Wales has long been renowned for its distinctive collection of narrow-gauge railways. Ranging from the Talyllyn and Corris to the Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland, these little lines have provided the valleys with slate, lead and timber for centuries. As well as freight, passengers services were a frequent fixture of many routes and nowhere were they more popular than on the two-foot gauge railway running through the Vale of Rheidol.
Opened in 1902, the line from Aberystwyth on the Cambrian Coast to Devil’s Bridge in the Rheidol Valley has delighted holidaymakers with its twisting turns, steep gradients and breathtaking scenery. Operated by a unique trio of tank engines, this line has been operated by the Cambrain, Great Western and British Railways where, iconically, it became the only steam-operated system on the national network. After surviving the scrapman for twenty years after the end of steam, the Devil’s Bridge branch was finally closed in 1988. However, the Phyliss Rampton Narrow Gauge Railway Trust immediately took ownership and the Vale of Rheidol Railway continues to attract enthusiasts and tourists from across the world.
The ‘Rheidol Steam Festival’ would be held over the August Bank Holiday weekend, celebrating all of the line’s operational steam locomotives. During the railway’s heyday in the early 20th century, the original Davies and Metcalfe engines struggled with the increasing traffic. Therefore, George England 4-4-0 4 ‘Palmerston’ was hired in from the Ffestiniog Railway for five summer seasons. To commemorate her hundred-and-sixtieth anniversary in 2024, ‘Palmerston’ would once again spend the summer on the Rheidol, pulling special services as well as heading up the gala. Supporting her would be two of the line’s GWR 2-6-2Ts: 7 ‘Owain Glyndwr’ and 8 ‘Llywelyn’, both celebrating their centenary. NG G13 Garratt 60 ‘Drakensberg’ was acquired by the VOR in 2017, having spent its working life in South Africa and Switzerland. She would be making her first gala appearance since returning to action in 2022. So, four locomotives of wildly diverse backgrounds, but the roster was far from complete just yet.
To the surprise of many, Gwalior Pacific Railway 762 from India was placed on static display outside the museum at Aberystwyth for the duration of the event. Part of the infamous Peter Rampton collection, the loco has been out of the public gaze for over four decades and remains in ‘as withdrawn’ condition (although that may be about to change). Furthermore, visitors could have the chance to drive an engine for themselves, with ‘Quarry Hunslet’ 605 ‘Margaret’ & Kerr Stuart ‘Wren’ 3114 on duty at Aberystwyth and Devil’s Bridge. With a ‘George England’, two Rheidol Tanks, a Garrett, a ‘Quarry Hunslet’ and a ‘Wren’ all in action, the roster was a who’s who of narrow gauge steam traction. What more could a rail enthusiast want?!
I visited on all three days of the event. Four return services to Devil’s Bridge ran each day hauled either by ‘Drakensberg’ or the Rheidol pair. ‘Palmerston’ operated two shuttle services with a three-coach set to Capel Bangor and Aberfrwdd before undertaking a full line run at 16:00. Needless to say, the dainty 4-4-0 made some incredible noise on gradients as steep as 1-in-27! The weather was mostly kind all weekend with only Sunday seeing the occasional shower creep in amongst the Welsh valleys. Both ends of the railway were bustling with activity and every train ran like clockwork. It was possibly the most punctual gala I’ve ever attended!
The full lineup consisted of:
Visiting:
FR ‘Small England’ 4-4-0TT 4 ‘Palmerston’ (from the Ffestiniog Railway. Visiting the VOR for the summer season)
Home Fleet:
GWR Collett Rheidol 2-6-2T 7 ‘Owain Glyndwr’
GWR Collett Rheidol 2-6-2T 8 ‘Llywelyn’
SAR NG G13 Garrett 2-6-2+2-6-2 60 ‘Drakensberg’
Hunslet ‘Small Quarry’ 0-4-0ST 605 ‘Margaret (on Driver Experience at Aberystwyth)
Kerr Stuart ‘Wren’ 0-4-0ST 3114 (on Driver Experience at Devil’s Bridge)
Gwalior Pacific Railway Bagnall 4-6-2 762 (on static display at Aberystwyth)
I hope you all enjoy the video. Huge thanks all staff and volunteers of the Vale of Rheidol Railway for an absolutely superb gala as well as to Will and Barney for their assistance in the making of this video. If you’re ever in Wales, you must spend a day on this railway. It must be one of the most spectacular journeys in Britain. Check us out on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/secondvalvesteam/ for behind-the-scenes photos and updates. Which railway would you like to see me visit next? Let me know in the comments below and feel free to subscribe!