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Sunday, June 08, 2014
The Welshpool and Llanfair in British Railways days
On Wednesday I travelled on the Welshpool and Llanfair Light Railway. The line is now operated by enthusiasts, but after nationalisation it was run by British Railways until its original closure in 1956.
This photograph shows a freight train in British Railways days (1950). By then there were no passenger services - they ended as early as 1931.
The W&L is unique amongst the Welsh narrow-gauge lines in that it's the sole survivor of the common-carrier railways that were more common in England. Most other Welsh lines either served the slate industry or were built for tourism in the first place.
ReplyDeleteIt was a very lucky survival into the 1950s; most Engish lines closed in the 30s.