Trackside Prints

The Vale of Rheidol Railway, Aberystwyth to Devil’s Bridge.

The Vale of Rheidol Railway climbs from Aberystwyth up the Rheidol valley to Devil’s Bridge on narrow gauge track, behind steam. It opened in 1902 and was the last steam railway British Rail owned. This guide covers the line, its history, the engines and planning the trip.

The line up the valley

The railway’s history page lists the original stations as Aberystwyth, Llanbadarn, Capel Bangor, Nantyronen and Devil’s Bridge (Vale of Rheidol Railway, read 21 October 2026). In the photograph at the top of this page the train shows only as a plume of steam high on the wooded valley side.

At the top, Devil’s Bridge station is listed Grade II. Cadw’s entry describes a corrugated-iron railway station of 1902, said to have been lengthened in 1905, and calls it the last remaining station building of original type on any narrow gauge railway in Wales (list entry).

A black narrow gauge steam locomotive, No. 9 Prince of Wales, standing by the buffer stop at Devil’s Bridge station among trees
No. 9 Prince of Wales at Devil’s Bridge. Photo: Werner Wilmes, CC BY 2.0
A steep wooded valley in Wales with a plume of white steam rising from a small train climbing along the hillside.
Photo: John Lucas, CC BY-SA 2.0

From 1902 to a charitable trust

The railway opened to the general public on 22nd December 1902. It closed completely for the duration of the Second World War, and ownership passed to British Railways in 1948. Before that, the history notes, in 1923 the Cambrian Railways were themselves absorbed by the Great Western Railway. The railway says it was the last steam railway owned by British Rail until privatised in 1989, and that it is now owned by a charitable trust (history).

Its engines have names: the locomotives page lists No. 7 Owain Glyndŵr, No. 8 Llywelyn and No. 9 Prince of Wales among the fleet (locomotives).

Planning the day

For 2026 the railway says steam trains run every day until 1st November (home page, read 21 October 2026), and an adult full return trip was listed at £35.00 (timetable and fares). In Aberystwyth, follow the brown train signs to the car park on Park Avenue; at the top, Devil’s Bridge station is in the centre of the village on the A4120 (find us).

A black and white photograph of a small train rounding a curve beside a wooden cottage with washing on the line
An earlier view of the line, from the Geoff Charles collection. Photo: Geoff Charles, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photographing the line

We found no lineside permit or drone rules on the railway’s pages, so keep to the stations and public paths. Devil’s Bridge is the obvious place to start, because the listed station building is a picture in itself. Down the valley, look for the steam above the trees, as in the photograph at the top of this page.

A valley scene like this suits a landscape print or a canvas. Upload yours and we will print it straight, or show it in a painted style before you decide.

Sources: Cadw list entry via British Listed Buildings; Vale of Rheidol Railway (read 21 October 2026).

Written by Craig Fearn, Trackside Prints. Last updated .

Questions, answered

When does the Vale of Rheidol Railway run in 2026?
The railway says steam trains run every day until 1st November 2026.
When did the Vale of Rheidol Railway open?
On 22nd December 1902. British Railways took over in 1948, and the railway says it was the last steam railway British Rail owned until privatisation in 1989.
Where do you park for the Vale of Rheidol Railway?
In Aberystwyth the railway points you to its car park on Park Avenue, following the brown train signs.
Is Devil’s Bridge station listed?
Yes, Grade II. Cadw calls it the last remaining station building of original type on any narrow gauge railway in Wales.
A small black steam locomotive numbered 2 coming round a curve on narrow gauge track through green woodland, smoke rising.Read nextPant to TorpantauPhoto: Nilfanion, CC BY-SA 4.0