Your knowledge aimed beacon
Wales
Vale of Rheidol Railway
Welsh: RheilfforddCwm Rheido
The Vale of Rheidol Railway (Welsh: Rheilffordd Cwm Rheidol) is a 1 ft 11+3⁄4 in (603 mm) narrow gauge heritage railway in Ceredigion, Wales, between Aberystwyth and Devil's Bridge; a journey of 11+3⁄4 miles (18.9 km).[1]
It opened in 1902, and from the withdrawal of main line steam on British Rail in 1968 until privatisation in 1989,[2] it was the sole steam-operated line on the 1948 nationalised British Rail network. It was one of the first parts of British Rail to be privatised. Unlike most other preserved railways in the United Kingdom, the Vale of Rheidol Railway did not have a period of closure between its being part of the national rail system and becoming a heritage railway, and so has operated a continuous service for residents and tourists
 |  |  |
|---|---|---|
 |  |  |
Visit us
Address
Vale of Rheidol Railway,
Park Avenue,
Aberystwyth,
Ceredigion
SY23 1PG
Contact
+44 1970 625819
Time tables
Bala Lake Railway _
(Welsh: Rheilffordd Llyn Tegid)
Reuse of the line as a narrow-gauge railway began when local engineer, George Barnes, saw the potential of the lakeside section for both local and tourist traffic. With the help of Tom Jones CBE, then chairman of Merioneth County Council's Finance Committee, they established Rheilffordd Llyn Tegid Ltd, the first company in Wales to be registered exclusively in the Welsh language.
Bala Lake Railway opened on 13 August 1972. In its first season, it operated a small industrial diesel engine with two open carriages on 1+1⁄2 miles (2.4 km) of track between Llanuwchllyn and Pentrepiod. Extension work continued throughout this period with the help of local ex-British Rail employees. The line was extended to Llangower by the start of 1973. In 1975 the line reached a new temporary station at Pant-yr-hen-felin. The following year the line reached Bala (Llyn Tegid), now known as Bala (Penybont). There were expansion plans to extend the line into Bala's town centre by 1981 but these plans were abandoned early in that year.
The canopy at Llanuwchllyn was built in 1979 with supports which were made for the Cambrian Railways station at Pwllheli, but were relocated to Aberdovey in 1907 when Pwllheli station was moved. The stations along the line are:
Llanuwchllyn, includes the main buildings, cafe, workshops and railway offices.
Pentrepiod Halt, an operational request stop.
Glan Llyn Halt, a limited-use station, open only during the Halloween and Santa Special train services.
Llangower, principal intermediate station that all trains stop at. It has a passing loop for two-train services.
Bryn Hynod Halt, a request stop that closed in 2011 (platform demolished in February 2012).
Bala (Penybont), terminus located near the town of Bala.
The company now has the largest collection of historic narrow-gauge quarry locomotives built by the West Yorkshire Hunslet Engine Company specifically for the North Wales' slate industry.
 |  |  |
|---|---|---|
 |  |
Visit us
Address
Contact
Bala Lake Railway Ltd.
The Station
Llanuwchllyn
Gwynedd
LL23 7DD
+44(0)1678 540666
The Brecon Mountain Railway
(Welsh: Rheilffordd Mynydd Brycheiniog)
Is a 1 ft 11 3⁄4 in (603 mm) narrow gauge tourist railway on the south side of the Brecon Beacons. It climbs northwards from Pant along the full length of the Pontsticill Reservoir (also called 'Taf Fechan' reservoir by Welsh Water) and continues past the adjoining Pentwyn Reservoir to Torpantau railway station. The railway's starting point at Pant is located two miles (3 km) north of the town centre of Merthyr Tydfil, Merthyr Tydfil County Borough, South-East Wales.
The Brecon Mountain Railway was founded in the mid-1970s, by Tony Hills (1937–2015). Hills was a long time railway enthusiast who by 1970, had established a base at Gilfach Ddu on the Llanberis Lake Railway where he stored the locomotives he purchased. In 1977, he purchased five miles of trackbed of the abandoned Brecon & Merthyr Railway at Pant and moved his collection there. Construction of the BMR started in 1978, with the grant of a Light Railway Order in 1980. Track was laid between Pant and Pontsticill in 1979–80. At Pontsticill the station house was renovated, the old waiting room was converted into a small workshop and a storage shed was built. Seven bridges were repaired or replaced. The railway opened to passengers in June 1980 using the engine Sybil and one carriage.
