Nostalgia’s a funny thing: you don’t have to have lived through an era to remember it fondly. Nobody under 50 was around when steam trains were common in Britain, but the appeal lives on — hundreds of thousands of children are besotted with Thomas the Tank Engine, and an equal number of volunteers (of all ages) keep more than 100 heritage steam railways running up and down the country.

Yes, more than 100. When Beeching savaged the railway network in 1963, he could hardly have foreseen that an army of enthusiasts would rise up and set about reopening chunks of it simply for fun.

It’s our good luck they have, as a heritage railway makes a great day out, especially for children — even if some grown-ups claim to be immune to the thrill of steam, kids love it. Here’s our pick of Britain’s most rewarding steam journeys.

Most lines are run by volunteers and don’t operate every day, so check ahead. Quoted fares are return, for the full length of the line — shorter journeys may be cheaper

Britain and Ireland's best pub gardens

It’s the essence of summer: a good pint in the beautiful gardens of a smashing little pub. Here are our favourites

Related Links

• Settle-Carlisle: the best ride in Britain

• All aboard for Thomas Land

ISLE OF MULL

Perhaps the cutest line in Britain: little engines pull tiny carriages just a mile and a quarter from Craignure to Torosay Castle, with gorgeous views to Glencoe and Ben Cruachan. 01680 812494, mullrail.co.uk ; from April 1; £4.50, children £3

NORTH NORFOLK

Give it a month to see bluebells, primroses and gorse wafted by the full-size engines as they chug the 10-mile round trip between Sheringham and Georgian Holt. It’s child-friendly, too, with a stationary activity carriage and family events. 01263 820800, www.nnrailway.co.uk ; £10.50/£7

BO’NESS AND KINNEIL

From the Firth of Forth, the Bo’ness steams through woods to Birkhill, where an old fire-clay mine now does guided tours; chuck on your hard hat and look out for 300m-year-old fossils. 01506 822298, www.srps.org.uk ; from April 4; £6/£3

KEIGHLEY AND WORTH VALLEY

Famous as the location for The Railway Children, it has buckets of charm. For bookworms, the Brontë parsonage is a stroll from the station at Haworth. 01535 645214, kwvr.co.uk ; £14/£7

Times recommends

• New York's top 10 new hotels
• A Scottish monastery retreat
• Welcome back to Rwanda