Vale of Rheidol Railway

& Corris Railway
 

 VALE OF RHEIDOL RAILWAY 
 
The Railway runs from Aberystwyth, up the Rheidol valley, to Devils Bridge. A distance of just under 12 miles. The line was opened in 1902 to serve the Lead mines in the Rheidol valley, and was built  to a gauge of 1ft 11.5 inches. In 1913, it was taken over by the Cambrian Railway, which in turn became part of the Great Western Railway in 1923. In 1948, it became part of British Railways, and remained so until it was sold in 1989 to the owners of the Brecon Mountain Railway.

The 3 steam locomotives which operate the line were built at the Great Western Railway's Swindon works.

Devils Bridge is close the Mynach Falls, Jacobs Ladder, and the Devil's Punchbowl.

The photographs below were taken in May 2003, on a day of sweltering heat. As can be seen, the two train service was in operation. 
 
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 CORRIS RAILWAY 
 
The Railway dates from 159, originally wagons of slate were horse drawn down the valley to a water transhipment point at Machynlleth. Passenger services did not start until 1883. In 1929 the railway was acquired by the Great Western Railway. Passenger services ceased in 1931, and the line closed completely in 1948. In 1966, the Corris Railway Preservation Society was formed, and a Museum opened in 1970. Passenger services restarted in 2002, over a short section from Corris. It is the ambition to extend the line to Tan-y-Coed, a distance of 2.5 miles.

My only visit to the line was in September 2003.  
 
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