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Welsh: Rheilffordd Dyffryn Rheidol |
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| Locale | Ceredigion, Wales |
| Terminus | Aberystwyth and Devil's Bridge |
| Commercial operations | |
| Name | Rheilffordd Dyffryn Rheidol |
| Built by | Engineer: James Szlumper |
| Original gauge | 1 ft 113⁄4 in (603 mm) |
| Preserved operations | |
| Owned by | Trust Rheilffordd Dyffryn Rheidol |
| Operated by | Rheilffordd Dyffryn Rheidol Ltd. |
| Stations | 9 |
| Length | 113⁄4 miles (18.91 km) |
| Preserved gauge | 1 ft 113⁄4 in (603 mm) |
| Commercial history | |
| Opened | August 1902 Opened for passengers: 22 December 1902 Cambrian Railways: 1 July 1913 GWR Grouping: 1923 British Railways: 1948 Last BR Steam railway: from 1967 |
| Closed | Privatised |
| Preservation history | |
| 1989 | Privatised |
The Vale of Rheidol Railway (VoR, Welsh: Rheilffordd Dyffryn Rheidol ) is a narrow-gauge 1 ft 113⁄4 in (603 mm) gauge heritage railway that runs for 113⁄4 miles (18.91 km) between Aberystwyth and Devil's Bridge in the county of Ceredigion, Wales. It was the last line to be operated by steam as part of the nationalised British Railways network, until it was privatised in 1989.
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History
A narrow gauge railway in the area of Aberystwyth was first proposed after the initial route planned for the Manchester and Milford Railway, from Llanidloes to Aberystwyth via Devil's Bridge, was altered and then abandoned before construction started.
The original primary purpose of the line was to carry timber and ore from the Rheidol valley to the sea and the main line railway at Aberystwyth. Many lead mines in the valley were producing ore at the end of the 19th century. Construction was begun in 1901 following an Act of Parliament in 1897. Rock was hand-hewn instead of being blasted, in order to save money.
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 passengers soon became the principal traffic of the railway. It opened for mineral traffic in August 1902 and for passengers on 22 December 1902.
During World War I military camps in the valley and the need for timber for the war effort meant that freight became the principal revenue source for a short while.
On 1 July 1913, the line was absorbed by the Cambrian Railways. It was subsequently grouped into the Great Western Railway (GWR) in 1923. The GWR turned it into a service for tourists, freight services being withdrawn and only a summer season of trains being operated from the 1930s. The entire line was closed for the duration of World War II, though maintained so that in 1946 it reopened, and in 1948 passed into the hands of British Railways. The line was finally privatised in 1989, sold to the Brecon Mountain Railway, who in 1996 sold it on to the Phyllis Rampton Trust.[1] Today it still operates as a tourist railway offering an hour-long journey through the Cambrian Mountains, much of it at a gradient of 1 in 50 (2%). The headquarters of the railway are at Aberystwyth, where it shares a terminus with the standard gauge main line, trains leaving from the former Carmarthen bay platform. For many years, it was the sole steam-operated line on the British Rail network, steam traction having ceased in 1968 on all other parts of the system. Accordingly, Aberystwyth depot was a popular and significant request for engine crews to transfer to.[citation needed]
- For details of the locomotives used on the line see: Vale of Rheidol Railway locomotives
The route
There are nine stations. Whilst all trains generally stop at block stations, for operational reasons, the other (smaller) stations are request stops.
- Aberystwyth - Block station, passing loop, and terminus.
- Llanbadarn
- Glanrafon
- Capel Bangor - Block station and passing loop.
- Nantyronen
- Aberffrwd - Block station and passing loop.
- Rheidol Falls
- Rhiwfron
- Devil's Bridge - Block station, passing loop, and terminus.
When the lead mines were being worked there was an aerial cableway linking them with Rhiwfron.
In addition to the mainline, which still operates, there was a branch line which ran to Aberystwyth harbour. However, the branch line was intended principally for freight services, and became redundant with the predominance of tourist passenger operations. The branch line was closed and lifted, and little evidence of it remains today.[2]
Gallery
 No 8 (like sister engines 7 and 9) had probably the oddest application of the rail blue livery during the 1970s |
 Train with No 7 leaving Aberystwyth station |
 No. 9 "Prince of Wales" rests at Devil's Bridge after arrival from Aberystwyth. |
 Front view of No. 9 |
See also
References
- ^ Boyd-Hope, Gary (January 2009). "Rheidol revival: 20 years of private enterprise". Steam Railway 358: 91-5.
- ^ Parts of the route may be traced via the Geograph Project as here, for example.
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Vale of Rheidol Railway |
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