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75th Annual Founders Day

May 14 All day

Celebrating 75 Years of The World’s First Preserved Railway

14th May 1951, Bill Trinder cuts the ribbon and the World’s First Preserved Railway runs it’s very first volunteer operated train – Talyllyn Collection, colourised by Tom Marshall (PhotograFix)

The 14th May 1951 is a very significant date not only in Talyllyn History but Railway History as a whole, as it marks the opening of the World’s First Preserved Railway!

The Talyllyn Railway was rescued from closure by the intrepid volunteers of the Talyllyn Railway Preservation Society, formed in October 1950 following the passing of the Railway’s owner Sir Henry Haydn Jones earlier in that year.

Meetings were held with Lady Haydn, Sir Haydn’s widow, who agreed to hand over the railway to the TRPS. The agreement included that the Haydn Jones family would continue to appoint some of the directors to the TR company board and that in the event of the scheme failing the family would get the first £1350, and in February 1951 the TRPS took over the railway!

The first train having arrived at Rhydyronen. There was only a siding here, no passing loop, so with No.2 ‘Dolgoch’ out of the way the passengers pushed the carriages clear of the siding points. 14th May 1951 – Talyllyn Collection

The idea behind the TRPS was that members would provide both money, through membership fees and donations, and labour by working on the railway. On 14th May 1951 the TRPS ran its first public service with 5 return trips to Rhydyronen.  The service to Abergynolwyn started on 4th June with two trains daily on Monday to Friday.

Gradually the entire railway was relaid, new locomotives brought in and rolling stock built – and the rest, as they say, is history!

The very same ribbon from 1951 makes an appearance at the 2025 Founders Day Celebrations – Luke Ryan

On this day there will be a special train with invited passengers only, however you are more than welcome to watch the train pass by at any of the stations or by the line side on public paths.

The real celebration begins on the 15th May with our 3-day Anniversary Gala, which you can find out more information about this by clicking the button below:

75th ANNIVERSARY GALA