], along with the [[Kangra Valley Railway]] are preserved narrow gauge railways under consideration for UNESCO status. Some scenic routes have been preserved as heritage railways. Here normal services have stopped, only tourist heritage trains are operated. Examples of these are the [[Patalpani–Kalakund Heritage Train]] and the Rajasthan Valley Queen Heritage train<ref name="valleyqueen">{{Cite news|title=Rajasthan Valley Queen Heritage Train|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/jaipur/rajasthans-only-heritage-train-to-start-from-tomorrow/articleshow/104143766.cms|newspaper=Times of India|date=4 October 2023 }}</ref> which runs from [[Marwar Junction]] to [[Khamlighat]].

===Indonesia===
[[File:Indonesian NIS 231-235 (B25) class B2502 2013-10-06 01.jpg|thumb|The historical [[Ambarawa Railway Museum|Ambarawa train station]] that has become a museum]]
In Indonesia there are several historic train lines and steam trains that are still operated today, including [[Ambarawa Railway Museum]], [[Sawahlunto Railway Museum]], [[Cepu Forest Railway]], [[:id:Kereta api uap Jaladara|Jaladara excursion train]] in [[Surakarta]], and several narrow gauge lines in the Sugar Factory area.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://redigest.web.id/2021/08/inilah-deretan-lokomotif-uap-yang-aktif-bersama-kai/|title=Inilah Deretan Lokomotif Uap yang Aktif Bersama KAI|website=redigest.web.id|date=30 August 2021 |access-date=2 January 2025 |language=ID}}</ref>

===Italy===
{{main|List of heritage railways in Italy}}
[[File:Stazione Cansano.jpg|thumb|Historic train at the [[Cansano]] railway station, along the now tourist {{ill|Sulmona–Isernia railway|it|ferrovia Sulmona-Isernia}} in [[Italy]]]]
[[File:Garessio staz ferr ALn 663.jpg|thumb|Tourist train in transit on the [[Ceva–Ormea railway]] in [[Italy]]]]

In Italy the heritage railway institute is recognized and protected by law no. 128 of 9 August 2017, which has as its objective the protection and valorisation of disused, suspended or abolished railway lines, of particular cultural, landscape and tourist value, including both railway routes and stations and the related works of art and appurtenances, on which, upon proposal of the regions to which they belong, tourism-type traffic management is applied (art. 2, paragraph 1).<ref name="gazzettaufficiale.it">{{Cite web|url=https://www.gazzettaufficiale.it/eli/id/2017/08/23/17G00141/sg|title=Legge 9 agosto 2017, n. 128|author=Gazzetta Ufficiale della Repubblica Italiana}}</ref> At the same time, the law identified a first list of 18 tourist railways, considered to be of particular value (art. 2, paragraph 2).<ref name="gazzettaufficiale.it"/>

The list is periodically updated by decree of the [[Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport (Italy)|Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport]], in agreement with the [[Ministry of Economy and Finance (Italy)|Ministry of Economy and Finance]] and the [[Ministry of Culture (Italy)|Ministry of Culture]], also taking into account the reports in the State-Regions Conference, a list which in 2022 reached 26 railway lines.<ref name="mit.gov.it">{{Cite web|url=https://www.mit.gov.it/nfsmitgov/files/media/notizia/2022-03/Elenco%20ferrovie%20turistiche.pdf|title=Tratte ferroviarie ad uso turistico|language=it|access-date=24 February 2024}}</ref> According to article 1, law 128/2017 has as its purpose: "the protection and valorisation of railway sections of particular cultural, landscape and tourist value, which include railway routes, stations and related works of art and appurtenances, and of the historic and tourist rolling stock authorized to travel along them, as well as the regulation of the use of ferrocycles".<ref name="gazzettaufficiale.it"/>

