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The Talyllyn Railway

The Talyllyn Railway (Welsh: Rheilffordd Talyllyn) is a 686 mm narrow-gauge railway in Wales running for12 km from Tywyn on the Mid-Wales coast to Nant Gwernol near the village of Abergynolwyn. The line was opened in 1865 to carry slate from the quarries at Bryn Eglwys to the port of Tywyn, and was the first narrow gauge railway in Britain authorised by Act of Parliament to carry passengers using steam haulage. Initially, the line was both freight and passenger service, though the slate quarry was its primary purpos. At the time of the line's opening, stations were provided at Pendre and Abergynolwyn. In 1867, the halt at Rhydyronen opened, followed by Dolgoch later that year and Brynglas in 1872. Some time shortly after the opening of the railway a branch to Abergynolwyn village was provided. A steep incline dropped from the mineral line east of Abergynolwyn station to the village below. From the 1880s onwards the "Grand Tour" was a popular option with tourists. By the 20th century, the Bryn Eglwys quarry's output had declined. It ceased operations in 1946, leaving the railway without its main source of income. The railway infrastructure and rolling stock fell into disrepair. Despite severe underinvestment, the line remained open, and in 1951 it became the first railway in the world to be preserved as a heritage railway by volunteers. The Talyllyn Railway Preservation Society was formed in 1950, and operations were taken over entirely by volunteers, making it the world's first volunteer-run railway. The transfer of ownership was legally complex. The transfer took place in 1951, at which point the newly formed Talyllyn Railway Preservation Society effectively took control of the railway. In the early years of preservation, the line struggled to operate using the original rolling stock. When the line was taken over in 1950 Dolgoch was the only operating locomotive and it was apparent that it was in need of a major overhaul. To enable operations to continue, two further steam locomotives, were purchased from the recently closed Corris Railway. Over the years, the railway underwent extensive restoration. The track, locomotives, and rolling stock were repaired or replaced. Yoday the railway thrives as a heritage and tourist attraction, offering scenic rides through the beautiful Fathew Valley. The railway operates daily during the tourist season. It operates its original steam locomotives, including Talyllyn (1864) and Dolgoch (1866), both over 150 years old, alongside additional locomotives acquired during preservation.

January 4th 2025

 

 
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