Tourist and Enthusiast Railways

Wales

Welsh Highland Railway crossing with Network Rail
The unique narrow gauge / standard gauge flat crossing of the Welsh Highland Railway
with Network Rail at Porthmadog, shortly after its installation in November 2006.
The crossing forms part of the Welsh Highland Railway extension from Rhyd-Ddu to Porthmadog.
(Photo: Welsh Highland Railway Project)
Aberystwyth Cliff Railway
Aberystwyth. Cliff railway with a rise of 389 feet (118 m) to the top of Constitution Hill.
Anglesey Central Railway / Lein Amlwch
Project to reopen the line from Gaerwen to Amlwch on the island of Anglesey (17½ miles, 28 km). Standard gauge.
Bala Lake Railway / Rheilffordd Llyn Tegid
Llanuwchllyn to Bala: 4½ miles (7.2 km). 600 mm gauge. Steam hauled.
Barry Tourist Railway
Two separate lines from Plymouth Road, Barry Island calling at Barry Island Arriva Trains Wales station: to Waterfront (1 mile, 1.6km) and to Gladstone Bridge (1½ miles, 2.4km). Extension proposed from Gladstone Bridge to Barry Dock (a further ½ mile, 0.8km). Possible future extension from Plymouth Road to Barry Pier, about ¼ miles (0.4km). Standard gauge. Steam and diesel hauled and diesel railcars.
Brecon Mountain Railway
Pant (near Merthyr Tydfil) to Dol-y-Gaer: 3 miles (4.8 km). Possible future extension planned Torpantau. 600 mm gauge. Steam hauled.
The Cambrian
Steam trains operating on the Network Rail route between Machynlleth and Pwllheli: 57¾ miles (93 km).
Cambrian Heritage Railways
Currently operating on two short stretches of standard gauge line: at Llynclys (about ¾ mile, 1.2 km) and at Oswestry station (about 330 yards, 300 m), the former normally operated by heritage diesel multiple unit and the latter by diesel locomotive hauled brake van. Long term plans envisage reopening the whole of the line between Gobowen and Pant, about 8¼ miles (13 km).
Centre for Alternative Technology
Machynlleth. A modern, water-balance cliff railway with a rise of 110 feet (33 m) connects the centre to the car park (Website contains little information relating to railway)
Conwy Valley Railway Museum
Betws-y-Coed (next to Arriva Trains Wales station). 7¼ in (184 mm) gauge miniature railway, over ½ mile (0.8 km) in length, steam or diesel hauled; and a 15 in (381 mm) gauge miniature electric tram line, also about ½ mile (0.8 km).
Corris Railway
Corris (near Machynlleth) to Maespoeth, a little over ½ mile (almost 1 km). Extension planned to Tan-y-Coed, a total of 2½ miles (4 km). 2 ft 3 in (686 mm) gauge.
Dibleys Nurseries Railway
Dibleys Nurseries, Llanelidan, near Ruthin. 7¼ in (184 mm) gauge miniature railway, about 950 yards (870 m) in length, steam or battery electric hauled (Website contains little information relating to railway)
Dolgarrog Railway
Project to restore about ¾ mile (1.2km) of line from a point just outside the Dolgarrog Aluminium works to the Arriva Trains Wales station. Standard gauge.
Fairbourne Steam Railway
Fairbourne (New Station / Gorsaf Newydd adjacent to Arriva Trains Wales station) to Penrhyn Point (for ferry to Barmouth): 2½ miles (4 km). 12¼ in gauge. Steam hauled.
Ffestiniog Railway / Rheilffordd Ffestiniog
Harbour station, Porthmadog (interchange with Welsh Highland Railway) via Minffordd (connection possible with Arriva Trains Wales) to Blaenau Ffestiniog (Arriva Trains Wales station): 13½ miles (21.6 km). 600 mm gauge. Steam Hauled.
Garw Valley Railway
Project to reopen 5 miles (8 km) of line between Pontycymer and Brynmenyn (near Tondu).
Glyn Valley Tramway
Chirk: project to reopen about ¾ mile (1 km) of the former tramway, with a planned extension of a further 1 mile (1.5 km) and a possible future extension to Glyn Ceiriog, a total distance of about 6 miles (10 km). The original tramway was built to the unusual gauge of 2 ft 4½ in (724 mm), although the restored tramway may use a different gauge for reasons of availability of suitable equipment.
Great Orme Tramway / Tramffordd y Gogarth
Llandudno. Connects the town to the Great Orme headland, in two sections: Victoria to Halfway, 872 yards (797 m) and Halfway to Summit, 827 yards (756 m). Funicular railway with some street running, unique in the UK. 3 ft 6 in (1067 mm) gauge.
