Unusually among Welsh narrow-gauge railways, the 2ft 6in gauge Welshpool
& Llanfair Light Railway was built to benefit agriculture, not minerals.
After several failed attempts to connect the market town at Welshpool
with the rural community around Llanfair Caereinion, the 1896 Light
Railways Act paved the way for the railway which opened in 1902.
Operated by the Cambrian Railways and then by the Great Western Railway
it became the only narrow-gauge steam railway catering for goods traffic
under the auspices of British Railways. Sadly, it was closed in 1956 but
enthusiasts ensured its revival, which started in 1963.
Overcoming many obstacles, the railway is now run by a charitable trust
and is a leading volunteer-operated tourist attraction in
Montgomeryshire.