Race the Rails – Bike vs Train
On Sunday 19th May, cyclists from Beiciau Afan Bikes will be racing the train to Devil’s Bridge! The cycle race is raising money for West Wales Prostate Cancer Support Group. Each cyclist will begin their race in Aberystwyth (on cue from a whistle from a Rheidol locomotive), and then race the 10.30 train to Devil’s…
Easter activities
Easter is a fantastic time to enjoy the scenery of the Rheidol valley: look out for the lambs in the fields, and perhaps some snow on the hills too. Will you be joining us? We will be running our busy yellow timetable on Easter Saturday, Sunday and Monday (plus 2nd-4th April too): four trains a…
Exhibits shunted into our new museum
The new museum building at Aberystwyth station is ready to open to the public on March 23rd 2024. A day of shunting took place on Tuesday 19th March, as locomotives and rolling stock were carefully positioned inside the building. The museum was originally built in 1938 as a locomotive shed (firstly for the standard gauge…
93 year old Aberystwyth man reunited with his locomotive
93 year old railway worker John ‘Abergynolwyn’ Davies has been reunited with his old locomotive at the Vale of Rheidol Railway in Aberystwyth. John began his railway career at Aberystwyth in 1952, where he often worked on ‘Dukedog’ locomotives. The last Dukedog left Wales in May 1960, and all but one were scrapped. The Vale…
Dukedog & ‘Palmerston’ arrive in Aberystwyth
Two more locomotives have arrived in Aberystwyth, to be exhibited in the Vale of Rheidol Railway’s new museum building. Dukedog locomotive No.9017 arrived at the railway on the afternoon of Tuesday 27th February, after a two day road journey from Sussex. The locomotive is on loan from the Bluebell Railway, to whom we are very…
Dukedog No.9017 returning home to Aberystwyth
The Vale of Rheidol Railway are pleased to announce the return of a ‘Dukedog’ locomotive to Aberystwyth for the first time in over 60 years. ‘Dukedog’ No.9017 will be arriving in the town in late February, for static display in the new Museum & Display Space at the Vale of Rheidol Railway. The 85 year…
“Palmerston” to visit Vale of Rheidol Railway
The Vale of Rheidol Railway (VoR) and the Ffestiniog & Welsh Highland Railways (Ff&WHR) are pleased to announce a collaboration to run 1864-built steam locomotive ‘Palmerston’ at the Vale of Rheidol Railway later this year. Both railways are working together to bring compelling new reasons to visit Wales in 2024, and are celebrating with this…
Stuart Williams appointed as General Manager of the Brecon Mountain Railway
The Vale of Rheidol Railway is pleased to announce the appointment of Stuart Williams as the new General Manager of the Brecon Mountain Railway. Stuart will be responsible for managing the line, and is expected to be in post in early Summer 2024. Managing Director Llŷr ap Iolo said: “I am very excited about the…
“Fire Queen” on display in Aberystwyth
The Vale of Rheidol Railway is pleased to announce the arrival of ‘Fire Queen’ for static display. ‘Fire Queen’ is a unique steam locomotive: it is one of the oldest narrow gauge locomotives in existence, having been built in 1848. The locomotive arrived in Aberystwyth in mid January, and will be on public display in…
Vale of Rheidol Railway to Acquire Brecon Mountain Railway
The Vale of Rheidol Railway (VoR) is pleased to announce it is in negotiation for the acquisition of the Brecon Mountain Railway (BMR). This merger represents an historic milestone for both railways and safeguards the future of the BMR for future generations to enjoy. The Vale of Rheidol Railway, has a rich history dating back…