Between 1982 and 1996, a large station and workshop were built at Pant. These provide passenger facilities including toilets, cafe, shop and booking office as well as the extensive workshop used to build and maintain the railway locomotives, carriages and wagons.
A 1+1⁄2 miles (2.4 km) extension from Pontsticill to Dol-y-Gaer opened in 1995. The railway was further extended to Torpantau, just short of the southern entrance of the Torpantau Tunnel, with passenger services commencing 1 April 2014.
 |  |  |
|---|---|---|
 |
Ffestiniog, Welsh Highland Railways & Welsh Highland Heritage Railway
Ffestiniog Railway (Welsh Rheilffordd Ffestiniog)is a listed 597 mm (1 ft 11+1⁄2 in) narrow-gauge railway located in Gwynedd, Wales. It is a major tourist attraction located mainly in the Snowdonia National Park.
The railway is approximately 21.7 km (13+1⁄2 miles) long and runs from Porthmadog harbor to the slate mining town of Blaenau Ffestiniog, passing through wooded and mountainous terrain. The entire length of the track is single-track with four transition points. The first mile of the track from Porthmadog follows an embankment called the Cob, which dams the polder known as Traeth Mawr.
The Festiniog Railway Company, which owns the line, is the oldest surviving railway company in the world. It also owns the Welsh Highland Railway, which fully opened in 2011. The two railways share the same gauge and meet at Porthmadog station, with occasional trains running the entire 40-mile (64km) route from Blaenau Ffestiniog to Caernarfon
Welsh Highland Railway (WHR) or Rheilffordd Eryriis a 25-mile (40.2 km) long, restored 597 mm (1 ft 11+1⁄2 in) narrow-gauge railway in the Welsh county of Gwynedd that runs from Caernarfon to Porthmadog and passes through a number of popular tourist destinations including Beddgelert and Aberglaslyn Pass . At Porthmadog it connects with the Ffestiniog Railway and the Welsh Highland Heritage Railway.[a] At Porthmadog it uses the only mixed gauge level crossing in the UK.
The restoration, in which the construction work was carried out mainly by contractors and the track was built mainly by volunteers, won a number of awards. Originally running from Dinas near Caernarfon to Porthmadog harbour, the line now includes a further section from Dinas to Caernarfon. The original line also had a branch to Bryngwyn and the slate quarries around Moel Tryfan which was not restored. (This branch line forms a pedestrian "railway trail", the lower part of which has been restored and provided with commemorative plaques.)
There is also a 3.4 mile (1.2 km) track from PorthmadogWelsh Highland Heritage Railway, which follows the line of the former Cambrian Railways interchange and connects to the WHR main line at Pen-y-Mount Junction.
Welsh Highland Heritage Railway The railway offers a short train journey in vintage carriages to Pen-y-Mount Junction (where there is a physical connection to the current Welsh Highland Railway), less than a mile from Porthmadog. On the return journey, the train stops at Gelerts Farm Halt, home to workshops and a museum, where visitors can also take a ride on the miniature railway before returning to Porthmadog (WHHR).
The operation of the railway is mainly taken care of by volunteers who operate the trains and maintain the railway and its infrastructure.
In 2014, the only surviving Russell steam locomotive from the original WHR returned to service following an overhaul costing approximately £250,000. Russell has been out of commission since 2003
.
Ffestiniog Railway
 |  |  |
|---|---|---|
 |  |
Welsh Highland Railway
 |  |  |
|---|---|---|
 |  |
Welsh Highland Heritage Railway
 |  |  |
|---|---|---|
 |  |
Visit us
Address
Harbor Station,
Porthmadog
Gwynedd
LL49 9NF
Contact
Timetables and Fares
+44 1766 516000
Website
The Talyllyn Railway
(Welsh: Rheilffordd Talyllyn)
The Talyllyn Railway(Welsh: Rheilffordd Talyllyn) is a narrow gauge preserved railway in Wales running for 7+1⁄4 miles (12 km)[1] from Tywyn[a] on the Mid-Wales coast to Nant Gwernol near the village of Abergynolwyn. The line was opened in 1865[3] to carry slate from the quarries at Bryn Eglwys to Tywyn, and was the first narrow gauge railway in Britain authorised by Act of Parliament to carry passengers using steam haulage.[4][5] Despite severe under-investment,[6] the line remained open, and in 1951 it became the first railway in the world to be preserved as a heritage railway by volunteers.[7][8]
Since preservation, the railway has operated as a tourist attraction, expanding its rolling stock through acquisition and an engineering programme to build new locomotives and carriages. In 1976, an extension was opened along the former mineral line from Abergynolwyn to the new station at Nant Gwernol. In 2005 a major rebuilding and extension of Tywyn Wharf station took place, including a much-expanded facility for the Narrow Gauge Railway Museum, and in 2021 the railway was designated a World Heritage Site as part of the slate landscape of north-west Wales.
