The Cambrian Railways (and related lines)
The Cambrian Railways was an extensive network covering much of mid-Wales. The company was formed through an amalgamation of a number of railways that together formed the Cambrian Main Line (see below). Following the Railways Act 1921 the Cambrian Railways became a constituent part of the Great Western Railway on 1st January 1922.
The lines subsequently became part of British Railways (Western Region) and the remaining parts British Railways (London Midland Region) in 1963.
At the time of writing the main lines to Aberystwyth and Pwllheli remain open.
Constituent railways |
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Oswestry and Newtown Railway |
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Llanidloes and Newtown Railway |
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Newtown and Machynlleth Railway |
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Aberystwyth and Welsh Coast |
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Oswestry, Ellesmere and Whitchurch Railway |
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Mid-Wales Railway |
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The Wrexham and Ellesmere Railway (Operated but not owned by the Cambrian) |
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Van Railway |
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Welshpool & Llanfair Light Railway |
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Tanat Valley Light Railway |
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Mawddwy Light Railway |
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Vale of Rheidol Railway |
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Railway operations
Centred on its headquarters at Oswestry the Cambrian Railways reached Aberystwyth, Pwllheli, Brecon, Whitchurch and Wrexham.
Cambrian Livery Notes
CamKits and The Welsh Railways Research Circle have a comprehensive range of Cambrian Railways transfers in 4mm and 7mm scales. Further details >>Cambrian Livery Notes further details >>
WRRC Line Superintendent
- Contact details for the line superintendent are available in the Members Section >>
WRRC Information Resource files
- For the Cambrian Railways.
Locomotive And Rolling Stock totals for selected dates between 1904 and 1921.
- For the Cambrian Railway.
Selected Reading
- Cambrian Railway Drawings part1 1853-1892: Welsh Railway Records Vol 4. T. Jones, M. Morton-Lloyd, compiled by J David, WRRC, 2023. ISBN 978 1739613907
- A Regional History Great Britain Vol 11 North and Mid Wales. Peter E Baughan, David & Charles, 1980. ISBN 0-7153-7850-3
- A Regional History of the Railways of Great Britain Vol 12 South Wales. D.S.M. Barrie, David & Charles, 2nd edition 1994. ISBN 0946537-69-0
- Cambrian Railways Gallery. - P. Carpenter & D. Maidment, Pen & Sword, 2019, ISBN 9781526736031
- Cambrian Railways. - R. Kidner, Oakwood Press, 1992 .
- Coast Lines of the Cambrian Railways. - C.C. Green, Wild Swan 1993 & 2002.
- The Cambrian Railways . - R. Christiansen & R. Miller, David and Charles 1967 & 1971.
- Cambrian Railways 1859 to 1947 . - C.C. Green, Ian Allan 1997
- Cambrian Railways album . - C.C. Green, Ian Allan 1977
- Cambrian Railways album 2 . - C.C. Green, Ian Allan 1981
- North Wales Branch line album C. C. Green, Ian Allan, 1983. ISBN 07110-1252-0.
- Cambrian Coast. - W. Rear & M. Williams, Foxline 1998
- Private Owners on the Cambrian. - Mike Morton Lloyd, WRRC, 1998
- Railway Through Talerdigg. - G Briwant-Jones, Gomer Press, 1990. ISBN 9780863836626
- The Cambrian Railways, Portrait Of A Welsh Railway Network. - Rex Christenden, Ian Allen, 1999. ISBN 9780711026919
- The Mawddwy, Van and Kerry Railways. - L Cozens, Oakwood Press, 1972
- The Tanat Valley Light Railway. - Mike Morton Lloyd, Wild Swan, 1990
- The Tanat Valley Light Railway. - Wilfred J Wren, Oakwood Press, 1970
- The Mid Wales Railway (Scenes From The Past ). - Derek J Lowe, Foxline Publishing.
- Codi Stêm. - Iorwerth Jones Owen, Gwasg John Penry, 1979
- Cambrian Railways: A New History. Peter Johnson, Oxford Publishing Company 2013
- Six Railways to Merthyr. Hodge John, WRRC, 2014. ISBN 978-09527267-7-7.
- Cambrian Railways Working Time Book. WRRC, 2014. ISBN 978-09527267-6-0.
- Steam in Mid Wales. Michael Hale, WRRC, 2004. ISBN 0-9527267-5-0
- A Register of GWR Absorbed Coaching Stock, 1922-1923. Eric Mountford, Oakwood Press, Dorset, 1978
- The Story of the Cambrian Railways A Biography of Railway. - C P Gasquoine, 1922
- Chester & North Wales Border Railways a View From the Past. Rex Christiansen. Ian Allen, 2001. ISBN 0 7110 2816 8
- Marcher Railways. A. Bodlander and others. Bridge Books, 2008. IBSN 978-1-84494-050-9
- WRRC Journal Volume 1 No.1 & No. 2. Cambrian Railway coaching stock.
- WRRC Journal Volume 1 No.5. Cambrian small goods.
- WRRC Journal Volume 2 No.10. Through carriage workings of the Cambrian Railway.
- Railway Magazine, December 1918. The Mawddy Railway.
- Railway Magazine, January 1908. The Welsh Kerry Express.
- Railway Magazine, October 1903. The Cambrian Railways Modern Rolling Stock.
- Railway Magazine, 1950, page 376-377. Talyllyn A Rural Welsh Junction By T.B. Sands.
- Railway Magazine, 1950. page 491 and 568. Talyllyn A Rural Welsh Junction By T.B. Sands.
- Railway Magazine, September 1938 page 203-208. Railways In The Wye Valley. T.R. Perkins.
- Railway Magazine, November 1938 page 355-360. Railways In The Wye Valley. T.R. Perkins.
- Railway Magazine, December 1938 page 435-438. Railways In The Wye Valley. T.R. Perkins.
- Railway Magazine, July/Aug 1947 page 217-218. By Rail To The Devil's Bridge. Ian G.T, Duncan .
- Railway Magazine, Nov/Dec 1947 page 351-354. By Rail To The Devil's Bridge. Ian G.T, Duncan .
- Railway Archive, 3(2003) 81-86. The Cambrian Railways Photographs of H.W.Burman by Mike Christiansen Part 1.
- Railway Archive, 5(2003) 61-66. The Cambrian Railways Photographs Of H.W.Burman by Mike Christiansen Part 2.
- Railway Archive, 9(2005) 51-58. The Cambrian Railways Photographs Of H.W.Burman by Mike Christiansen Part 3.
- Railway Archive, 23(2009) 35-40. The Hopwood Collections: The Cambrian Railways by Brian Arman.
- Railway Archive, 24(2009) 48-49. The Marteg Accident by Mike Christensen.
- Railway Archive, 26(2010) 60. The Marteg Accident by Mike Christensen.
- Back Track, July 2023. Trestle Viaducts, includes Barmouth Viaduct by Gordon Biddle.