There are more than 400 miniature railways in Britain. Some are hidden away and privately owned, others are attractions in parks, and some – such as the Romney, Hythe, and Dymchurch – are commercial enterprises in their own right. But what exactly is a miniature railway, and what is the history of this eccentric British phenomenon? Their most definitive characteristic is that they can carry passengers, whether straddling the rolling stock or sitting in enclosed carriages, but there are other features.