No.823 'Countess'  climbing past 'Hanged Man's Tree' with the Vintage Train during a Photographic Special, 30 April 2012

Photo:  Hugh Ballantyne

Opened in 1903 to link the market town of Welshpool to the rural community of Llanfair Caereinion,  this 2 foot 6 inch narrow gauge steam railway now provides a tourist service for all the family and a welcome change from the rush of every day life.  Built as a Light Railway to avoid some of the costs of railway construction, the narrow gauge allows for tight curves and steep gradients, enabling the line to follow the contours of the countryside.   All of our trains are steam hauled, either by one of our unique original locomotives or one from abroad.  The carriages too are special; those in regular use being from Hungary and Austria with access to the enclosed seating area via an open balcony  - a great way to watch the world go by.

Do you want to find out more about accessibility?  Read our access statement.

We look forward to welcoming you to our railway.

The climb out of Welshpool is 1 in 29 at its steepest location, and can be a challenge for the locomotive crew.  Powis Estate provides the backdrop to the photograph, and it is on this section of line that deer can often be seen, whilst Buzzards (and the occasional Red Kite) keep an eye from above.

Photo:  Andrew Charman