Visited this one while out camping in Wales. Also got kicked out of a brewery in Llangollen, had to feign interest in a fishing club in an attempt to sneak into a saw mill, yet still failed, and broke down on the way back home. Got half a dozen nice shots of the brewery though, so I might put that report up soon, or whenever I can be arsed to edit up the photos 
Anyways, this old train..
Not much happened until the Light Railways Act of 1896 gave hopes of reviving previous proposals, and indeed two rival applications were made in 1897: One for the Llanfyllin & Llangynog Light Railway, and one for the standard gauge Tanat Valley Light Railway (TVLR), which ended up being approved. The contractor selected was J. Strachan of Cardiff, the same contractor for the Welshpool and Llanfair Light Railway. Construction began in late 1899 (or possibly not until 1901?) and was completed around 1902. Though the official opening did not happen until 1904, it was revealed that goods traffic had already started using the line before then.
The TVLR was never able to turn a profit and was sold to Cambrian Railways in 1921, which itself merged with Great Western Railway just a year later. The last passenger train ran in January of 1951, with most of the line laying abandoned by the summer of 52. The last of the freight traffic lasted till 1964 however.
Nowadays there's a heritage rail centre at Nantmawr, but most of the line stills sits there abandoned, including this nice old shunter - a GEC Stephenson 50-ton loco, built in the 1970s, after the line closed. What in the hell it is doing here, I could not tell you. If someone knows more of the history, please do tell.
Very photogenic place. Thanks @MK83 for posting it first.
Original post: Report - - Stephenson shunter - Tanat Valley Railway, Porthywaen branch line - Oswestry - January 2024 | Other Sites
Go check it out, better photos in there anyway.
../403
Anyways, this old train..
History
In 1866, the 'Potts' line (Potteries, Shrewsbury and North Wales Railway) was opened, running from Shrewsbury to Nantmawr. It was actually intended to continue through the Tanat Valley, all the way to Porthmadog on the coast, but funding issues got in the way. Around this time, a number of other narrow gauge railways were also planned in the Welshpool area, to support the slate industry's transportation difficulties. The small local communities also favoured a railway connection.Not much happened until the Light Railways Act of 1896 gave hopes of reviving previous proposals, and indeed two rival applications were made in 1897: One for the Llanfyllin & Llangynog Light Railway, and one for the standard gauge Tanat Valley Light Railway (TVLR), which ended up being approved. The contractor selected was J. Strachan of Cardiff, the same contractor for the Welshpool and Llanfair Light Railway. Construction began in late 1899 (or possibly not until 1901?) and was completed around 1902. Though the official opening did not happen until 1904, it was revealed that goods traffic had already started using the line before then.
The TVLR was never able to turn a profit and was sold to Cambrian Railways in 1921, which itself merged with Great Western Railway just a year later. The last passenger train ran in January of 1951, with most of the line laying abandoned by the summer of 52. The last of the freight traffic lasted till 1964 however.
Nowadays there's a heritage rail centre at Nantmawr, but most of the line stills sits there abandoned, including this nice old shunter - a GEC Stephenson 50-ton loco, built in the 1970s, after the line closed. What in the hell it is doing here, I could not tell you. If someone knows more of the history, please do tell.
Photos
Very photogenic place. Thanks @MK83 for posting it first.
Original post: Report - - Stephenson shunter - Tanat Valley Railway, Porthywaen branch line - Oswestry - January 2024 | Other Sites
Go check it out, better photos in there anyway.
../403
Last edited:
