Rhiw Valley Light Railway
Encyclopedia
The Rhiw Valley Light Railway is located near to the village of Berriew
in Powys
, Wales
.
The railway is constructed to gauge, in an 'out and back' return loop 1265 metre (0.786036511862006 mi). As an 'out and back' loop, trains return to the central station facing in the opposite direction from that in which they departed. The railway was privately built and operated, and its original owner is now deceased. The railway is now owned by his widow, who opens the line to the public just one day per year, in mid-summer. The very attractive route runs through fields and along hedgerows, and being largely unfenced there is considerable interaction with livestock from rabbits to sheep.
There are two resident steam locomotives. 'Powys' is a powerful 0-6-2
tank engine, built in 1973 by Severn Lamb
. '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.
Berriew
Berriew is a village in Powys, Wales, situated on the Montgomeryshire Canal and the river Rhiw near the confluence with the River Severn at...
in Powys
Powys
Powys is a local-government county and preserved county in Wales.-Geography:Powys covers the historic counties of Montgomeryshire and Radnorshire, most of Brecknockshire , and a small part of Denbighshire — an area of 5,179 km², making it the largest county in Wales by land area.It is...
, Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
.
The railway is constructed to gauge, in an 'out and back' return loop 1265 metre (0.786036511862006 mi). As an 'out and back' loop, trains return to the central station facing in the opposite direction from that in which they departed. The railway was privately built and operated, and its original owner is now deceased. The railway is now owned by his widow, who opens the line to the public just one day per year, in mid-summer. The very attractive route runs through fields and along hedgerows, and being largely unfenced there is considerable interaction with livestock from rabbits to sheep.
There are two resident steam locomotives. 'Powys' is a powerful 0-6-2
0-6-2
Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, 0-6-2 represents the wheel arrangement of no leading wheels, six powered and coupled driving wheels on three axles, and two trailing wheels on one axle...
tank engine, built in 1973 by Severn Lamb
Severn Lamb
Severn Lamb, sometimes known as Severn-Lamb, are a manufacturers of various forms of transport systems and equipment, principally aimed at the leisure market. They are based at Alcester in the English county of Warwickshire, but sell their products world-wide.The company was founded by Peter Severn...
. 'Jack' is a large 0-4-0
0-4-0
Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, 0-4-0 represents one of the simplest possible types, that with two axles and four coupled wheels, all of which are driven...
tender engine, constructed by TMA Engineering
TMA Engineering
TMA Engineering Ltd, 95-111 Tyburn Rd, Erdington, Birmingham, Great Britain. Their main business is supplying, maintaining, repairing and rebuilding power presses...
of Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
and Jack Woodroffe of Welshpool
Welshpool
Welshpool is a town in Powys, Wales, or ancient county Montgomeryshire, from the Wales-England border. The town is low-lying on the River Severn; the Welsh language name Y Trallwng literally meaning 'the marshy or sinking land'...
in 2003. An assortment of wooden passenger carriages (both bogie
Bogie
A bogie is a wheeled wagon or trolley. In mechanics terms, a bogie is a chassis or framework carrying wheels, attached to a vehicle. It can be fixed in place, as on a cargo truck, mounted on a swivel, as on a railway carriage/car or locomotive, or sprung as in the suspension of a caterpillar...
carriages and four-wheel
Wheel
A wheel is a device that allows heavy objects to be moved easily through rotating on an axle through its center, facilitating movement or transportation while supporting a load, or performing labor in machines. Common examples found in transport applications. A wheel, together with an axle,...
vehicles) and wagons is available on the line.