Historic locomotives debut at new Aberystwyth railway museum

Friday, March 22, 2024

In a significant development for railway heritage and tourism in Wales, the inaugural locomotives slated for the “Wales to the World” exhibition have been delivered to the newly established museum at the Vale of Rheidol Railway in Aberystwyth. Among the first to arrive is the ‘Fire Queen,’ constructed in 1848, distinguished as one of the world’s oldest narrow-gauge engines. Additionally, the Dukedog No.9017, a locomotive with a storied past on the Cambrian lines and a long-term resident of the Bluebell Railway, marks its return to its original home after more than six decades.

The exhibition will also feature ‘Palmerston,’ a locomotive from the Ffestiniog & Welsh Highland Railways noted for its contribution to the Vale of Rheidol’s construction. Prior to its scheduled overhaul and return to operational status later in the summer, it will grace the museum, enriching the visitor experience with a piece of living history.

This event is poised to attract not only enthusiasts of railway history but also a broader audience of visitors, thanks to an array of previously unseen exhibits from around the globe and rolling stock from the Vale of Rheidol collection, preserved by the late Peter Rampton. The museum itself, repurposed from a locomotive shed serving the Cambrian lines between 1938 and 1968 before housing the Vale of Rheidol’s narrow-gauge locomotives, now transitions into a museum and event space, adding a new dimension to the area’s cultural landscape.

Open daily from 9 am, with last entries at 4:15 pm on ‘orange’ timetable days, the museum offers free entry to Vale of Rheidol passengers on the day of their journey, while other visitors can access it for a fee. This strategic approach not only incentivizes travel on the Vale of Rheidol Railway but also enhances the museum’s accessibility to a wider audience, promising to make it a landmark attraction in Aberystwyth’s tourism offer until its seasonal closure on November 3rd. This blending of historical preservation with tourism development underscores the region’s commitment to celebrating its rich railway heritage while fostering economic growth and community engagement.

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