Welshpool Raven Square railway station
Encyclopedia
Welshpool Raven Square railway station, located in Welshpool
, is the eastern terminus of the narrow gauge Welshpool and Llanfair Light Railway
(W&LLR).
, it started from a simple set of sidings located alongside the standard gauge line at Welshpool railway station
, and traversed the town by means of a twisting section of track which required continual use of the train's bell and whistle.
After nationalisation to the Great Western Railway
in the 1923 grouping
, on 9 February 1931 the line lost its passenger service, and became a freight-only line. It was temporarily re-opened to passengers between 6 and 11 August 1945 for the Eisteddfod. Freight traffic lingered on until 1956, by which time British Railways decided to close the line.
A group of volunteers and enthusiasts took the line over and started raising money to restore it. On 6 April 1963 the first section of the line was re-opened as a tourist railway. The line through Welshpool however could not be reopened, and so Raven Square was developed on the western edge of the town, opening on 18 July 1981.
, A490
and B4381 roads. It is on the western edge of Welshpool, one mile (1.6km) from the Cambrian Line
station, which is located in the eastern side of the town. Powis Castle
and its substantial grounds, lie not far to the south of the station, though not directly accessible from this point. Raven Square also hosts the Raven inn, a family traditional pub which also takes its name from Raven Square
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'...
, is the eastern terminus of the narrow gauge Welshpool and Llanfair Light Railway
Welshpool and Llanfair Light Railway
The Welshpool and Llanfair Light Railway is a narrow gauge heritage railway in Powys, Wales. The line is around long and runs westwards from the town of Welshpool via Castle Caereinion to the village of Llanfair Caereinion. The track gauge is ....
(W&LLR).
History
The W&LLR was one of the few narrow gauge branch lines to be built under the provisions of the 1896 Light Railways Act, and opened for operations on 4 April 1903 to aid economic development in a remote area. Originally operated by the Cambrian RailwaysCambrian 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...
, it started from a simple set of sidings located alongside the standard gauge line at Welshpool railway station
Welshpool railway station
Welshpool railway station is a railway station on the Cambrian Line, in Powys, mid-Wales. It serves the town of Welshpool.The modern station is a single island platform between the two railway lines, reached by a large pedestrian bridge over the eastbound railway line and the A483 road. It has no...
, and traversed the town by means of a twisting section of track which required continual use of the train's bell and whistle.
After nationalisation to 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...
in the 1923 grouping
Railways Act 1921
The Railways Act 1921, also known as the Grouping Act, was an enactment by the British government of David Lloyd George intended to stem the losses being made by many of the country's 120 railway companies, move the railways away from internal competition, and to retain some of the benefits which...
, on 9 February 1931 the line lost its passenger service, and became a freight-only line. It was temporarily re-opened to passengers between 6 and 11 August 1945 for the Eisteddfod. Freight traffic lingered on until 1956, by which time British Railways decided to close the line.
A group of volunteers and enthusiasts took the line over and started raising money to restore it. On 6 April 1963 the first section of the line was re-opened as a tourist railway. The line through Welshpool however could not be reopened, and so Raven Square was developed on the western edge of the town, opening on 18 July 1981.
Location
The Raven Square station is situated by the roundabout that is the junction of the A458A458 road
The A458 is a route on the UK highway network that runs from Mallwyd, near Machynlleth, in Wales, to Halesowen, near Stourbridge, in England. On the way it passes through Welshpool, Shrewsbury, Much Wenlock, Bridgnorth and Stourbridge.-Welshpool to Shrewsbury:...
, A490
A490 road
The A490 is a road in the United Kingdom running from Churchstoke, Powys to Llanfyllin, also in Powys. The road runs for a short distance through Shropshire in England.- The route :...
and B4381 roads. It is on the western edge of Welshpool, one mile (1.6km) from the Cambrian Line
Cambrian Line
The Cambrian Line is a railway from Shrewsbury to Welshpool, Aberystwyth and Pwllheli. The railway runs first through the central part of Wales and then along the coast of Cardigan Bay....
station, which is located in the eastern side of the town. Powis Castle
Powis Castle
Powis Castle is a medieval castle, fortress and grand country mansion located near the town of Welshpool, in Powys, Mid Wales.The residence of the Earl of Powis, the castle is known for its extensive, attractive formal gardens, terraces, parkland, deerpark and landscaped estate...
and its substantial grounds, lie not far to the south of the station, though not directly accessible from this point. Raven Square also hosts the Raven inn, a family traditional pub which also takes its name from Raven Square