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What we do
The Talyllyn Railway Company was incorporated by Act of Parliament in 1865. It was the first British railway on so narrow a gauge (2′3″) to be authorized and constructed with steam haulage and the carriage of passengers planned from the outset. It was opened to passenger traffic in December, 1866 and has provided a service every year since. Following the death of the Railway’s owner, Sir Henry Haydn Jones, in 1950 the Talyllyn Railway Preservation Society was formed and took over the operation of the Railway, largely by volunteers, from the 1951 season. It can therefore proudly claim the title The World’s First Preserved Railway. All passenger trains are steam-hauled, except in highly exceptional circumstances, and almost all the locomotives are over a century old. Carriages are a mixture of originals from the 1860s, historic vehicles from other railways, modern stock offering greater comfort and semi-opens giving fresh air and uninterrupted views. All trains normally include wheelchair-accessible accommodation. Trains run from Tywyn on the mid-Wales coast into the Snowdonia National Park, travelling for seven miles through beautiful scenery with views of the sea in the distance and glimpses of Cadair Idris, one of Wales’ highest mountains. From the trains can be seen buzzards and red kites in the sky and hares darting up the hillsides. Trains generally take about two-and-a-half hours for the round trip including a thirty-minute refreshment break at Abergynolwyn. A larger café and a well-stocked shop are located at Tywyn Wharf. Services run daily from shortly before Easter to the end of October. Full details will be found on the website with opportunities for advance booking. Many changes were necessary in 2020 and 2021 because of Covid-19 and passengers are recommended to check the website for any variations.
Additional events and opportunities
Volunteering: The Railway always welcomes new volunteers. They are its lifeblood and cover almost all the train operating roles as drivers, firemen, guards, station-masters and signalmen. Equally essential are those who toil on the track and in the workshops, and those already with relevant skills are especially valuable. Members frequently speak of the “Talyllyn family”... Museum: Tywyn Wharf is home to the Narrow Gauge Railway Museum which displays locomotives, wagons and many small artefacts from these railways which were once common, especially in North and Mid-Wales. The Museum contains a section devoted to the Reverend Wilbert Awdry, author of the Railway Series books including “Thomas the Tank Engine”. He was an early volunteer on the Talyllyn Railway, and its history and his experiences were the inspiration for his “Skarloey Railway”. The collection includes a reconstruction of his study. The Museum has a separate website at narrowgaugerailwaymuseum.org.uk ... Weddings: A wedding on the Talyllyn Railway will give you a day to remember. Your own private train will take you through the delightful countryside to Abergynolwyn where a civil ceremony is arranged in the annexe to the Refreshment Room. There are photographic opportunities with the magic of steam and enticing catering options. There are facilities for drinks on the platform before and after the ceremony. Receptions can be held at Tywyn Wharf. From the day you book your wedding with us until the day of the ceremony itself, you will have the services of a dedicated wedding advisor who will be happy to discuss those individual requirements to make your wedding day extra special... Walks: Many attractive walks are available from Talyllyn stations and map leaflets can be obtained from the Shop at Wharf. Please look carefully at the timetable or consult staff for how these can be fitted into any day’s train service.
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