Vale of Rheidol Railway
Encyclopedia
The Vale of Rheidol Railway is a narrow-gauge gauge heritage railway
that runs for 11+3/4 mi 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.
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 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.
On 1 July 1913, the line was absorbed by the Cambrian Railways
. During World War I
, the establishment of 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.
It was subsequently grouped into the Great Western Railway
(GWR) in 1923. The GWR turned it into a service solely for tourists, freight services being withdrawn, and from 1931 trains only operated during the summer months. The entire line was closed for the duration of World War II
, though maintainance continued. In July 1945 it reopened and in 1948 the line passed into the hands of British Railways. In 1968 the line was rerouted in Aberystwyth to run adjacent to the BR line into the former standard gauge Carmarthen line platforms of the main station which had been abandoned in 1965. The former standard gauge locomotive shed was also refurbished and adapted into use for this railway. The former station site is now occupied by a supermarket and the former route of this alignment has been sold for redevelopment. The line was finally privatised
in 1989 and sold to the Brecon Mountain Railway
who, in 1996, sold it on to the Phyllis Rampton Trust
. 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. In 2010 work started at Aberystwyth on construction of a new locomotive and carriage works. Future plans include construction of a new station platform and buildings at Aberystwyth close to the existing station.
When the lead mines were being worked there was an aerial cableway linking them with Rhiwfron.
The railway had a branch line which ran to Aberystwyth harbour, principally for freight services. The Harbour Branch became redundant with the predominance of tourist passenger operations and was closed and lifted. Little evidence of it remains today.
Heritage railway
thumb|right|the Historical [[Khyber train safari|Khyber Railway]] goes through the [[Khyber Pass]], [[Pakistan]]A heritage railway , preserved railway , tourist railway , or tourist railroad is a railway that is run as a tourist attraction, in some cases by volunteers, and...
that runs for 11+3/4 mi between Aberystwyth
Aberystwyth
Aberystwyth is a historic market town, administrative centre and holiday resort within Ceredigion, Wales. Often colloquially known as Aber, it is located at the confluence of the rivers Ystwyth and Rheidol....
and Devil's Bridge
Devil's Bridge, Ceredigion
Devil's Bridge is a village in Ceredigion, Wales.- Description :The bridge spans the Mynach, a tributary of the Rheidol. The bridge is unusual in that three separate bridges are coexistent, each one built upon the previous bridge...
in the county of Ceredigion
Ceredigion
Ceredigion is a county and former kingdom in mid-west Wales. As Cardiganshire , it was created in 1282, and was reconstituted as a county under that name in 1996, reverting to Ceredigion a day later...
, Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
. It was the last line to be operated by steam as part of the nationalised
Transport Act 1947
The Transport Act 1947 is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Under it the railways, long-distance road haulage and various other types of transport were acquired by the state and handed over to a new British Transport Commission for operation...
British Railways network, until it was privatised in 1989.
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
Act of Parliament
An Act of Parliament is a statute enacted as primary legislation by a national or sub-national parliament. In the Republic of Ireland the term Act of the Oireachtas is used, and in the United States the term Act of Congress is used.In Commonwealth countries, the term is used both in a narrow...
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 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.
On 1 July 1913, the line was absorbed by the Cambrian Railways
Cambrian Railways
Cambrian Railways owned of track over a large area of mid-Wales. The system was an amalgamation of a number of railways that were incorporated in 1864, 1865 and 1904...
. During World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, the establishment of 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.
It was subsequently grouped into the Great Western Railway
Great Western Railway
The Great Western Railway was a British railway company that linked London with the south-west and west of England and most of Wales. It was founded in 1833, received its enabling Act of Parliament in 1835 and ran its first trains in 1838...
(GWR) in 1923. The GWR turned it into a service solely for tourists, freight services being withdrawn, and from 1931 trains only operated during the summer months. The entire line was closed for the duration of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, though maintainance continued. In July 1945 it reopened and in 1948 the line passed into the hands of British Railways. In 1968 the line was rerouted in Aberystwyth to run adjacent to the BR line into the former standard gauge Carmarthen line platforms of the main station which had been abandoned in 1965. The former standard gauge locomotive shed was also refurbished and adapted into use for this railway. The former station site is now occupied by a supermarket and the former route of this alignment has been sold for redevelopment. The line was finally privatised
Privatisation of British Rail
The privatisation of British Rail was set in motion when the Conservative government enacted, on 19 January 1993, the British Coal and British Rail Act 1993 . This enabled the relevant Secretary of State to issue directions to the relevant Board...
in 1989 and sold to the Brecon Mountain Railway
Brecon Mountain Railway
The Brecon Mountain Railway is a narrow gauge preserved railway that runs through the Brecon Beacons along the full length of the Pontsticill Reservoir...
who, in 1996, sold it on to the Phyllis Rampton Trust
Phyllis Rampton Trust
The Phyllis Rampton Narrow Gauge Railway Trust is a British charity which is registered with the British Charity Commission as 292240 under the classification of "Education/TrainingEnvironment/Conservation/Heritage"...
