Talyllyn Railway - Snowdonia

Rail of a time at Talyllyn Railway in Snowdonia

Step back in time to experience the sights and sounds of the golden age of the steam railway.

This heritage railway is one that truly holds onto its Victorian charm. Bringing visitors from far and wide to see what is an essential part of British railway history, Talyllyn Railway is perhaps one of our favourite North Wales attractions. 

From the collection of rail artefacts at the museum, the towering Dolgech Waterfalls to marvel at, and a lovely lunch on offer at the King's Café, there are plenty of ways to make your rail journey at Talyllyn Railway a trip to remember!

A history of the Talyllyn Railway

The Talyllyn Railway makes for one fascinating reminder of days gone by. The history behind the line can be traced back to the 1840s, when 300 men worked in the Bryneglwys quarry producing 300,000 tons of slate and slabs.

Acquired in 1863 by two businessmen from Manchester, who connected the railway to the coastal town of Tywyn and built houses for the quarrymen in the village of Abergynolwyn.

The Talyllyn was unusual amongst the narrow gauge lines serving the slate industry. It was owned by the quarry but also ran a public passenger and freight service. There were several quarry-owned lines but not public railways. The public railways served several quarries and frequently had stormy relations with their customers.

After a tumultuous couple of decades, the quarry was finally closed on Boxing Day 1946 and fears the railway would soon follow started to grow.

However, in 1952, the declining railway's volunteer-led restoration process began. After a BBC visit in 1957, visitors to Talyllyn doubled. This led to Talyllyn becoming the world's first-ever preserved railway.

Discounted tickets for Talyllyn Railway, book now!