Editing British Rail (section)

== Preserved lines ==
The narrow-gauge [[Vale of Rheidol Railway]] in Ceredigion, Wales, became part of British Railways at nationalisation. Although built as a working railway, in 1948 the line was principally a [[tourist attraction]]. British Rail operated the line using steam locomotives long after the withdrawal of standard-gauge steam. The line's three steam locomotives were the only ones to receive [[TOPS]] serial numbers and be painted in BR Rail Blue livery with the double arrow logo. The Vale of Rheidol Railway was privatised in 1989 and continues to operate as a private heritage railway.<ref>{{cite magazine |title = The Great British Rail Sale is Over |magazine = [[The Railway Magazine]] |issue = 1152 |date = April 1997 |pages = 24–25}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last = Boyd-Hope |first = Gary |title = Rheidol revival: 20 years of private enterprise |journal = Steam Railway |volume = 358 |date = January 2009 |pages = 91–95}}</ref>

Other preserved lines, or [[heritage railways]], have reopened lines previously closed by British Rail. These range from picturesque rural branch lines like the [[Keighley and Worth Valley Railway]] to sections of mainline such as the [[Great Central Railway]].<ref>{{Cite news |url = https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-leicestershire-35534096 |title = 'Split' rail line to be reconnected |date = 12 February 2016 |publisher = BBC News |access-date = 5 February 2019 |language = en-GB}}</ref> Many have links to the National Rail network, both at station interchanges, for example, the [[Severn Valley Railway]] between {{stnlnk|Kidderminster}} and [[Kidderminster Town railway station|Kidderminster Town]], and physical rail connections like the [[Watercress Line]] at {{stnlnk|Alton}}.<ref name=MHRGuide >{{cite web |last = Pearson |first = Mike |title = Mid Hants Railway (The Watercress Line) – A Guide |url = http://www.watercressline.co.uk/mhrguide.htm |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080224160319/http://www.watercressline.co.uk/mhrguide.htm |archive-date = 24 February 2008 |website = watercressline.co.uk |publisher = Mid Hants Railway |access-date = 2 June 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last = Marshall |first = John |title = The Severn Valley Railway |year = 1989 |publisher = David St John Thomas |location = Newton Abbot |isbn = 0-946537-45-3 |author-link = John Marshall (railway historian)}}</ref>

Although most are operated solely as leisure amenities, some also provide educational resources, and a few have ambitions to restore commercial services over routes abandoned by the nationalised industry.