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Discover the Story of the Preservation Pioneers on The Railway Adventurer

Travel behind one of our historic steam locomotives in one of our eclectic carriages where our guides will take you through the story of how the Talyllyn Railway became the World’s First Preserved Railway, with photographic stops and a tour around Pendre Works along the way.

The Volunteers Who Changed History

In 1951, a group of railway enthusiasts formed the Talyllyn Railway Preservation Society and took over the line.

This was revolutionary.

At the time:

• Preserving an entire working railway was unheard of.
• Volunteers — not a company — would operate it.
• The goal was to keep it running authentically.

It became the first railway in the world run by volunteers for preservation purposes.

These pioneers proved that industrial heritage could be saved — not scrapped.