Teifi Valley Railway

The Teifi Valley Railway was originally conceived as a 7 ft 0¼in Brunel ‘broad’ gauge line between Carmarthen and Cardigan. The broad gauge line (later converted to standard gauge) was built in stages by the Carmarthen & Cardigan Railway Company, running through Cynwyl Elfed and Pencader, reaching Llandysul in 1864. The company suffered financial difficulties, and never extended past Llandysul, eventually being bought out by the Great Western Railway in 1882. The Great Western Railway eventually extended the line from Llandysul to Newcastle Emlyn by 1895. There were two stations on this new extension; Pentrecwrt Halt and Henllan.  Passenger trains on the entire Carmarthen to Newcastle Emlyn stretch ceased to operate in 1952. In 1973, freight services were discontinued, and the line was closed and dismantled.

A group of enthusiasts bought the trackbed and in 1983 laid a 2ft (610 mm) gauge track. The line opened in 1986 and originally ran from Henllan to Pontprenshitw, where passengers were invited to take a short walk to see the waterfall under the railway bridge. In 1987, the line was extended another 1000 yards to a new station named ‘Llandyfriog.’ In 2006, the line was extended to the site of a bridge that formerly crossed the river Teifi. This new station and eventual terminus was named ‘Llandyfriog Riverside.’

Following financial difficulties, and a change in operator, from July 2014 the Teifi Valley Railway no longer operated as a railway; no trains ran and the track was removed from Henllan to Pontprenshitw. A tractor-hauled ‘land train’ providing rides on a short section of the trackbed.

In November 2014 a new group took over management of the Railway, seeking to restore the site and the railway line to full running order.  The line has been relaid from Henllan as far as Pontprenshitw station, to which trains now run. There are plans to relay further portions of the line.