Welshpool Raven Square railway station

Welshpool Raven Square railway station, located in Welshpool, is the eastern terminus of the narrow gauge Welshpool and Llanfair Light Railway (W&LLR).

History

The W&LLR was one of the few narrow gauge branch lines to be built under the provisions of the 1896 Light Railways Act, and opened for operations on 4 April 1903 to aid economic development in a remote area. Originally operated by the Cambrian Railways, it started from a simple set of sidings located alongside the standard gauge line at Welshpool railway station, and traversed the town by means of a twisting section of track which required continual use of the train's bell and whistle.

After nationalisation to the Great Western Railway in the 1923 grouping, on 9 February 1931 the line lost its passenger service, and became a freight-only line. It was temporarily re-opened to passengers between 6 and 11 August 1945 for the Eisteddfod. Freight traffic lingered on until 1956, by which time British Railways decided to close the line.

A group of volunteers and enthusiasts took the line over and started raising money to restore it. On 6 April 1963 the first section of the line was re-opened as a tourist railway. The line through Welshpool however could not be reopened, and so Raven Square was developed on the western edge of the town, opening on 18 July 1981.

Location

The Raven Square station is situated by the roundabout that is the junction of the A458, A490 and B4381 roads. It is on the western edge of Welshpool, one mile (1.6km) from the Cambrian Line station, which is located in the eastern side of the town. Powis Castle and its substantial grounds, lie not far to the south of the station, though not directly accessible from this point. Raven Square also hosts the Raven inn, a family traditional pub which also takes its name from Raven Square

References

• Official railway website

External links