It is laid on the trackbed of the former Leadhills and Wanlockhead Branch of the Caledonian Railway which led off the main line between Carlisle and Glasgow at Elvanfoot.

The preserved section runs from Leadhills for about 1 kilometre (0.6 mi) towards Wanlockhead and is the highest adhesion railway in the UK.

The railway currently stops at the border of South Lanarkshire and Dumfries and Galloway.

For two weeks during July 2016 the railway operated an extended service, connecting with local bus routes, as the road between Wanlockhead and Leadhills was closed for repairs.

[1] The Leadhills & Wanlockhead won the Heritage Railway Association Annual Awards 2016, Small Groups