Below is the list of railway lines recognized as tourist railways by Italian legislation.
{{Col-begin}}
a) pursuant to art. 2 paragraph 2 law 128/2017:<ref name="gazzettaufficiale.it"/>
# Sulmona-Castel di Sangro section of the {{ill|Sulmona–Isernia railway|it|ferrovia Sulmona-Isernia}}<ref name="RFI">A ordinary gauge, owned by [[Rete Ferroviaria Italiana|RFI]].</ref>
# {{ill|Cosenza-Camigliatello–San Giovanni in Fiore railway|it|Ferrovia Cosenza-Camigliatello-San Giovanni in Fiore}}<ref>A [[narrow gauge]], regional railway owned by {{ill|Calabria railways|it|Ferrovie della Calabria}}; the service is called ''{{ill|Trenino della Sila|it}}''.</ref>
# {{ill|Avellino–Rocchetta Sant'Antonio railway|it|Ferrovia Avellino-Rocchetta Sant'Antonio}}<ref name="RFI"/>
# {{ill|Gemona del Friuli–Sacile railway|it|Ferrovia Gemona del Friuli-Sacile}}<ref name="RFI"/>
# {{ill|Palazzolo–Paratico railway|it|Ferrovia Palazzolo-Paratico}}<ref name="RFI"/>
# Castel di Sangro-Carpinone section of the Sulmona-Isernia railway<ref>Subsequently extended to Isernia.</ref>
# [[Ceva–Ormea railway]]<ref name="RFI"/>
# {{ill|Mandas–Arbatax railway|it|Ferrovia Mandas-Arbatax}}<ref name="ARST">A [[narrow gauge]], regional railway owned by [[ARST]]; the service is called ''[[Trenino Verde]]''.</ref>
# {{ill|Isili–Sorgono railway|it|Ferrovia Isili-Sorgono}}<ref name="ARST"/>
# [[Sassari–Tempio-Palau railway]]<ref name="ARST"/>
# {{ill|Macomer–Bosa railway|it|Ferrovia Macomer-Bosa}}<ref name="ARST"/>
# {{ill|Alcantara–Randazzo railway|it|Ferrovia Alcantara-Randazzo}}<ref name="RFI"/>
# Castelvetrano-Porto Palo section of the {{ill|Castelvetrano–Porto Empedocle railway|it|ferrovia Castelvetrano-Porto Empedocle}}<ref name="FS reduced Sicily">Line part of the disused narrow gauge FS network of Sicily.</ref>
# Agrigento Bassa-Porto Empedocle section of the Castelvetrano-Porto Empedocle railway<ref name="FS reduced Sicily"/>
# {{ill|Noto–Pachino railway|it|Ferrovia Noto-Pachino}}<ref name="RFI"/>
# [[Asciano–Monte Antico railway]]<ref name="RFI"/>
# {{ill|Civitavecchia–Orte railway|it|Ferrovia Civitavecchia-Orte}}<ref name="RFI"/>
# {{ill|Fano–Urbino railway|it|Ferrovia Fano-Urbino}}<ref name="RFI"/>
{{Col-break}}
b) pursuant to the Ministerial Decree of 30 March 2022:<ref name="mit.gov.it"/>
# {{ill|Chivasso–Asti railway|it|Ferrovia Chivasso-Asti}}<ref name="RFI"/>
# {{ill|Castagnole–Asti-Mortara railway|it|Ferrovia Castagnole-Asti-Mortara}}<ref name="RFI"/>
# Alba-Nizza Monferrato section of the {{ill|Alessandria–Cavallermaggiore railway|it|ferrovia Alessandria-Cavallermaggiore}}<ref name="RFI"/>
# [[Novara–Varallo railway]]<ref name="RFI"/>
# Fabriano-Pergola section of the {{ill|Urbino–Fabriano railway|it|ferrovia Urbino-Fabriano}}<ref name="RFI"/>
# {{ill|Sicignano degli Alburni–Lagonegro railway|it|Ferrovia Sicignano degli Alburni-Lagonegro}}<ref name="RFI"/>
# {{ill|Rocchetta Sant'Antonio–Gioia del Colle railway|it|Ferrovia Rocchetta Sant'Antonio-Gioia del Colle}}<ref name="RFI"/>
# {{ill|Cuneo–Mondovì railway|it|Ferrovia Cuneo-Mondovì}}<ref name="RFI"/>
# Malnate Olona-Swiss border section of the [[Valmorea railway]].<ref>A ordinary gauge, regional railway owned by [[Ferrovienord]].</ref>
{{Col-end}}
[[File:Brusio Cavaglia 2009 2.jpg|thumb|[[Bernina railway line]] between [[Poschiavo]], Switzerland, and [[Tirano]], Italy]]