. Today, it still operates as a tourist railway, offering an hour-long journey through the Cambrian Mountains
Cambrian Mountains
The Cambrian Mountains are a series of mountain ranges in Wales, reaching from, and including, the South Wales mountains of the Brecon Beacons, north Carmarthenshire and Ceredigion, the Black Mountains of eastern Wales, to Snowdonia in North Wales...
, 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
Standard gauge
The standard gauge is a widely-used track gauge . Approximately 60% of the world's existing railway lines are built to this gauge...
main line, trains leaving from the former Carmarthen
Carmarthen
Carmarthen is a community in, and the county town of, Carmarthenshire, Wales. It is sited on the River Towy north of its mouth at Carmarthen Bay. In 2001, the population was 14,648....
bay platform
Bay platform
Bay platform is a railway-related term commonly used in the UK and Australia to describe a dead-end platform at a railway station that has through lines...
. 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. In 2010 work started at Aberystwyth on construction of a new locomotive and carriage works. Future plans include construction of a new station platform and buildings at Aberystwyth close to the existing station.
- For details of the locomotives used on the line see: Vale of Rheidol Railway locomotivesVale of Rheidol Railway locomotivesthumb|No 7 Owain Glyndŵr taking water and oil at Aberystwyth depot.thumb|No 8 Llewellyn at Devil's Bridge - at this time all three steam locomotives were allocated a TOPS code, and painted in [[rail blue]] livery....
The route
There are nine stations. Whilst all trains generally stop at block stations, for operational reasons, the other (smaller) stations are request stops.- AberystwythAberystwyth railway stationAberystwyth railway station is a railway station serving the seaside and university town of Aberystwyth, Ceredigion, Wales. It is served by passenger trains operated by Arriva Trains Wales, being situated at the terminus of the Cambrian Line and also by the narrow-gauge Vale of Rheidol Railway.-...
- LlanbadarnLlanbadarn railway stationLlanbadarn railway station is a railway station serving the ancient villages of Llanbadarn Fawr and Pwllhobi near Aberystwyth in Ceredigion in Mid-Wales. It is an intermediate station on the Vale of Rheidol Railway. Alighting passengers are required to step down onto the grass as there is no platform...
- GlanrafonGlanrafon railway stationGlanrafon railway station is a railway station serving Glanrafon in Ceredigion in Mid-Wales. It is a request stop on the preserved Vale of Rheidol Railway....
- Capel BangorCapel Bangor railway stationCapel Bangor railway station is a railway station serving Capel Bangor in Ceredigion in Mid-Wales. It is an intermediate station on the preserved Vale of Rheidol Railway. The station limits are clearly defined by fencing and identified by name signs...
Passing Loop. - NantyronenNantyronen railway stationNantyronen railway station is a railway station serving Nantyronen in Ceredigion in Mid-Wales. It is an intermediate station on the preserved Vale of Rheidol Railway.-External links:....
Water Tower - AberffrwdAberffrwd railway stationAberffrwd railway station is a railway station serving Aberffrwd in Ceredigion in Mid-Wales.It is an intermediate stop on the preserved Vale of Rheidol Railway, and is equipped with a passing loop on the largely single-track route, as well as a water-tower for the steam locomotives which chiefly...
Passing Loop. - Rheidol FallsRheidol Falls railway stationRheidol Falls railway station is a railway station serving Rheidol Falls in Ceredigion in Mid-Wales. It is an intermediate station on the preserved narrow gauge Vale of Rheidol Railway....
- RhiwfronRhiwfron railway stationRhiwfron railway station is a railway station serving Rhiwfron in Ceredigion in Mid-Wales. It is an intermediate station on the preserved Vale of Rheidol Railway....
- Devil's BridgeDevil's Bridge railway stationDevil's Bridge railway station is a railway station serving Devil's Bridge in Ceredigion in Mid-Wales. It is the eastern terminus of the preserved Vale of Rheidol Railway.The station has two principal platforms, each with a hard tarmac surface...
When the lead mines were being worked there was an aerial cableway linking them with Rhiwfron.
The railway had a branch line which ran to Aberystwyth harbour, principally for freight services. The Harbour Branch became redundant with the predominance of tourist passenger operations and was closed and lifted. Little evidence of it remains today.