TALYLLYN Railway will step back in time to one of the more remarkable periods of civil engineering this weekend.

On Sunday, 14 August, the world’s oldest heritage railway will host a special day to celebrate the Victorian era.

During the event there will be various activities along the railway including a demonstration of slate splitting at Tywyn Wharf station.

This recalls the days when the railway served the quarry at Bryn Eglwys and Tywyn Wharf was where the slates were transferred from the narrow gauge railway to the main line trains for onward transport.

In addition, there will be demonstrations of Victorian entertainment, as well as a range of period children’s activities at Tywyn Wharf station.

Victorian picnics will also be available for people to take up the line and eat in places like the Dolgoch ravine just like Victorian and Edwardian families used to do over many years ago.

As well as the railway’s normal trains its genuine Victorian train will also be in service that day, consisting of all its original passenger coaches and one of the original locomotives, all dating from the 1860s.

There is a special offer for those entering into the spirit of the occasion, as all those who come dressed in Victorian costume will be allowed to travel free all day.