Llangollen Railway

The Llangollen Railway runs 10 miles up the valley of the River Dee in north Wales from Llangollen to Corwen. This Heritage Railway has been lovingly restored by a dedicated group who have breathed life into the rural community, attracting tens of thousands of visitors each year to enjoy a journey on a steam train.

The Llangollen & Corwen Railway originally opened in May 1865, extending a branch of the Shrewsbury & Chester Railway from the east, and connecting to the Corwen & Bala Railway when it opened the following year. It was operated by the Great Western Railway.

The line was closed to passenger services as part of the Beeching plans at the end of 1964. But a decade later The Llangollen Railway Society was formed, and the slow task of bringing the line back to life began. Today, their hard work is appreciated by all who travel on this beautiful line, and you can see it for yourself from the best seat on the train.

You will travel on the footplate of a Large Prairie steam locomotive, 5199, as it makes the journey westwards up the valley. There are spectacular views of the River Dee along the way, particularly at Berwyn, where the station clings to the hillside by a viaduct, high above the water below. Our five cameras and full commentary provide the perfect guide, and you can also turn off the narration to concentrate on the throaty roar of the magnificent locomotive.

Alongside the journey, there’s a short feature explaining the background to the railway. And we’ve recreated the classic BBC film, London to Brighton in Four Minutes, with our own high speed run from Llangollen to Corwen. Enjoy a ride on this stunning railway courtesy of our international award winning team.