Editing Preston, Lancashire (section)

==== Preston Dock branch line ====
With the industrialisation of Preston in the 19th century a branch line was built in 1846 from Preston's mail station to carry goods to and from [[Victoria Quay, Preston|Victoria Quay]] on the River Ribble. With the opening of the Albert Edward Basin and the new [[Preston Dock]] in 1892, the number and length of tracks increased and at their peak grew to over 25 miles.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.prestonstation.org.uk/Docks.html |title=Preston Dock |publisher=Preston Station Past and Present |access-date=15 November 2021}}</ref>

With the closure of the docks in 1981 and its subsequent redevelopment, most of the tracks were removed and now only a small section remains, used by the [[Ribble Steam Railway]] (RSR) and for [[bitumen]] trains operating to and from the [[TotalEnergies|Total]] [[refinery]] at the Riversway industrial park.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://ribblesteam.org.uk/news/ribble-steam-railway-and-preston-docks/ |title=Ribble Steam Railway and Preston Docks |publisher=Ribble Steam Railway and Museum |access-date=15 November 2021}}</ref>

A single station, [[Preston Riverside railway station|Preston Riverside]], is operated by the RSR for its heritage rail trips.