The [[Bernina railway line]] is a [[Single track (rail)|single-track]] {{track gauge|1000mm|allk=on}} railway line forming part of the [[Rhaetian Railway]] (RhB). It links the spa resort of [[St. Moritz]], in the [[Cantons of Switzerland|canton]] of [[Graubünden]], [[Switzerland]], with the town of [[Tirano]], in the [[Province of Sondrio]], [[Italy]], via the [[Bernina Pass]]. Reaching a height of {{convert|2,253|m}} above sea level, it is the [[List of highest railways in Europe|third highest railway crossing in Europe]]. It also ranks as the highest [[adhesion railway]] of the continent, and{{spnd}}with [[Grade (slope)|inclines]] of up to 7%{{spnd}}as one of the steepest adhesion railways in the world. The elevation difference on the section between the Bernina Pass and Tirano is {{convert|1824|m|ft|abbr=on|0}}, allowing passengers to view glaciers along the line. On 7 July 2008, the Bernina line and the [[Albula railway line]], which also forms part of the RhB, were recorded in the list of [[UNESCO World Heritage Sites]], under the name ''[[Rhaetian Railway]] in the Albula / [[Bernina Express|Bernina]] Landscapes''. The whole site is a cross-border joint Swiss-Italian heritage area. Trains operating on the Bernina line include the [[Bernina Express]].

In July 2023, [[Ferrovie dello Stato]] established a new company, the "FS Treni Turistici Italiani" (English: FS Italian Tourist Trains), with the mission "to propose an offer of railway services expressly designed and calibrated for quality, sustainable tourism and attentive to rediscovering the riches of the Italian territory. Tourism that can experience the train journey as an integral moment of the holiday, an element of quality in the overall tourist experience".<ref name="fsitaliane.it">{{Cite web|url=https://www.fsitaliane.it/content/fsitaliane/it/media/comunicati-stampa/2023/7/24/nuova-societa-fs-treni-turistici-italiani.html|title=Gruppo FS, nasce la nuova società "FS Treni Turistici Italiani"|language=it|access-date=24 February 2024}}</ref> There are three service areas proposed: 
* ''Luxury trains'', which includes the circulation of the "[[Orient Express]] - La Dolce Vita" from 2024, and [[Venice Simplon Orient Express]], already operating on European routes;<ref name="fsitaliane.it"/>
* ''[[Express train|Express]] and historic trains'', with the express trains of the 1980s and 1990s which being redeveloped and modernized in the railway workshops of [[Rimini]], while the historic trains are used for journeys that include stops with guided tours and tastings;<ref name="fsitaliane.it"/> 
* ''Regional trains'', also with trips that include experiential tourist stops, which pass through places rich in history, with villages and areas of landscape, naturalistic, food and wine and agri-food interest.<ref name="fsitaliane.it"/>

===New Zealand===
{{main|List of New Zealand railway museums and heritage lines|Railway preservation in New Zealand}}

Rail transport played a major role in the history of New Zealand and several [[rail enthusiast]] societies and heritage railways have been formed to preserve New Zealand's rich rail history.

=== Slovakia ===
The [[Čierny Hron Railway]] is a [[narrow-gauge railway]] in central [[Slovakia]], established in the first decade of the 20th century and operating primarily as a freight railway for the local logging industry. From the late 1920s to the early 1960s, it also offered passenger transport between the villages of Hronec and Čierny Balog. The railway became [[Czechoslovakia]]'s most extensive [[forest railway]] network. After its closure in 1982, it received heritage status and was restored during the following decade. Since 1992, it has been one of Slovakia's official heritage railways and is a key regional tourist attraction. The [[Historical Logging Switchback Railway]] in Vychylovka is a heritage railway in north-central Slovakia, originally built to serve the logging industry in the [[Orava (region)|Orava]] and [[Kysuce]] regions. Despite a closure and dissasembly of most of its original network during the early 1970s, its surviving lines and branches have been (or are being) restored. The railway is owned and operated by the Museum of Kysuce, with a {{convert|3.8|km|adj=on}} line open to tourists for sightseeing.

