Welshpool &Llanfair Narrow Gauge railway 1950s

Fantastic Old footage of the welshpool & Llanfair railway when it still ran through the back streets of Welshpool Though the "Narrows" Back when Elf and Safety was making sure you put your fag in your mouth the right way round, and a couple of unsecured platform seats in an open wagon was the norm.....Enjoy

[@neilbaldwin592]

Thanks for posting this video. It really brought back memories for me . Had a tear in my eye.

[@Grayce1948]

Marvellous to come upon this old footage - many thanks for posting!

[@callum110597]

Nice. I have never been to the railway.

[@esmeephillips5888]

British Railways ran the Vale of Rheidol as a summer tourist attraction, yet never seems to have considered the W&L for similar treatment- even though the Welsh preservation movement was already under way, with the Tallylyn and Festiniog operational. IIRC goods traffic on the W&L was little less in 1956, when closure was decreed, than in pre-war times. Road haulage had not taken all the freight. The problem was that replacing life-expired equipment was too costly.

[@AECEntertainment]

Also, I never recall the W&L being part of British rail. It was taken over by the Cambrian, then taken over by GWR. The engines were from BR but not the line itself. Correct me if I am wrong.

[@Steve14ps]

The W&L was opened in 1903, it was owned by the original Welshpool and Llanfair Light Railway Co., but operated by the Cambrian Railways, that is the staff were employed by the Cambrian. From 1923 the line was owned and operated by the GWR until 1931 when the passenger service was discontinued, however goods services continued by the GWR. In 1948 when the railways were nationalised the W&L was one of the few narrow gauge railways to be operated by British Railways. The line closed in 1956 and reopened in stages from 1963.

[@IoriYagami288]

If only the section running through the town to the mainline station was preserved, imagine seeing trains running through there in 2012! Excellent stuff, thanks for sharing!

[@robnewman6101]

You're a really useful railway.

[@colin125gwr]

wow grate film !!!

[@caroleast9636]

“Formerly known as The Earl” ?? Was, and still is, The Earl. 6:13

[@AECEntertainment]

Bad pronunciation of welsh words but great vid footage

[@AECEntertainment]

goinghomesomeday1 a Scott?