Welshpool & Llanfair Light Railway

Fifteen Flatout

Railroad Glory Days

Runaway and Collision on the W&L

Archaeodeath

0-6-0T number 822 "Earl" and 0-6-0T number 823 "Countess" work the Welshpool & Llanfair Light Railway in August 2015. Over the course of two days we took video of both locomotives running trains on the line. "Earl" is shown hauling both the vintage carriages and the European stock at various points along the line. Then there's a ride with "Countess" and a view from the front platform of the carriage.

Llanfair Railway Journal
Unknown.
1981.
Welshpool & Llanfair Light Railway.
Paperback.
5.75 x 7.9 in - 14.7 x 20.2 cm - 24 pages £2.49.
 
Booklet containing numerous articles, photographs, and drawings relating to the narrow gauge railway in Montgomeryshire, Wales.
 
Welshpool & Llanfair Light Railway
Cartwright, Ralph and Russell, R.T.
1989.
David & Charles.
Hard cover.
5.4 x 8.6 in - 13.7 x 21.8 cm - 208 pages US$13.59.
 
No review available.
 
Welshpool & Llanfair Light Railway, The
Ballantyne, Hugh
2000.
Past & Present Publishing Ltd.
Paperback.
6.6 x 9.1 in - 16.7 x 23.1 cm - 96 pages US$42.64.
 
Situated in the beautiful rolling hill country of Montgomeryshire, this 9 mile narrow gauge railway opened in 1903 to link Welshpool with Llanfair Caereinion. Passenger trains ceased in 1931 and BR closed the line in 1956, but thanks to a preservation society, this unspoiled line winds its way through the countryside to Llanfair.
 
Welshpool & Llanfair Light Railway, The
Williams, Glyn
2010.
Wild Swan Publications Ltd.
Hardcover.
8.4 x 10.8 in - 21.3 x 27.4 cm - 288 pages £41.95.
3 maps, 36 diagrams, 281 photos.
 
No review available.
 
Welshpool & Llanfair Light Railway Recollections
Heath, Mike
2016.
Silver Link Publishing Ltd. Peterborough UK.
Paperback.
9.3 x 6.7 in - 23.8 x 16.9 cm - 48 pages $14.95.
 
The W&L opened in 1903 to link the rural community of Llanfair Caereinion with the historic market town of Welshpool. A 2 foot 6 inch gauge light railway had been chosen to keep the costs of construction much lower than those associated with a standard gauge line. Furthermore, it was more suitable for the tight curves and steep gradients of the route and allowed the line to follow the contours of the countryside. Passenger services struggled to operate economically from day one and only lasted until 1931. However this sturdy little railway continued to help the communities of the Banwy Valley transport their goods, sheep, and cattle to market until competition from the motor lorry won out and goods services ceased in November 1956. An ambitious band of W&L enthusiasts embarked on saving their own local line. Their efforts were rewarded when the 1962 formed Welshpool & Llanfair Light Railway Preservation Society reopened the first section of railway from Llanfair Caereinion as far as Castle Caereinion. With the section of the line that ran through Welshpool Town centre lost to preservation, the group redeveloped the area at Raven Square to create a new terminus. Services reached there in 1981. The railway's unique locomotive collection has developed and now embraces examples from three continents including the W&L's two original locos built for the line's 1903 opening, by Beyer Peacock & Company Ltd. Their coaching stock comprises turn of the century balcony ended saloons from Austria, 1950s built bogies from Hungary, and 1960's stock from Sierra Leone. They have also invested in the construction of three replica coaches built to the specification and details of those that operated on the original line. This photographic album captures the essence of the W&L which whilst having a decidedly foreign feel to it, continues to retain the traditional atmosphere of a Welsh light railway.