Rheidol Railway Wales Aberystwyth

Rheidol Railway Wales, Aberystwyth to Devil’s Bridge

History | Access | Heritage Railways in the UK

The Rheidol Railway (Rheilffordd Cwm Rheidol) in Wales is known as one of the “Great Little Trains of Wales”.

Rheidol Railway Steam Train

The Vale of Rheidol Railway travels 20 kilometres from the town of Aberystwyth to Devil’s Bridge, climbing nearly 200 metres to reach Devil’s Bridge Station, nestled deep within the Plynlimon Mountains.

History

The railway began in 1902 to carry timber to and lead ore from the mines of the Rheidol Valley. The railway has been in continuous operation as part of the nationalized railways from 1948, then the privatized railways since 1989, and now as a heritage railway.

Rheidol Railway Guard

The lead mining in the area went into decline soon after the opening of the railway and more so with the onset of World War I. So as a result the railway switched to mostly passenger traffic serving tourists from the industrial cities of Liverpool and Manchester.

The Snowden Mountain Railway is yet another heritage railway in North Wales.

Devil’s Bridge Falls, Wales

Access – Getting There

Rheidol Railway (rheidolrailway.co.uk)
Check the official website (above) for the timetable and fares on the railway.

The railway dates from 1902

Accommodation

There are plenty of places to stay in Aberystwyth, a pleasant town on the coast and home to Aberystwyth University and also the National Library of Wales (Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru). See here for a listing of hotels in Aberystwyth.