How many preserved railways now have main line connections ?

The Middleton Railway in Leeds still has a main line connection. Although I don't think that it's been used since the 1990's?

 

Welsh Highland Railway

 

This thread lists track connections, which the WHR can't have because of the gauge difference. If you're looking for a list of easy foot connections, see here.

 

The WHR shares metal with Network Rail so it's actually just as connected to the mainline as the NYMR.

 

And going west a bit potentially in the future Haywards Heath.

 

Correction to reply of "Jay" on 1st April.
When the Spa Valley Railway opens its future extension to Eridge it will run parallel with the Network Rail line for approx. one mile. Passengers will be able to interchange at Eridge by using the footbridge between the platforms.
There will however be no physical connection between the tracks and there are no future plans to do so. The Uckfield line is remotely controlled from Oxted Panel Box (15 miles from Eridge) so the cost of installing any connections is very, very expensive.

 

BUT FOR HOW MUCH LONGER ???

 

On the MOSI connection I have not heard anything about it being lost and I am not going to speculate on the matter.

Regards
Duncan

 

Some folks might be interested in a series of images taken from the cab of a Class 66 bringing a HOBC from Fairwater Yard, Taunton via the junction to the WSR's Norton Triangle site. The images show the junction quite well. See http://www.wsr.org.uk/cgi-bin/gallery.cgi?h=Ballast Trains to Norton Triangle workings&t=hobcpix

Steve
(WSW)

 

At the risk of changing this to a 'trains using mainline connections' thread, and following on from the images of the class 66 ballast trains working onto the West Somerset, I found these pictures of 66430 delivering a ballast train to the Mid Norfolk railway this week http://colrailspics.fotopic.net/c1842040.html

Simon