The Railway
Q. Who built the railway and when?
A. This line was built by the Great Western Railway, and it was opened on the 1 July 1895.

Q. When did it close?
A. The last passenger train ran on 15 September 1952, and finally closed to freight on 28 September 1973.

Q. Where did it go?
A. It was part of the line from Carmarthen to Cardigan, but was stopped at Newcastle Emlyn.

Q. When was it bought?
A. The Society bought the line from British Railways in 1981.

Q. When did it open again?
A. It opened as a narrow gauge line as far as Pontprenshitw on 9 April 1986.

Q. How many stations are there?
A. There are 4 stations. Obviously all trains stop at both ends, Henllan and Llandyfriog! Most trains stop at Pontprenshitw for the waterfalls.

The Train
Q. Where did 'Sgt. Murphy' get its name?
A. When the engine was owned by the Penrhyn Slate Quarries, the proprietor also owned a successful racehorse that won the Grand National in 1921 and 1923, called - Sgt Murphy.

Q. Where did Alan George get its name?
A. From a family member of the proprietor of Penrhyn Quarries.

Q. Do they run on steam?
A. Yes. The engines use coal to make heat, which combined with water, makes steam. By keeping steam, under pressure, it can be made to propel the engine and train.

Q. How much coal do you use?
A. Approximately 4 to 5 cwt per day.

Q. Where does the coal come from?
A. At present it comes from a coal mine called Daw Mill, which is near Coventry. It has to be a special type of coal, and it is a type that is not mined in Wales at present.

Q. How heavy is the engine?
A. 10.5 tons. - Sgt. Murphy, 6 tons. - Alan George.

Q. Are the coaches very old?
A. No. In fact they have all been made here at the railway since 1983.

The Crew
Q. Do you actually get paid for doing this?
A. There are a couple of key members of staff who may be full or part time, but most of us are volunteers.

Q. Do you need more crews?
A. Definitely, yes. We would welcome anybody with an interest in the railway, and the ability to give a certain commitment in time and effort to train and work on the line.

For further information telephone 01559 371077 or click here to visit the Railway's website.

Ivor McFadzean