Welshpool and Llanfair Light Railway

Over het museum

The Welshpool and Llanfair Light Railway was built from 1901 to connect the farming communities of the Banwy Valley with the main line at Welshpool. A narrow gauge of 2 feet 6 inches was chosen to keep costs down, and the line was supported by the Earl of Powis and funded by loans, public money and gifts of land. The first passenger train ran on 4 April 1903, with the Cambrian Railways operating the line. A distinctive feature was the town section, where the track wove through the streets of Welshpool to meet the standard gauge station.

Traffic stayed light. The Great Western Railway took over in 1923, passenger services stopped in 1931, and goods traffic survived until the last train under British Railways ran on 3 November 1956. Enthusiasts began clearing the overgrown line in 1959 and formed a preservation company in 1960. They leased the line from British Railways in 1962, and the first preserved service between Llanfair Caereinion and Castle Caereinion started on 6 April 1963.

Today the railway is run largely by volunteers and carries passengers on a 16-mile round trip behind steam locomotives, including the steep climb of Golfa Bank. Its carriages come from the UK, Europe and Africa. At Llanfair Caereinion station the Connections Visitor Centre tells the story of the line, and at Welshpool the display sheds hold heritage rolling stock and engines that are out of service.

Hoogtepunten

• 16-mile round trip behind vintage steam locomotives
• Golfa Bank, one of the steepest railway gradients in the UK
• Carriages from Britain, Europe and Africa with open balconies
• Llanfair Connections Visitor Centre with heritage displays
• Welshpool display sheds with out-of-service engines and rolling stock

Vaste collectie

• Llanfair Connections Visitor Centre – Heritage displays about the railway, its history, its people and its connections around the world, at Llanfair Caereinion station, including the independent Cloverlands Model Car Museum.
• Welshpool display sheds – Larger exhibits at Welshpool station, including heritage rolling stock and out-of-service steam engines.

Beheerder

Welshpool & Llanfair Light Railway Preservation Company Limited

Toegangsprijzen & kortingen

Fares are for standard class full-line return journeys; paying with a Gift Aid donation adds about 10 per cent (adult 29.70 pounds). Single and intermediate station tickets can only be bought on the day from the booking offices or the guard, by cash. Members of the railway travel free on most standard class trains, and discount cards such as Great Little Trains of Wales and Heritage Railway Association are accepted when booked in advance. Dogs need a dog ticket.

Toegankelijkheid

• Deels rolstoeltoegankelijk
• Lift: geen informatie
• Aangepast toilet: geen informatie
• Gehandicaptenparkeerplaats
• Hulphonden welkom
• Tastmodellen / voelbare objecten: geen informatie
• Rondleidingen in gebarentaal: geen informatie
• Informatie in eenvoudige taal: geen informatie
• Audiodescriptie: geen informatie

Both Llanfair Caereinion and Welshpool Raven Square stations are wheelchair accessible and have dedicated parking bays. Two vintage carriages are adapted for wheelchair users with a hydraulic lift, and a space should be booked by phone. There is no parking at the intermediate stations. Well-behaved dogs are welcome on most standard class trains, in the stations and in the tearoom, but not in the First Class carriage. A detailed access statement is available on the railway website.

Kinderen & gezin

Erg geschikt voor kinderen & gezinnen

• Gezinsrondleidingen & workshops
• Speurtocht, doeboekje of kinderaudiotour
• Doe- en voelstations
• Kinderwagenvriendelijk
• Verschoonruimte

Children under 3 travel free, and every child passenger receives a bilingual Discovery Activity Book. The Connections Visitor Centre at Llanfair has hands-on activities, colouring and photo opportunities, and there is a garden scale model railway. Pushchairs can be taken on most trains if space allows and must be folded during travel. Toilets with baby changing are at both main stations. Family events during the year include visits from Santa, dinosaurs, LEGO brick building and a teddy bears' picnic.

Bereikbaarheid & parkeren

Both main stations lie next to the A458: Welshpool Raven Square at the western end of the town (follow the brown signs), and Llanfair Caereinion at the eastern end. The railway recommends starting from Llanfair Caereinion where possible.

Service & horeca

• Café
• Museumwinkel

Llanfair Station Tearoom serves hot and cold food, sandwiches, soup, cakes, drinks and ice cream, with a covered picnic marquee in the station yard; it is dog friendly. Welshpool Raven Square station has a shop with hot and cold drinks, snacks and ice cream. Gift shops at both stations sell toys, books and Welsh products. Pre-booked afternoon tea trains, evening fish and chips specials and tasting trains run on selected dates. Visitors may bring their own food and drink on the train. Toilets are at both stations but not on the trains. Electric vehicle charging points are at Llanfair Caereinion.

Evenementen & zaalverhuur

Het museum heeft hierover geen informatie gepubliceerd.

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