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Vale of Rheidol Railway |
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Location: 53 07N 4 07W; UK National Grid Ref: SH 582 598Enquiries to: Tel: +44 (0)1970 625819 Fax: +44 (0)1970 623769Email: info@rheidolrailway.co.uk Search WalesRails .......... Message Board |
Preserved: WalesRails: Back to Welcome page |
The Vale of Rheidol Railway is one of the Great Little Trains of Wales and celebrates
its centenary this year. It was the last steam railway owned by British Rail until it was
privatised in 1989.
Opened in 1902, it was originally built to serve the lead mines in the Rheidol Valley.
Passengers and timber also formed the mainstay of traffic on the 1ft 11¾ in gauge route
which passes through some of the most rugged terrain of any railway in the United Kingdom.
Despite the narrow gauge of the rails, the locomotives and carriages - built at the Great
Western Railway's Swindon Works between 1923 and 1838 - are as wide as their standard gauge equivalents.
A new 1,000 sq. metre workshop with machine shop, restoration workshop and loco
running shed will allow the VoR to launch an engineering apprenticeship scheme.
The VoR Railway runs for 11¾ miles from Aberystwyth to Devil's Bridge. The terminus is
adjacent to the national network station at Aberystwyth, and on the hour-long journey
passengers have spectacular views of the wooded Rheidol Valley - views unseen for decades
until the VoRR began its renovation programme ten years ago. This programme continues
today, and will see more views opened up for VoRR passengers, and improved facilities at
both terminal stations.
At Devil's bridge, there are walks to Mynach Falls, Devil's Punchbowl and Jacob's Ladder.
Trains wait for about 45 minutes before returning, and
although you can catch a later train if you need more time for sightseeing, make sure you
do not miss the last train of the day. If in doubt, confirm last times with the guard.
The VoR is open on the following dates (all dates inclusive):
Except for dates below, there are trains from Aberystwyth at 10.30am and 2.00pm only; returning from Devil's Bridge at 12.30pm and 4.00pm.
On April 9th to 12th; June 4th to 7th; and on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays between July 23rd and August 30th, trains leave Aberystwyth at 10.30am, 12.15pm, 2.00pm and 3.45pm; returning from Devil's Bridge at 12.30pm, 2.15pm, 4.00pm and 5.45pm.
On July 16th to 19th and September 3rd to 6th trains leave Aberystwyth at 11.00am, 1.00pm and 4.00pm; returning from Devil's Bridge at 11.30am; 3.30pm and 6.30pm.
All trains wait at Devil's Bridge for one hour before returning to Aberystwyth
Full return trips are not possible on the last departures from Devil's Bridge.
Single Fares
Adults £11.50; Senior Citizen £10.50; Children (travelling with an adult)£3.75; Unaccompanied Children travel at half-fare; Dogs £1.25The Vale of Rheidol Railway is adjacent to the Arriva Trains Wales
national network station at Aberystwyth.
Aberystwyth is located at the junction of the A44, A482 and A487 roads, and there is long-
and short-stay parking in the vicinity of the station.
For details of connecting bus and rail services, including travel planner and
timetables, visit the Traveline Cymru
website.
Select the link to visit the Vale of Rheidol Railway's official Website
Copyright © 1997/8/9/2000/1/2/3/4/5/6/7/8/9/10/11/12 by Deryck Lewis. All
rights reserved.
Page created March 20 1997; Redesigned March 29 1999; Updated January 22 2012
If you have any suggestions, comments, or glitches to report, please contact the author at
WalesRails
