There are three heritage railways in Northern Ireland, reflecting Ireland's long railway history. These are:

• The Downpatrick and County Down Railway in County Down is located on part of the former Belfast & County Down Railway. Two and a half miles track has been relaid to Inch Abbey on the old route to Belfast, and a further one mile laid along the old route to Newcastle. It operates with preserved steam and diesel locomotives and vintage wooden carriages.
• The Foyle Valley Railway, in County Londonderry. The project has faced some difficulties, but does hold a quantity of preserved railway stock, on part of one of Derry city's closed railway routes (the city once had four stations).
• The Giant's Causeway and Bushmills Railway on the north coast in County Antrim. Steam-powered services run from the Giant's Causeway to Bushmills. Laid on part of the course of the original Giant's Causeway Tramway which was electric-powered, with its own hydroelectric plant – the first such system in the world.