===Switzerland===
{{main|List of heritage railways and funiculars in Switzerland}}
[[File:DFB HG 3-4 Furka - Tiefenbach, Steinstafelviadukt.jpg|thumb|The [[Furka Steam Railway]]]]
Switzerland has a [[Railways in Switzerland|very dense rail network]], both standard and narrow gauge. The overwhelming majority of railways, built [[History of rail transport in Switzerland|between the mid-19th and early 20th century]], are still in regular operation today and electrified, a major exception being the [[Furka Steam Railway]], the longest unelectrified line in the country and one of the [[List of highest railways in Europe|highest rail crossings in Europe]]. Many railway companies, [[List of mountain railways in Switzerland|especially mountain railways]], provide services with well-preserved historic trains for tourists, for instance the [[Rigi Railways]], the oldest rack railway in Europe, and the [[Pilatus Railway]], the steepest in the world. Two railways, the [[Albula Railway]] and the [[Bernina Railway]], have been designated as a [[World Heritage Site]], although they are essentially operated with modern rolling stock. Due to the availability of hydroelectric resources in the Alps, the Swiss network was electrified earlier than in the rest of Europe.<ref>{{HDS|013845|Electrification}}</ref> Some of the most emblematic pre-World War II electric locomotives and trains are the [[Crocodile (locomotive)|Crocodile]], notably used on the [[Gotthard Railway]],<ref>[https://news.sbb.ch/fr/article/93396/defile-de-la-crocodile-pour-le-plus-grand-plaisir-du-public Défilé de la «Crocodile» pour le plus grand plaisir du public] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210508221510/https://news.sbb.ch/fr/article/93396/defile-de-la-crocodile-pour-le-plus-grand-plaisir-du-public |date=2021-05-08 }}, [[Swiss Federal Railways]]</ref> and the [[Red Arrow (Swiss train)|Red Arrow]]. Both are occasionally operated by [[SBB Historic]]. Switzerland also comprehends a large number of funiculars, several still working with the original carriages, such as the [[Giessbachbahn]].

===United Kingdom ===
{{main|List of British heritage and private railways}}
[[File:Tal-Y-Llyn Dolgoch Abergwynolwn 1951.jpg|thumb|right|The [[Talyllyn Railway]] in 1951, the year it opened as a heritage railway]]
In Britain, heritage railways are often railway lines which were run as commercial railways but were no longer needed (or closed down) and were taken over or re-opened by volunteers or non-profit organisations. The large number of heritage railways in the UK is due in part to the closure of many minor lines during the 1960s' [[Beeching cuts]], and they were relatively easy to revive. There are between 100 and 150 heritage railways in the United Kingdom.

A typical British heritage railway will use [[steam locomotive]]s and original [[rolling stock]] to create a period atmosphere, although some are concentrating on diesel and electric traction to re-create the post-steam era. Many run seasonally on partial routes, unconnected to a larger network (or railway), and charge high fares in comparison with transit services; as a result, they focus on the tourist and leisure markets. During the 1990s and 2000s, however, some heritage railways aimed to provide local transportation and extend their running seasons to carry commercial passenger traffic.
[[File:GWR inspection saloon on Severn Valley Railway.jpg|left|thumb|[[Severn Valley Railway]]]]

The first standard-gauge line to be preserved (not a victim of Beeching) was the [[Middleton Railway]]; the second, and the first to carry passengers, was the [[Bluebell Railway]].

Not-for-profit heritage railways differ in their quantity of service and some lines see traffic only on summer weekends. The more successful, such as the [[Severn Valley Railway]] and the [[North Yorkshire Moors Railway]], may have up to five or six steam locomotives and operate a four-train service daily; smaller railways may run daily throughout the summer with only one steam locomotive. The [[Great Central Railway (heritage railway)|Great Central Railway]], the only preserved British main line with a double track, can operate over 50 trains on a busy timetable day.

After the privatisation of main-line railways, the line between not-for-profit heritage railways and for-profit [[branch line]]s may be blurred. The [[Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch Railway]] is an example of a commercial line run as a heritage operation and to provide local transportation, and the Severn Valley Railway has operated a few [[Rail freight transport|goods trains]] commercially. A number of heritage railway lines are regularly used by commercial freight operators.

