Our History

Part 1: The Quarry at Bryneglwys

The history of the Talyllyn Railway is inextricably tied up with the history of Bryn Eglwys slate quarry...

Part 2: The Railway is built

In 1863 a group of Manchester cotton mill owners, concerned about shortage of cotton supplies owing to the American civil war, sought to diversify into slate mining.

Part 3: Passenger traffic starts

Once construction of the line was complete, it was inspected by Captain Henry Tyler of the Board of Trade.

Part 4: The McConnel Era

Part 5: Haydn Jones buys the quarry and railway

Part 6: The world’s first preserved railway

Part 7: Restoring the line

Part 8: The Nant Gwernol extension

Part 9: The TR in the third millennium