Tanat Valley Light Railway
Encyclopedia
The Tanat Valley Light Railway (TVLR) was a 15 miles (24 km) long standard gauge
light railway
connecting Llangynog
with Blodwel in Wales
. It opened in 1903 and closed in January 1964.
railways were planned in the Welsh borders around Oswestry
and Welshpool
. One of these was a connection between Llanfyllin
with Llangynog
, first proposed in 1873. Although this railway was never built, the local communities continued to favour a railway connection, and the passage of the Light Railways Act of 1896
gave them hope that the proposal for a gauge railway might be revived. Two rival applications were made under the act in 1897: one for the Llanfyllin & Llangynog Light Railway, and one for the standard gauge Tanat Valley Light Railway.
The narrow gauge railway was rejected and the TVLR was approved. Construction began in late 1899 and was largely complete by 1902, when the line was first inspected. By 1903 a second inspection found that goods traffic was already being carried by the railway, although the official opening did not happen until January 1904.
Although passenger services were run from the official opening day, it was always mineral traffic that provided the bulk of the railway's income. By the early 1920s the company was in severe debt and was acquired by the Cambrian Railways
in 1921. In 1922 the TVLR became part of the Great Western Railway
. Passenger services ended in January 1951, with most of the line being abandoned in July 1952. The last goods traffic over the remainder of the TVLR ceased in January 1964.
Standard gauge
The standard gauge is a widely-used track gauge . Approximately 60% of the world's existing railway lines are built to this gauge...
light railway
Light railway
Light railway refers to a railway built at lower costs and to lower standards than typical "heavy rail". This usually means the railway uses lighter weight track, and is more steeply graded and tightly curved to avoid civil engineering costs...
connecting Llangynog
Llangynog
Llangynog lies at the confluence of the Afon Eirth and the Afon Tanat at the foot of the Berwyn range in Powys, Wales. Pop c.300It lies at the foot of the Milltir Cerrig mountain pass on the B4391 road, which runs between Llan Ffestiniog and Llanfyllin .It is surrounded by mountains and is a...
with Blodwel in 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 opened in 1903 and closed in January 1964.
History
As early as the 1860s, a series of narrow gaugeNarrow gauge
A narrow gauge railway is a railway that has a track gauge narrower than the of standard gauge railways. Most existing narrow gauge railways have gauges of between and .- Overview :...
railways were planned in the Welsh borders around Oswestry
Oswestry
Oswestry is a town and civil parish in Shropshire, England, close to the Welsh border. It is at the junction of the A5, A483, and A495 roads....
and Welshpool
Welshpool
Welshpool is a town in Powys, Wales, or ancient county Montgomeryshire, from the Wales-England border. The town is low-lying on the River Severn; the Welsh language name Y Trallwng literally meaning 'the marshy or sinking land'...
. One of these was a connection between Llanfyllin
Llanfyllin
Llanfyllin is a small town in Powys, Mid Wales, United Kingdom.- Location, history and amenities :Llanfyllin's population at the date of the 2001 Census was 1,407. The town lies on the River Cain by the Berwyn Mountains in Montgomeryshire. It is known for its holy well, dedicated to Saint Myllin....
with Llangynog
Llangynog
Llangynog lies at the confluence of the Afon Eirth and the Afon Tanat at the foot of the Berwyn range in Powys, Wales. Pop c.300It lies at the foot of the Milltir Cerrig mountain pass on the B4391 road, which runs between Llan Ffestiniog and Llanfyllin .It is surrounded by mountains and is a...
, first proposed in 1873. Although this railway was never built, the local communities continued to favour a railway connection, and the passage of the Light Railways Act of 1896
Light Railways Act 1896
The Light Railways Act 1896 was an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland . Before the Act each new railway line built in the country required a specific Act of Parliament to be obtained by the company that wished to construct it, which greatly added to the cost...
gave them hope that the proposal for a gauge railway might be revived. Two rival applications were made under the act in 1897: one for the Llanfyllin & Llangynog Light Railway, and one for the standard gauge Tanat Valley Light Railway.
The narrow gauge railway was rejected and the TVLR was approved. Construction began in late 1899 and was largely complete by 1902, when the line was first inspected. By 1903 a second inspection found that goods traffic was already being carried by the railway, although the official opening did not happen until January 1904.
Although passenger services were run from the official opening day, it was always mineral traffic that provided the bulk of the railway's income. By the early 1920s the company was in severe debt and was acquired by 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...
in 1921. In 1922 the TVLR became part of the Great Western Railway
Great Western Railway
The Great Western Railway was a British railway company that linked London with the south-west and west of England and most of Wales. It was founded in 1833, received its enabling Act of Parliament in 1835 and ran its first trains in 1838...
. Passenger services ended in January 1951, with most of the line being abandoned in July 1952. The last goods traffic over the remainder of the TVLR ceased in January 1964.