Date: 03/07/2015

It was the world^s first passenger-carrying narrow gauge railway, provided the inspiration for Thomas the Tank Engine and, this weekend, the Talyllyn Railway celebrates its 150th birthday.
Built to serve the slate quarry of Bryn Eglwys, near Abergynolwyn, Gwynedd, in 1950 it seemed doomed when owner Henry Haydn Jones died and the quarry closed.
But a group of West Midlands tourists vowed to safeguard it.
And so, Talyllyn became the UK^s first preservation railway.

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Talyllyn Railway's 150th birthday

BBC News

A railway, which provided the inspiration for Thomas the Tank Engine, celebrates its 150th birthday.

Related images

The 19.30 Tywyn Wharf to Nant Gwernol additional service gets underway on 16 August 2011. The locomotive is No 4 Edward Thomas, an 0-4-2ST built by Kerr Stewart & Co. in 1921.
Location: Tywyn Wharf
Company: Talyllyn Railway
16/08/2011 Ian Dinmore

0-4-2ST No 3 Sir Haydn at Tywyn Shed on the Talyllyn Railway in July 1992.
Location: Tywyn Wharf
Company: Talyllyn Railway
22/07/1992 Ken Browne

Bryn Eglwys was the village containing the slate mines that were the raison d'etre of the Talyllyn Railway. Around the village were several small inclines, each with its own winding house.
Location: Bryn Eglwys
Company: Talyllyn Railway
/05/1970 John Thorn

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