Since the Bluebell Railway reopened to traffic in 1960, the definition of private [[standard gauge]] railways in the United Kingdom as preserved railways has evolved as the number of projects and their length, operating days and function have changed. The situation is further muddied by large variations in ownership-company structure, rolling stock and other assets. Unlike [[community rail]]ways, tourist railways in the UK are [[Vertical integration|vertically integrated]] (although those operating mainly as [[charities]] separate their [[Charitable organization|charitable]] and non-charitable activities for accounting purposes).

=== United States ===
==== Railroads ====
{{main|List of heritage railroads in the United States}}
[[File:StrasburgRR 2004 0613Image002.jpg|thumb|alt=Steam engine pulling passenger cars through a wooded area|[[Strasburg Rail Road]] train]][[File:Proud and Tall.jpg|thumb|[[Tweetsie Railroad]] locomotive|222x222px]]

Heritage railways are known in the United States as tourist, historic, or scenic railroads. Most are remnants of original railroads, and some are reconstructed after having been scrapped. Some heritage railways preserve entire railroads in their original state using original structures, track, and motive power.
[[File:Grand Canyon Oct 1 2005 29 and 4960 - Flickr - drewj1946.jpg|thumb|[[Grand Canyon Railway]] night photo session]]Examples of heritage railroads in the US by preservation type:

;Original
*[[East Broad Top Railroad and Coal Company]] (Pennsylvania)
*[[Nevada Northern Railway]] (Nevada)
*[[California Western Railroad]] (California)
*[[Stewartstown Railroad]] (Pennsylvania)
*[[Arcade and Attica Railroad]] (New York)

;Remnant
*[[Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad|Durango and Silverton Railroad]] (Colorado)
*[[Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad]] (Colorado and New Mexico)
*[[Hocking Valley Scenic Railway]] (Ohio)
*[[Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum]] (Tennessee)
*[[Strasburg Rail Road]] (Pennsylvania)
*[[Fox River Trolley Museum]] (Illinois)

;Reconstructed
*[[Sumpter Valley Railway]] (Oregon)
*[[Tweetsie Railroad]] (North Carolina)
*[[Virginia and Truckee Railroad]] (Nevada)
*[[Wiscasset, Waterville and Farmington Railway]] (Maine)
*[[Fort Collins Municipal Railway]] (Colorado)
*[[Georgetown Loop Railroad]] (Colorado)

;National Park Related Lines
*[[Steamtown National Historic Site]] (Pennsylvania)
*[[Grand Canyon Railway]] (Arizona)
*[[Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad]] (Ohio)
*[[Golden Spike National Historical Park]] (Utah)

Other operations, such as the [[Valley Railroad (Connecticut)|Valley Railroad]] or [[Hocking Valley Scenic Railway]] operate on historic track and utilize historic equipment, but are not reflective of the operations carried out by the original railroad they operate on. Hence, they do not fit into the Heritage Railway category, but rather Tourist Railway/Amusement.

==== Tramways ====
{{See also|Streetcars in North America#Heritage streetcar systems|Streetcars in North America#Museums}}

[[File:Route 15 PCC.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.0|A [[SEPTA route 15]] PCC trolley in [[Philadelphia]] around 2006]]
Heritage streetcar lines are operating in over 20 U.S. cities, and are in planning or construction stages in others. Several new heritage streetcar lines have been opened since the 1970s; some are stand-alone lines while others make use of a section of a modern [[light rail]] system.

Heritage [[streetcar]] systems operating in [[Little Rock, Arkansas]]; [[Memphis, Tennessee]]; [[Dallas, Texas]]; [[New Orleans, Louisiana]]; [[Boston, Massachusetts]] ([[Mattapan Line|MBTA Mattapan Trolley]]) [[Philadelphia, Pennsylvania]] ([[SEPTA route 15]]); and [[Tampa, Florida]], are among the larger examples. A heritage line operates in [[Charlotte, North Carolina]], and will become a part of the city's new transit system. Another such line, called [[Silver Line (San Diego Trolley)|The Silver Line]], operates in [[San Diego]].
[[File:San Francisco F line streetcars at Jones.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.0|Three PCCs on the [[San Francisco Municipal Railway]]'s [[F Market & Wharves|F-line]] in 2003. Pictured are an example of one [[Bi-directional vehicle|double-ended]] streetcar and two single-ended cars.]]

