Where to find railway records

• System Operator
• Our history
  • The George Stephenson notebook
  • The Network Rail archive
  • Eminent engineers
    • Isambard Kingdom Brunel (1806–1859)
    • William Henry Barlow (1812–1902)
    • George Stephenson (1781–1848)
    • Robert Stephenson (1803–1859)
  • Iconic infrastructure
    • The history of Box Tunnel, Wiltshire
    • The history of the Britannia Bridge, North Wales
    • The history of the Forth Bridge, Fife
    • The history of the High Level Bridge, Newcastle
    • The history of the Royal Border Bridge, Berwick
    • The history of the Tay Bridge, Dundee
    • The history of Bristol Temple Meads station
    • The history of Birmingham New Street station
    • The history of Charing Cross station
    • The history of London Euston station
    • The history of London King’s Cross station
    • The history of London Bridge station
    • The history of Leeds station
    • The history of London Liverpool Street station
    • The history of Manchester Piccadilly station
    • The history of London Paddington station
    • The history of London St Pancras International station
    • The history of London Victoria station
    • The history of London Waterloo station
    • The history of the Maidenhead Bridge
    • The history of Glasgow Central station
    • The history of Edinburgh Waverley station
    • The history of London Cannon Street station
  • Working with railway heritage
  • Where to find railway records
  • Railway 200
• Publications and resources
  • Financial
  • Regulatory and licensing
    • Annual report and accounts
    • Annual return
    • Half-year performance report
  • Our Control Period 7 (CP7) delivery plans
  • Network Operating Strategy
  • The Future of Cities report
  • Pay Gap Reports
• Transparency and ethics
  • Transparency
    • Open data feeds
    • Our information and data
  • Data protection
  • Ethics
    • Modern Slavery Statement
  • Freedom of information (FOI)
• Our approach to safety
  • Home Safe Plan
  • Keeping our workforce safe
  • Our Health and Safety vision
  • Safety assurance
    • Accident and incident investigations
    • Audit
    • Risk management
    • Supplier assurance
• Equity, diversity and inclusion
  • Access and inclusion
    • Inclusive design
      • Built Environment Accessibility Panel
  • Everyone Belongs strategy
  • Everyday inclusion
• How we work
  • Performance
    • Railway Performance
  • Our leadership
    • Our executive leadership team
    • Our board committees
    • Our board
      • Accountabilities
      • Approvals and statements of responsibilities

Records relating to today’s railway infrastructure are not just held by Network Rail. 

The railway has always created large quantities of records. Over the years they have also been deposited in archives and museums across the country.  This is a guide to where you can find railway records so you can put your railway research on the right track.

The National Archives hold the main business records of English and Welsh railway companies nationalised in 1947. As well as railway records up to railway privatisation in the 1990s. 

The National Records of Scotland hold records relating to the development of the railways in Scotland. These include the main business records of Scottish railway companies nationalised in 1947. As well as records of British Railways Board, British Railways (Scottish Region) and the privatised railway in Scotland.  They also hold private papers and photographic archives relating to the railway in Scotland. 

The National Railway Museum hold various archive collections relating to the history of railway civil engineering and signalling. They hold major collections of railway photography, posters and artwork. They also hold copies of railway operating publications. This includes working and public timetables, rule books and sectional appendices.

The Parliamentary Archives holds records relating to the development of the railway infrastructure in Britain. This includes Acts of Parliament and deposited railway plans. As well as other associated documentation such as books of reference, lists of property owners, occupiers and estimates.  They also hold committee evidence relating to the construction of railways.

The Institution of Civil Engineers holds various archive collections relating to the history of railway civil engineering. As well as papers relating to prominent railway engineers.

The British Film Institute holds the collection of official British Transport Films. As well as film from railway companies and amateur enthusiasts.

Heritage railways, groups and societies sometimes hold records of interest relating to their railway company interest or area of research. The National Railway Museum maintains a directory of railway groups and societies.