Gwili Railway / Rheilffordd Gwili
Bronwydd Arms to Danycoed: 2¼ miles (3.6 km). Extension proposed from Bronwydd Arms to Carmarthen North, a further 2 miles (3.2 km). Standard gauge. Usually steam hauled. Dining trains operate at certain times. There is also a 7¼ in (184 mm) gauge miniature railway at Llwyfan Cerrig station, about 250 yards (230 m) in length, steam or petrol hauled
Llanberis Lake Railway / Rheilffordd Llyn Padarn
Llanberis (across road from Snowdon Mountain Railway station) to Penllyn: 2½ miles (4 km). 600 mm gauge. Steam hauled.
Llanelli & Mynydd Mawr Railway
Project, based at Cynheidre, to reopen all or part of the line from Llanelli to Tumble. Standard gauge. There are also plans for a miniature railway at the Cynheidre site.
Llangollen Railway
Llangollen to Carrog: 7½ miles (12 km). Proposed extension to Corwen, a further 1½ miles (2 km). Standard gauge. Steam and diesel hauled and diesel railcars, Dining trains operate at certain times.
Llechwedd Slate Caverns
Llechwedd (near Blaenau Ffestiniog). There are two passenger carrying railways on the site, both partly underground:
Margam Park Train
Margam Country Park (near Port Talbot). Castle to Orangery, a little under 1½ miles (2.3 km). 2 ft (610 mm) gauge. Diesel hauled with steam outline locomotive.
Oakwood Theme Park
Theme park near Narberth with a 15 in (381 mm) gauge miniature railway about 1100 yards (1 km) in length, petrol hauled (Website contains very little information relating to railway)
Pembrey Country Park Railway
Pembrey (near Llanelli). Line over ½ mile (0.9 km) in length. 2 ft (610 mm) gauge.
Pontypool & Blaenavon Railway
Blaenavon to Whistle Inn via Furnace Sidings, about 1¾ miles (2.8 km), and Furnace Sidings to Big Pit National Coal Museum, about ½ mile (0.8 km). Steam and diesel hauled and diesel railcars.
Rhyl Miniature Railway / Rheilffordd Fychan y Rhyl
Rhyl. Line about 1 mile (1.6 km). 15 in (381 mm) gauge. Usually steam hauled.
Snowdon Mountain Railway
Llanberis (across road from Llanberis Lake Railway station) to Snowdon Summit: 4¾ miles (7.6 km), with a rise of 3140 ft (957 m). 800 mm gauge Abt rack system, the only rack railway in the UK. Steam locomotives propel a single carriage uphill and provide braking when proceeding down.
Talyllyn Railway / Rheilffordd Talyllyn
Tywyn, Wharf station (adjacent to Arriva Trains Wales station) to Nant Gwernol: 7¼ miles (11.6 km). 2 ft 3 in (686 mm) gauge. Usually steam hauled.
Teifi Valley Railway
Henllan (near Newcastle Emlyn) to Pont Goch: about 1½ miles (2.4 km). Extension proposed from Henllan to Pentrecwt, a further 2¼ miles (3.6 km). 600 mm gauge. Usually steam hauled. There is also a 7¼ in (184 mm) gauge miniature railway, about 400 yards (366 m) in length, at Henllan (No website located at present)
Vale of Rheidol Railway
Aberystwyth to Devil’s Bridge: 11¾ miles (18.9 km). 600 mm gauge. Steam hauled.
Welsh Highland Heritage Railway
Porthmadog (WHR station, near the Arriva Trains Wales station) to Pen-y-Mount (about ½ mile, 0.8 km). Interchange at Pen-y-Mount with the Welsh Highland Railway. 600 mm gauge. Steam or diesel hauled. There is also a 7¼ in (184 mm) gauge miniature railway near the Engine Sheds, which are served by a platform on the Heritage Railway
Welsh Highland Railway / Rheilffordd Eryri
Castle Square, Caernarfon to Porthmadog (22¾ miles, 36.6 km). Interchange at Pen-y-Mount with the Welsh Highland Heritage Railway and at Porthmadog (Harbour station) with the Ffestiniog Railway. 600 mm gauge. Usually steam hauled.
Welshpool & Llanfair Light Railway
Raven Square on the outskirts of Welshpool to Llanfair Careinion: 8 miles (12.8 km). Possible future extension into Welshpool itself. 2 ft 6 in (762 mm) gauge. Steam hauled
Back to Top
Railways Home
Railways in Britain
Tourist & Enthusiast Railways
Glyn Williams’ Home
© 2000-2012 Glyn Williams
HTML 5