Bala Lake Railway
The Bala Lake Railway (Welsh: Rheilffordd Llyn Tegid) is a 1 ft 11½ in narrow-gauge heritage railway in Snowdonia, running for 4.5 miles along the south-east shore of Llyn Tegid (Bala Lake), the largest natural lake in Wales. Trains run from Llanuwchllyn to Bala on the trackbed of the former Great Western Railway line from Ruabon to Barmouth Junction.
The railway uses original Welsh slate-quarry locomotives, including Maid Marian and Holy War, ex-Dinorwic Quarry Hunslet 0-4-0STs, making it an authentic working museum of the small engines that once worked the Welsh slate industry. The route along the lake offers some of the finest scenery of any preserved railway in Wales.
History
The Bala Lake Railway opened in 1972 over a short initial section, with full extension to Bala (Penybont) achieved in 1976. The line was conceived by George Barnes as a tourist attraction along the surviving lakeside trackbed after closure of the original GWR line. There are long-term proposals to extend the line into Bala town itself.
Original line history
The trackbed is part of the former GWR standard-gauge cross-country line from Ruabon to Barmouth Junction, opened in stages from 1862 by the Bala & Dolgelly Railway and others, and reaching Barmouth in 1868. The line lost its passenger services in 1965 in the Beeching closures. The lakeside section was the only part kept open as a heritage railway.
Stations and infrastructure
Llanuwchllyn is the headquarters, retaining the original GWR signal box (still in use) and station building. Llangower is an attractive lakeside halt with picnic facilities, and Bala (Penybont) is the eastern terminus.
Route and stations
Map: © OpenStreetMap contributors
Special events and operations
The railway runs steam galas, photographic charters, dining trains and Santa Specials.
Visitor information
Llanuwchllyn is on the A494 between Bala and Dolgellau. Free parking is available at the station; the Bala Lake National Park visitor centre is nearby.