Number of Images on this Page = 18


The Vale of Rheidol Railway

The Vale of Rheidol is a 1'11.5" gauge line (usually rounded up to 2'!!), and was built in 1901, opening for passenger traffic in December 1902. Unlike most of the other Welsh preserved narrow gauge railways, the Vale of Rheidol was always primarily a passenger line, drawing its custom from tourists in the summer months, and miners travelling to the lead mines along the railway at other times. In 1910, an army camp at Lovesgrove further swelled the passenger traffic.

The line is notable too for the fact that it was operated up until 1989 by British Railways, including the use of steam locomotives. Notice in the pictures the BR logo on the side of the tanks. The three 2-6-2T locos, no.7 Owain Glyndwr , no.8 Llewelyn and no.9 Prince of Wales provide the motive power, all being built in 1923 at Swindon (note the standard GWR safety valve covers). It was suggested that the third was originally built by Davies and Metcalfe in 1902, but heavily overhauled and rebuilt in 1924 to match the other two: however this was a ruse used for accountancy reasons!

  • Image : dir=br/rheidol/ page=index 86377 bytes, pixels
  • Date : 01 Sep 1980, catalogued 14 Mar 1999
  • Photographer : John Hurst
  • Medium : Kodachrome, slide number 10404
  • Description : An idyllic Welsh steam scene near Devil's Bridge.


  • Image : dir=br/rheidol/ page=index 71570 bytes, pixels
  • Date : 01 Sep 1980, catalogued 14 Mar 1999
  • Photographer : John Hurst
  • Medium : Kodachrome, slide number 10405
  • Description : Llewellyn approaching Devil's Bridge.


  • Image : dir=br/rheidol/ page=index 80579 bytes, pixels
  • Date : 01 Sep 1980, catalogued 14 Mar 1999
  • Photographer : John Hurst
  • Medium : Kodachrome, slide number 10411
  • Description : Close-up of the unusual combination of outside frames and Walschhaert's valve gear on Llewellyn .


  • Image : dir=br/rheidol/ page=index 49410 bytes, pixels
  • Date : 09 Sep 1980, catalogued 24 Mar 1999
  • Photographer : John Hurst
  • Medium : Kodachrome, slide number 10565
  • Description : Owain Glyndwr near Capel Bangor


  • Image : dir=br/rheidol/ page=index 70850 bytes, pixels
  • Date : 09 Sep 1980, catalogued 24 Mar 1999
  • Photographer : John Hurst
  • Medium : Kodachrome, slide number 10567
  • Description : Owain Glyndwr at Nantyronen.


  • Image : dir=br/rheidol/ page=index 94849 bytes, pixels
  • Date : 09 Sep 1980, catalogued 27 Mar 1999
  • Photographer : John Hurst
  • Medium : Kodachrome, slide number 10570
  • Description : Owain Glyndwr near Nantyronen.


  • Image : dir=br/rheidol/ page=index 85252 bytes, pixels
  • Date : 09 Sep 1980, catalogued 27 Mar 1999
  • Photographer : John Hurst
  • Medium : Kodachrome, slide number 10573
  • Description : Owain Glyndwr .


  • Image : dir=br/rheidol/ page=index 129981 bytes, pixels
  • Date : 09 Sep 1980, catalogued 27 Mar 1999
  • Photographer : John Hurst
  • Medium : Kodachrome, slide number 10573
  • Description : Owain Glyndwr (landscape mode cropping of above image).


  • Image : dir=br/rheidol/ page=index 150216 bytes, pixels
  • Date : 09 Sep 1980, catalogued 27 Mar 1999
  • Photographer : John Hurst
  • Medium : Kodachrome, slide number 10576
  • Description : Owain Glyndwr taking water at ??.


  • Image : dir=br/rheidol/ page=index 48678 bytes, pixels
  • Date : 01 Sep 1980, catalogued 10 Mar 1999
  • Photographer : John Hurst
  • Medium : Kodachrome, slide number 10388
  • Description : Prince of Wales at Aberyswyth Station.


  • Image : dir=br/rheidol/ page=index 81363 bytes, pixels
  • Date : 01 Sep 1980, catalogued 11 Mar 1999
  • Photographer : John Hurst
  • Medium : Kodachrome, slide number 10393
  • Description : Prince of Wales at Aberffrwd Station.


  • Image : dir=br/rheidol/ page=index 107590 bytes, pixels
  • Date : 01 Sep 1980, catalogued 11 Mar 1999
  • Photographer : John Hurst
  • Medium : Kodachrome, slide number 10394
  • Description : Prince of Wales at Aberffrwd Station.


  • Image : dir=br/rheidol/ page=index 123895 bytes, pixels
  • Date : 01 Sep 1980, catalogued 11 Mar 1999
  • Photographer : John Hurst
  • Medium : Kodachrome, slide number 10399
  • Description : Prince of Wales rounds a bend on the Vale of Rheidol Railway.


  • Image : dir=br/rheidol/ page=index 65408 bytes, pixels
  • Date : 01 Sep 1980, catalogued 11 Mar 1999
  • Photographer : John Hurst
  • Medium : Kodachrome, slide number 10400
  • Description : Prince of Wales at Devil's Bridge Station.


  • Image : dir=br/rheidol/ page=index 137921 bytes, pixels
  • Date : 01 Sep 1980, catalogued 11 Mar 1999
  • Photographer : John Hurst
  • Medium : Kodachrome, slide number 10403
  • Description : Prince of Wales at Devil's Bridge Station.


  • Image : dir=br/rheidol/ page=index 150713 bytes, 884x525 pixels
  • Date : Aug 1998, catalogued 24 Sep 2000
  • Photographer : Stewart Hughes
  • Medium : digital image, image location ValeofRheidol
  • Description : Here's a picture of the Prince of Wales on the Vale of Rheidol railway which was taken in August 1998 and may surprise you - all your photos of this loco show it in blue livery!


  • Image : dir=br/rheidol/ page=index 39434 bytes, pixels
  • Date : 01 Sep 1980, catalogued 10 Mar 1999
  • Photographer : John Hurst
  • Medium : Kodachrome, slide number 10387
  • Description : Prince of Wales and Llewellyn at Aberyswyth Station.


  • Image : dir=br/rheidol/ page=index 149465 bytes, pixels
  • Date : 01 Sep 1980, catalogued 10 Mar 1999
  • Photographer : John Hurst
  • Medium : Kodachrome, slide number 10406
  • Description : Prince of Wales waits at Devil's Bridge, while Llewellyn draws in with the next train.


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