Elan Valley Railway
Encyclopedia
The Elan Valley Railway was a Welsh
industrial railway
built to assist in the construction of the Elan Valley Reservoirs
in mid Wales
. It was in operation from 1896 up until about 1912/1916.
were built to supply water to Birmingham
, and were authorized by an Act of Parliament
in June 1891. By 1893 dam construction was underway and the railway was completed in 1896. At its maximum extent, the railway had 33 miles (53.1 km) of track supporting the construction work, running from a junction with the Cambrian Railways
Mid Wales line near Rhayader
to, at the furthest point, the Craig Goch dam site.
The railway, which consisted of four lines, known as Railway No. 1, Railway No. 2, Railway No. 3 and Railway No. 4, was owned and operated by the Birmingham Corporation Water Department
(now Birmingham City Council) which also owned the dams and associated works. The railway was mainly operated using a fleet of steam locomotive
s owned by the Corporation, with occasional assistance from locomotives borrowed from neighbouring railways.
The dams were officially opened by King Edward VII on 21 July 1904, although construction continued until 1906. The railway connection with the Cambrian Railways line was reduced from a loop and double junction to a single junction in June 1908, as traffic reduced. The majority of the EVR was lifted by 1912, with the final main line track being removed in 1916.
As of 1997, most of the line was walkable; and three such walks have been described.
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
industrial railway
Industrial railway
An industrial railway is a type of railway that is not available for public transportation and is used exclusively to serve a particular industrial, logistics or military site...
built to assist in the construction of the Elan Valley Reservoirs
Elan Valley Reservoirs
The Elan Valley Reservoirs are a chain of man-made lakes and reservoirs in the Elan Valley in Powys, Mid Wales , using the rivers Elan and Claerwen...
in mid Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
. It was in operation from 1896 up until about 1912/1916.
History
The four dams in the Elan ValleyElan Valley
The Elan Valley is a river valley situated to the west of Rhayader, in Powys, Wales, sometimes known as the "Welsh Lake District". It covers of lake and countryside....
were built to supply water to Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
, and were authorized by an Act of Parliament
Act of Parliament
An Act of Parliament is a statute enacted as primary legislation by a national or sub-national parliament. In the Republic of Ireland the term Act of the Oireachtas is used, and in the United States the term Act of Congress is used.In Commonwealth countries, the term is used both in a narrow...
in June 1891. By 1893 dam construction was underway and the railway was completed in 1896. At its maximum extent, the railway had 33 miles (53.1 km) of track supporting the construction work, running from a junction with the Cambrian Railways
Cambrian Railways
Cambrian Railways owned of track over a large area of mid-Wales. The system was an amalgamation of a number of railways that were incorporated in 1864, 1865 and 1904...
Mid Wales line near Rhayader
Rhayader
Rhayader is a market town and community in Powys, Mid Wales. It has a population of 2,075, and is the first town on the banks of the River Wye, from its source on the Plynlimon range of the Cambrian Mountains....
to, at the furthest point, the Craig Goch dam site.
The railway, which consisted of four lines, known as Railway No. 1, Railway No. 2, Railway No. 3 and Railway No. 4, was owned and operated by the Birmingham Corporation Water Department
Birmingham Corporation Water Department
The Birmingham Corporation Water Department was responsible for the supply of water to Birmingham from 1876 to 1974. It was also known as Birmingham Corporation Waterworks Department.-Early History 1808 - 1876:...
(now Birmingham City Council) which also owned the dams and associated works. The railway was mainly operated using a fleet of steam locomotive
Steam locomotive
A steam locomotive is a railway locomotive that produces its power through a steam engine. These locomotives are fueled by burning some combustible material, usually coal, wood or oil, to produce steam in a boiler, which drives the steam engine...
s owned by the Corporation, with occasional assistance from locomotives borrowed from neighbouring railways.
The dams were officially opened by King Edward VII on 21 July 1904, although construction continued until 1906. The railway connection with the Cambrian Railways line was reduced from a loop and double junction to a single junction in June 1908, as traffic reduced. The majority of the EVR was lifted by 1912, with the final main line track being removed in 1916.
As of 1997, most of the line was walkable; and three such walks have been described.