THE Vale of Rheidol Railway has been recognised for its work for narrow gauge railways in Wales at the Heritage Railway Association annual award ceremony.

The railway, which runs between Aberyswtyth and Devil’s Bridge, was among six Welsh steam railways to receive a joint award at the award ceremony, held on 6 February at the Grand Station, Wolverhampton.

The Bala Lake Railway, Corris Railway, Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland Railway, Talyllyn Railway and the Welshpool and Llanfair Railway were the other Welsh railways commended in the award, presented by Howard Johnson, editor of Steam Railway magazine.

Mr Johnson said: “It is a fitting climax to a celebration year for narrow gauge lines in North Wales to be recognised by Steam Railway Magazine in the Heritage Railway Association Awards.

“Visit any of the six major railways and staff will enthusiastically tell you how they have worked with one or more of their close colleagues to bolster their events, share engineering expertise, and now award overhaul contracts that ensure that competent in-house work forces can be built up.”

Railway preservation is going through an exciting time in Wales, with the Vale of Rheidol returning two locomotives to steam in 2015, which had not run since the 1950s.

These later ran at the Forgotten Engines event in September 2015 and the railway is now overhauling locomotive No 3 Sir Haydn on behalf of the Talyllyn Railway.

See next week’s south editions for the full story