The [[San Francisco Municipal Railway]], or Muni, runs exclusively historic trolleys on its heavily used [[F Market & Wharves]] line. The line serves Market Street and the tourist areas along the Embarcadero, including [[Fisherman's Wharf, San Francisco, California|Fisherman's Wharf]].

Boston's [[Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority]] runs exclusively [[PCC streetcars]] on its [[Mattapan Line]], part of that authority's [[Red Line (MBTA)|Red Line]]. The historic rolling stock is retained because doing so cost less than would a full rebuild of the line to accommodate either a [[Passenger rail terminology#Heavy rail|heavy rail]] line (like the rest of the Red Line or the [[Blue Line (MBTA)|Blue]] or [[Orange Line (MBTA)|Orange]] Lines) or a modern [[light rail]] line (like the [[Green Line (MBTA)|Green Line]]). It is also unique in that it used almost exclusively by commuters and is not particularly popular with tourists (and thus may not really be a true heritage system, despite the historic rolling stock).

[[Dallas]] has the [[M-Line Trolley]]. [[Denver]] has the [[Platte Valley Trolley]], a heritage line recalling the open-sided streetcars of the early 20th century. [[Old Pueblo Trolley]] is a volunteer-run heritage line in [[Tucson, Arizona]]; its popularity inspired, in large part, a modern streetcar system for Tucson currently in the final planning stages, which would incorporate the heritage line. The [[Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority|VTA]] in [[San Jose, California]], also maintains a heritage trolley fleet, for occasional use on the downtown portion of a new [[light rail]] system opened in 1988. Other cities with heritage streetcar lines include [[Galveston, Texas]]; [[Kenosha, Wisconsin]]; and [[San Pedro, Los Angeles, California|San Pedro, California]] (home of the [[port of Los Angeles]]). The [[National Park Service]] operates a system in [[Lowell, Massachusetts]].

Most heritage streetcar lines use overhead [[overhead line|trolley wires]] to power the cars, as was the case with the vast majority of original streetcar lines. However, on the [[Galveston Island Trolley]] heritage line, which opened in 1988, using modern-day replicas of vintage trolleys, the cars were powered by an on-board diesel engine, as local authorities were concerned that overhead wires would be too susceptible to damage from hurricanes.<ref name="Young">Young, Andrew D. (1997). ''Veteran & Vintage Transit'' ({{ISBN|0-9647279-2-7}}). St. Louis: Archway Publishing.</ref> In spite of that precaution, damage in 2008 from [[Hurricane Ike]] was heavy enough to put the line out of service indefinitely, and as of 2021 it has yet to reopen, but three streetcars are being repaired and reopening is planned.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.galvnews.com/news/article_90528b3f-adea-5d13-a69e-7f7bbdf35e78.html|title=Under repair in Iowa, trolleys could roll again in 2019|author=Tony Brooks, John Wayne Ferguson|date=September 16, 2018|work=[[The Daily News (Texas)|Galveston County Daily News]]|access-date=May 8, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180917073049/https://www.galvnews.com/news/article_90528b3f-adea-5d13-a69e-7f7bbdf35e78.html|archive-date=September 17, 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Another heritage line lacking trolley wires was [[Savannah, Georgia|Savannah's]] [[River Street Streetcar]] line, which opened in February 2009 and operated until around 2015. It was the first line to use a diesel/electric streetcar whose built-in electricity generator is powered by [[biodiesel]].  In [[El Reno, Oklahoma]], the ''Heritage Express Trolley'' connects Heritage Park with downtown,<ref>[http://www.elreno.org/tour/attractions.asp El Reno Attractions] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090429085539/http://elreno.org/tour/attractions.asp |date=April 29, 2009 }} (El Reno Convention & Visitors Bureau)</ref> using a single streetcar that has been equipped with a propane-powered on-board generator. The car formerly operated on [[SEPTA|SEPTA's]] [[Norristown High Speed Line]], where [[third rail|third-rail]] current collection is used.  The El Reno line is [[single track (rail)|single-track]] and {{convert|0.9|mi|km}} long.<ref>[http://www.jtbell.net/transit/ElReno/ El Reno, Oklahoma: Heritage Express Trolley] (unofficial page)</ref>

