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Vale of Rheidol Railway
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).
It opened in 1902 and, from the withdrawal of main line steam on British Rail in 1968 until privatisation in 1989, 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.
A standard gauge railway in the Rheidol valley to the east of Aberystwyth was planned as part of the Manchester and Milford Railway route from Llanidloes to Strata Florida via Devil's Bridge. Also planned was a branch from this line from Devil's Bridge to Aberystwyth to carry timber (for pit props in the South Wales valleys) and lead ore from the Rheidol Valley to the sea and the main line railway at Aberystwyth. Many lead mines in the Rheidol valley were producing ore at the end of the 19th century, but did not have a means of transporting large quantities of ore to the harbour in Aberystwyth.
Following financial and construction difficulties, the routes from Strata Florida to Llanidloes via Devil's Bridge and branch to Aberystwyth were not built, instead in 1865 the Manchester and Milford Railway built an easier route via the Ystwyth valley to Aberystwyth. This left the Rheidol Valley and lead ore mines without a railway.
Gradually an alternative scheme was planned using a narrow gauge line to serve the Rheidol Valley was developed. Initially a 2 ft 3 in (686 mm) gauge was planned to be used similar to the nearby Plynlimon and Hafan Tramway. Following closure of this tramway, the gauge was changed to 1 ft 11+3⁄4 in (603 mm) instead. After obtaining an act of Parliament, the Vale of Rheidol (Light) Railway Act 1897 (60 & 61 Vict. c. clxxiv), it was not possible to raise finance as quickly as expected, and construction commenced in 1901. To save money, rock was hand-hewn rather than blasted. Construction was overseen by the chief engineer, Sir James Szlumper, although he left day-to-day affairs in the hands of the main contractor employed. It was during construction that the ex-Plynlimon and Hafan Tramway locomotive Talybont, regauged from 2 ft 3 in (686 mm) to 1 ft 11+3⁄4 in (603 mm) and renamed Rheidol, arrived on the line, where it would remain for the rest of its life.
In the Daily News of 9 August 1901 it was reported that the line was expected to be completed by March 1902 and the directors were hopeful for a free grant from the Treasury for the Aberayron Extension.
By the time the railway was ready to open in 1902, lead mining in Ceredigion was in steep decline. However a significant growth in tourism was under way, and the carriage of passengers soon became the principal traffic of the railway. It opened for mineral traffic in August 1902 and for passengers on 22 December 1902, using two 2-6-2T locomotives built by Davies and Metcalfe and the aforementioned Rheidol, built by Bagnall.
The original stations were Aberystwyth (located adjacent to Maesyrafon and Park Avenue), Llanbadarn, Capel Bangor, Nantyronen and Devil's Bridge (Pontarfynach). A branch ran to Aberystwyth harbour passing alongside the river Rheidol beside Riverside Terrace, underneath Trefechan bridge and behind South Road to the harbour. The final construction cost was reported as £60,000 (equivalent to £8,230,000 in 2023).
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Vale of Rheidol Railway
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).
It opened in 1902 and, from the withdrawal of main line steam on British Rail in 1968 until privatisation in 1989, 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.
A standard gauge railway in the Rheidol valley to the east of Aberystwyth was planned as part of the Manchester and Milford Railway route from Llanidloes to Strata Florida via Devil's Bridge. Also planned was a branch from this line from Devil's Bridge to Aberystwyth to carry timber (for pit props in the South Wales valleys) and lead ore from the Rheidol Valley to the sea and the main line railway at Aberystwyth. Many lead mines in the Rheidol valley were producing ore at the end of the 19th century, but did not have a means of transporting large quantities of ore to the harbour in Aberystwyth.
Following financial and construction difficulties, the routes from Strata Florida to Llanidloes via Devil's Bridge and branch to Aberystwyth were not built, instead in 1865 the Manchester and Milford Railway built an easier route via the Ystwyth valley to Aberystwyth. This left the Rheidol Valley and lead ore mines without a railway.
Gradually an alternative scheme was planned using a narrow gauge line to serve the Rheidol Valley was developed. Initially a 2 ft 3 in (686 mm) gauge was planned to be used similar to the nearby Plynlimon and Hafan Tramway. Following closure of this tramway, the gauge was changed to 1 ft 11+3⁄4 in (603 mm) instead. After obtaining an act of Parliament, the Vale of Rheidol (Light) Railway Act 1897 (60 & 61 Vict. c. clxxiv), it was not possible to raise finance as quickly as expected, and construction commenced in 1901. To save money, rock was hand-hewn rather than blasted. Construction was overseen by the chief engineer, Sir James Szlumper, although he left day-to-day affairs in the hands of the main contractor employed. It was during construction that the ex-Plynlimon and Hafan Tramway locomotive Talybont, regauged from 2 ft 3 in (686 mm) to 1 ft 11+3⁄4 in (603 mm) and renamed Rheidol, arrived on the line, where it would remain for the rest of its life.
In the Daily News of 9 August 1901 it was reported that the line was expected to be completed by March 1902 and the directors were hopeful for a free grant from the Treasury for the Aberayron Extension.
By the time the railway was ready to open in 1902, lead mining in Ceredigion was in steep decline. However a significant growth in tourism was under way, and the carriage of passengers soon became the principal traffic of the railway. It opened for mineral traffic in August 1902 and for passengers on 22 December 1902, using two 2-6-2T locomotives built by Davies and Metcalfe and the aforementioned Rheidol, built by Bagnall.
The original stations were Aberystwyth (located adjacent to Maesyrafon and Park Avenue), Llanbadarn, Capel Bangor, Nantyronen and Devil's Bridge (Pontarfynach). A branch ran to Aberystwyth harbour passing alongside the river Rheidol beside Riverside Terrace, underneath Trefechan bridge and behind South Road to the harbour. The final construction cost was reported as £60,000 (equivalent to £8,230,000 in 2023).