The 70th anniversary of the first volunteer-run preserved railway has been marked in Parliament with a Motion tabled by Dwyfor Meirionnydd MP and chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Heritage Rail, Liz Saville Roberts.

The first train to be run by volunteers in preservation was on 14 May 1951 on the Talyllyn Railway, Tywyn.

The narrow-gauge railway dates from 1865 and was built to serve the slate quarries above Abergynolwyn.

Seven heritage railways operate in Dwyfor Meirionnydd, the most in any UK parliamentary constituency.

Marking the anniversary, Liz Saville Roberts said it was an opportunity to celebrate the huge contribution of volunteers to the heritage railway movement.

She said: “This first small step by the volunteers of the Talyllyn Railway, Tywyn ignited the enthusiasm of people around the country leading to the development of the heritage railway movement which has done so much to support rural communities and the wellbeing of so many people who are railway volunteers.

“I am proud that Talyllyn Railway is one of seven heritage railways in my constituency, and one of the 11 Great Little Trains of Wales, and I wish them the very best for the next 70 years.”

President of the Heritage Railway Association, Lord Faulkner added: “The heritage railway movement is a remarkable success story involving some 22,000 volunteers across the country with huge benefits for wellbeing in this difficult period.

“Skills training and teamwork have brought encouragement and a sense of purpose to many young volunteers, recognised by an annual HRA award.

“The scale of the success would have been unimaginable to the Talyllyn pioneers seventy years ago, but without their courage and tenacity, it would not have happened.”