In [[Portland, Oregon]], replica-vintage cars provided a heritage streetcar service, named [[Portland Vintage Trolley]], along a section of that city's 1986-operated [[MAX light rail|light rail]] line from 1991 to 2014.<ref name=Kgw2014-03-02>{{cite news
| url         = http://www.kgw.com/news/Portland-vintage-trolley-trimet-streetcar-loses.html
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140305035437/http://www.kgw.com/news/Portland-vintage-trolley-trimet-streetcar-loses.html
| archive-date = March 5, 2014
| title       = TriMet to ship off Portland's iconic trolleys
| publisher   = [[KGW]]
| author      = Cornelius Swart
| date        = March 2, 2014
| location    = [[Portland, Oregon]]
| access-date = 2015-11-01
}}</ref> Elsewhere in Portland, the [[Willamette Shore Trolley]] is a seasonal, volunteer-operated excursion service on a former freight railroad line, to [[Lake Oswego, Oregon]]. This operation uses a diesel-powered generator on a trailer towed or pushed by the streetcar, as the line lacks trolley wires. Similarly, the [[Astoria Riverfront Trolley]] in Astoria, Oregon, is a seasonal heritage-trolley service along a section of former freight railroad and using a diesel-powered generator on a trailer to provide electricity to the streetcar.

Other seasonal or weekends-only heritage streetcar lines operate in [[Yakima, Washington]] ([[Yakima Electric Railway Museum]]); [[Fort Collins Municipal Railway|Fort Collins, Colorado]]; and [[Fort Smith Trolley Museum|Fort Smith, Arkansas]].  The Fort Collins and Fort Smith lines are both operated by an original (as opposed to replica) [[Birney]]-type streetcar, and in both cases the individual car in use is listed on the [[National Register of Historic Places]].<ref name="fort collins hc">{{cite web|title=Fort Collins Municipal Railway Birney Safety Streetcar #21|year=2009|work=Fort Collins History Connection|publisher=City of Fort Collins|url=http://history.poudrelibraries.org/u?/hd,883 | access-date=2012-06-14}}</ref><ref name=ahpp-birney>{{cite web|title=Birney Safety Streetcar #224 |year=2012 |website=Arkansas Heritage |url=https://www.arkansasheritage.com/search-results?search=Birney+Streetcar |access-date=2012-06-14 }}</ref> In Philadelphia, the Penn's Landing Trolley operated seasonal and weekend service as a volunteer operation with former [[Philadelphia and Western Railroad|P&W]] equipment between September 1982 and December 17, 1995, on the [[Philadelphia Belt Line Railroad|Philadelphia Belt Line]] track on [[Columbus Boulevard (Philadelphia)|Columbus Boulevard]] in the historic [[Penn's Landing]] district.

Over 50 years later, the revival of extended [[Streetcars in New Orleans|streetcar operations]] in [[New Orleans]] is credited by many to the worldwide fame gained by its streetcars built by the [[Perley A. Thomas Car Works]] in 1922–23. These cars were operating on the system's Desire route made famous by [[Tennessee Williams]]' ''[[A Streetcar Named Desire (play)|A Streetcar Named Desire]]''.  Some Perley Thomas cars were maintained in continuous service on the [[St. Charles Streetcar Line]] until [[Hurricane Katrina]] caused major damage to the right-of-way in 2005. The historic streetcars suffered only minor damage and several were transferred to serve on the, then recently rebuilt, Canal Street line while the St. Charles line was being repaired. By June 22, 2008, service was restored to the entire length of the St. Charles Streetcar line. The New Orleans' St. Charles streetcar line is a [[National Historic Landmark]]. Pre-Katrina, New Orleans had plans to reconstruct the Desire line along its original route down St. Claude Avenue. Instead, the Loyola-UPT line was extended by building a spur down [[Rampart Street|North Rampart Street]] to [[Elysian Fields Avenue]].

In [[San Francisco]], parts of the [[San Francisco cable car system|cable car]] and [[San Francisco Municipal Railway|Muni]] streetcar system (specifically the above-mentioned F Market & Wharves line) are heritage lines, although they are also functioning parts of the city's transit system. The cable cars are a National Historic Landmark and are rare examples of vehicles with this distinction. Located east of San Francisco is one of several museums in the U.S. that restore and operate vintage streetcars and [[interurban]]s, the [[Western Railway Museum]].