The fictional Skarloey Railway, which formed part of The Railway Series of children's books by The Rev. W. Awdry, was based on the Talyllyn Railway. The preservation of the line inspired the Ealing Comedy film The Titfield Thunderbolt.
 |  |  |
|---|---|---|
 |  |
Visit us
Address
Contact
Talyllyn Railway,
Wharf Station,
Tywyn,
Gwynedd.
LL36 9EY
+44 1654 710472
Welshpool & Llanfair Light Railway Welsh: Rheilffordd y Trallwng a Llanfair Caereinion
Welshpool and Llanfair Light Railway (W&LLR) is a narrow gauge railway in Powys, Wales. The line is approximately 13.7 km (8.5 mi) long and runs in a westerly direction from the town of Welshpool (Welsh Y Trallwng) through Caereinion Castle to the village of Llanfair Caereinion.
A group of volunteers and enthusiasts took over the track and started raising money for its restoration. On 6 April 1963 the western half of the line from Llanfair Caereinion to Castle Caereinion was re-opened as a heritage railway.
On 13 December 1964, a pillar supporting a steel girder bridge over the Banwy River was severely damaged by floodwaters that toppled the bridge. During the spring and early summer of 1965, the 16th Railway Regiment of the Royal Engineers replaced the damaged masonry pillar with a fabricated steel one and restored the span to its original position. Train services between Llanfair Caereinion and Castle Caereinion resumed on 14 August 1965.
In 1972 the service was extended to Sylfaen. However, the line via Welshpool could not be restored, so the line now has a new terminus at Raven Square on the western edge of the town, opened on 18 July 1981. In 2008, negotiations were underway with Welshpool Town Hall to restore the link through the town to the main station, which along a route other than the one originally used.
Due to the 2 ft 6 in (762 mm) gauge, which is unusual for British narrow gauge railways, the locomotives and rolling stock to complement the originals had to be obtained from sources around the world including Austria's Zillertalbahn. A major grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund has enabled the restoration of both original locomotives, along with several coaches and original carriages, and the provision of new workshop facilities ready for the line's centenary.
 |  |  |
|---|---|---|
 |  |
Corris Railway
Rheilffordd Corris Railway
The Corris Railway was the first narrow gauge railway in mid Wales. Originally built in 1859 as a 2' 3" gauge horse-drawn tramway, steam locomotives arrived in 1878 and carried passengers from 1883 to 1930. The line closed in 1948 and was dismantled soon after.
The Corris Railway Museum opened in 1970 and passenger services were restored in 2002 and regular steam services returned in 2005, operated by volunteer members of the Corris Railway Company.
Round trip takes 50 minutes, including a tour of Maespoeth's 133-year-old engine room and workshops
 |  |  |
|---|---|---|
 |  |
Visit us
Address
Contact
Rheilffordd Corris Railway
Station Yard Corris,
Machynlleth,
Powys,
SY20 9SH
Teifi Valley Railway
The Teifi Valley Railway (Welsh: Rheilffordd Dyffryn Teifi) is a 2 ft (610 mm) narrow gauge railway occupying a section of the former standard gauge Great Western Railway line between Llandysul and Newcastle Emlyn. After the closure of the former line by British Rail in 1973, a preservation group built and periodically extended a narrow-gauge railway along the route, westwards from Henllan, eventually operating a 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) long line as a tourist attraction.
In 2014, the railway closed and much of the track was lifted. It re-opened in 2016, running along about 1 kilometre (0.62 mi) of relaid track.
 |  |  |
|---|---|---|
 |  |
Visit us
Address
Contact
The Teifi Valley Railway Ltd.
Station Yard
Henllan
Llandysul
Ceredigion
SA44 5TD
01559 371077