The Vale of Rheidol Railway in Detail

Compiled from the railway’s official archives THE Vale of Rheidol Railway is a 2ft gauge line between Aberystwyth and Devil’s Bridge that opened in 1902. It has passed through ownership by the Cambrian Railways, Great Western Railway, British Railways, and (since 1989) reverted to private ownership. In all this time, other than wartime and coronavirus pandemic interruptions, it has never closed.

While an outline of the history of this mid-Wales line is present, this is not the primary thrust of this comprehensively researched and prepared work. Rather, the locomotives, carriages, goods wagons, service vehicles stations and infrastructure are the primary subjects.

All are described, drawn and illustrated in close detail utilising on-site examination and measurement complimented by researching the railway’s own official archives.

The archives include the extensive collection of material assembled by C C Green, author of The Illustrated History of the Vale of Rheidol Light Railway (now out of print), who had intended to produce a second volume incorporating drawings. Mr Green did not live to see this intention realised, but perhaps in many respects this newly prepared book fulfils his aspiration.

Somewhat unusually, the book is not attributed to a single author. Much of the drawing, design and research was undertaken by Stephen D Phillips, with Llyr ap Iolo, Robert Gambrill and Robert

Bance also forming the production team. Their work has been commissioned and published by the railway and constitutes as comprehensive a record of what makes a railway what it is as could conceivably be wished for.

It may seem pricey, but quality has a cost. Purchasers will not be disappointed. CT Published by the Vale of Rheidol Railway www.rheidolrailway.co.uk

462 pages, hardback. £70.00