:Rhiw Valley Light Railway

{{Heritage Railway

|name = Rhiw Valley Light Railway

|image = File:Powys arriving at station.jpg

|caption = Powys arriving at the station

|locale = Powys

|terminus =

|linename = Rhiw Valley Light Railway

|builtby = Jack Woodroffe{{cite web|title=History|url=http://www.rvlr.co.uk/history.php|website=Rhiw Valley Light Railway|accessdate=7 February 2016}}

|preservedgauge = {{Track gauge|15in|lk=on}}

|originalgauge = {{Track gauge|15in|lk=on}}

|owned =

|stations = 1

|length = {{convert|1265|m|yd|0|abbr=on}}

|originalopen = 1970

|closed = 2 October 2022

|coordinates = {{coord|52.6165|-3.2679|type:landmark|display=inline,title}}

}}

The Rhiw Valley Light Railway was a {{Track gauge|15in|lk=on}} gauge railway located near to the village of Berriew in Powys, Wales. It closed on 2 October 2022.Rhiw Valley to close for good Steam Railway issue 536 16 September 2022 page 17

The Railway

The railway is constructed to {{Track gauge|15in|lk=on}} gauge, in an 'out and back' return loop of {{convert|1265|m|yd}}. As an 'out and back' loop, trains return to the central station facing in the opposite direction from that in which they departed.{{cite web|title=Rhiw Valley Railway|url=http://www.geoffspages.co.uk/raildiary/rhiw.htm|website=Geoff's Rail Diaries|accessdate=7 February 2016}} 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.{{cite web|title=Open Days|url=http://www.rvlr.co.uk/openDays.php|website=Rhiw Valley Light Railway|accessdate=7 February 2016}} 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 {{whyte|0-6-2|T}} engine, built in 1973 by Severn Lamb.{{cite web|title=Rhiw Valley Light Railway|url=http://www.narrow-gauge.co.uk/gallery/show.php?image_id=2014&cat_id=239|website=Narrow Gauge Heaven|accessdate=7 February 2016}} 'Jack' is a large {{whyte|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

Image:Powys_right_side_view.jpg|Powys right side view

Image:Jack_departing_on_circuit.jpg|Jack departing on loop

Image:Jack_returning_on_circuit.jpg|Jack returning on loop

Image:RVLR_Jack.jpg|RVLR - Jack

Image:RVLR_Trackmap.png|Track map (produced by GPS Utility)

References

External links

[http://www.rvlr.co.uk Official web site]
[http://www.dudleys-photos.co.uk/c1583305.html Photographs of the railway]{{dead link|date=April 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}.

Category:Heritage railways in Powys

Category:15 in gauge railways in Wales

Category:1970 establishments in Wales

Category:2022 disestablishments in Wales