The Elan Valley Railway was built to facilitate the construction of the Birmingham Water Corporation dams.

Railways were the main form of transport. This one was used for transport of equipment, materials and men to the dam sites, visitors from Birmingham and King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra for the official opening in 1904.

The Elan Valley Railway was built to facilitate the construction of the Birmingham Water Corporation dams.

Railways were the main form of transport. This one was used for transport of equipment, materials and men to the dam sites, visitors from Birmingham and King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra for the official opening in 1904.

Building of the railway began in 1893. It was built of standard gauge and built in four stages.

A double junction was built to join it to the Cambrian Railway near Rhayader.

The Elan Valley Railway Branch Line was inspected and passed by a Board of Trade Inspector in July 1894 and the Elan Valley Railway branch was officially born.

Railway 4 took the route to Craig Goch Dam. Blasting the cutting mid-way along the route held up the construction by 3 months, earning itself the name Devil's Gulch.

The sharp curve of the tracks required short wheelbase locomotives.

The locomotives were all named after rivers and streams on the Estate. The first two were acquired in April 1894 and were named Elan and Claerwen. These were joined by Nant Gwyllt and Methan in October and Rhiwnant and Calettwr in 1895.

The Visitor Centre has been converted from the old workshops and part of the car park was the site of the locomotive shed and sidings.

By 1898 the steep 1:33 gradients of the railway had taken their toll on the original locomotives, so Coel and Marchnant were bought.

At its busiest time the railway had an estimated 53 kilometres (33 miles) of track. Seventeen coaches were used for transporting men to the work sites and the tracks were used for steam powered cranes, power drills and crushers.

In 1906 the Birmingham Corporation Water Works locomotives were sold.

In 1908 the Elan Valley Double Junction was dismantled.

Finally in 1916 the Elan Valley Railway was completely closed.

You can now retrace the old route of the railway by following the Elan Valley Trail, which runs for 13 kilometres (8 miles) from Cwmdauddwr (just outside Rhayader) to Craig Goch Dam.