Rhiw Valley Light Railway

Rhiw Valley Light Railway
Powys arriving at the station
Locale	Powys
Coordinates	52.6165°N 3.2679°W / 52.6165; -3.2679
Commercial operations
Name	Rhiw Valley Light Railway
Built by	Jack Woodroffe[1]
Original gauge	15 in (381 mm)
Preserved operations
Stations	1
Length	1,265 m (1,383 yd)
Preserved gauge	15 in (381 mm)
Commercial history
Opened	1970
Closed	2 October 2022

The Rhiw Valley Light Railway was a 15 in (381 mm) gauge railway located near to the village of Berriew in Powys, Wales. It closed on 2 October 2022.^[2]

The Railway

The railway is constructed to 15 in (381 mm) gauge, in an 'out and back' return loop of 1,265 metres (1,383 yd). As an 'out and back' loop, trains return to the central station facing in the opposite direction from that in which they departed.^[3] The railway was privately built and operated, and its original owner is now deceased. The railway is now owned by his widow, who initially opened the line to the public just one day per year, in mid-summer. The railway is now open once a month from May to October.^[4] The very attractive route runs through fields and along hedgerows, and being largely unfenced there is considerable interaction with livestock from rabbits to sheep. However the railway sadly announced that it would stop operating after the 2022 season.

Rolling Stock

There are two resident steam locomotives. 'Powys' is a powerful 0-6-2T engine, built in 1973 by Severn Lamb.^[5] 'Jack' is a large 0-4-0 tender engine, constructed by TMA Engineering of Birmingham and Jack Woodroffe of Welshpool in 2003. An assortment of wooden passenger carriages (both bogie carriages and four-wheel vehicles) and wagons is available on the line.

Gallery

• 
  Powys right side view
• 
  Jack departing on loop
• 
  Jack returning on loop
• 
  RVLR - Jack
• 
  Track map (produced by GPS Utility)

References

1. "History". Rhiw Valley Light Railway. Retrieved 7 February 2016.
2. Rhiw Valley to close for good Steam Railway issue 536 16 September 2022 page 17
3. "Rhiw Valley Railway". Geoff's Rail Diaries. Retrieved 7 February 2016.
4. "Open Days". Rhiw Valley Light Railway. Retrieved 7 February 2016.
5. "Rhiw Valley Light Railway". Narrow Gauge Heaven. Retrieved 7 February 2016.

External links

• Official web site
• Photographs of the railway^{[permanent dead link‍]}.