Whitland & Cardigan Railway
Encyclopedia
The Whitland & Cardigan Railway was a fourteen and a half mile long Great Western Railway
built branch railway line that ran between on the West Wales Line
to via nine intermediate stations, , , , , , , , , and .
to Llanfyrnach
on 24 March 1873, and on to Crymych Arms in October 1874. In 1877 the name was changed to the Whitland & Cardigan Railway and the extension to Cardigan opened on 1 September 1886. The Great Western Railway
took over the working as of that date and three locomotives were added to stock although the complete undertaking was not purchased until 1890.
The line was noted for its rural nature, with the railway passing through small centres of population, with attractive scenery and over severe gradients. For many in the area, the line was the focus of the local community and its closure marked a change in a whole way of life and the end of an era.
The line was closed to passenger traffic on 8 September 1962, the last train being the 5.45pm Cardigan Mail. For a while the line remained open to freight traffic, but final closure took place on the 27th May 1963. The track was lifted completely by the end of 1964. Initially the stations at Crymych and Cardigan initially remained open as non-rail connected freight terminals, but this was also short lived.
The trackbed in the main is reasonably intact today, with most having been sold off although small scale development has taken place at some locations, such as at Llanfallteg and Cardigan
station sites.
Today, a local Welsh language paper uses the nickname of the line- "The Cardi Bach"
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...
built branch railway line that ran between on the West Wales Line
West Wales Line
The West Wales Lines are a group of railway lines from Swansea through Carmarthenshire to Pembrokeshire, West Wales...
to via nine intermediate stations, , , , , , , , , and .
History
Originally called the Whitland & Taf Vale Railway, the line was opened in stages from a junction 2 miles west of WhitlandWhitland
Whitland is a small town in Carmarthenshire, south-west Wales, lying on the River Tâf. Whitland is home to the elusive "Whitland Trout" noted for its eggs and oily scales.- History :...
to Llanfyrnach
Llanfyrnach
thumb|250 px|right|The parish church of St Brynach, LlanfyrnachLlanfyrnach is a village and parish in the hundred of Cemais, Pembrokeshire, Wales. The name means "church of St Brynach". It is situated in a remote upland area on the headwaters of the River Tâf, about 18 km from Cardigan, the...
on 24 March 1873, and on to Crymych Arms in October 1874. In 1877 the name was changed to the Whitland & Cardigan Railway and the extension to Cardigan opened on 1 September 1886. 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...
took over the working as of that date and three locomotives were added to stock although the complete undertaking was not purchased until 1890.
The line was noted for its rural nature, with the railway passing through small centres of population, with attractive scenery and over severe gradients. For many in the area, the line was the focus of the local community and its closure marked a change in a whole way of life and the end of an era.
The line was closed to passenger traffic on 8 September 1962, the last train being the 5.45pm Cardigan Mail. For a while the line remained open to freight traffic, but final closure took place on the 27th May 1963. The track was lifted completely by the end of 1964. Initially the stations at Crymych and Cardigan initially remained open as non-rail connected freight terminals, but this was also short lived.
The trackbed in the main is reasonably intact today, with most having been sold off although small scale development has taken place at some locations, such as at Llanfallteg and Cardigan
Cardigan, Ceredigion
Cardigan is a town in the county of Ceredigion in Mid Wales. It lies on the estuary of the River Teifi at the point where Ceredigion meets Pembrokeshire. It was the county town of the pre-1974 county of Cardiganshire. It is the second largest town in Ceredigion. The town's population was 4,203...
station sites.
Today, a local Welsh language paper uses the nickname of the line- "The Cardi Bach"