THE EARLY OPERATING YEARS OF THE MID WALES RAILWAY 1864-1888
BY PAUL BOWEN The Mid Wales Railway is synonymous with remote junctions such as Three Cocks and images of Class 2 Ivatt locomotives threading through the Wye Valley with a couple of probably sparsely filled carriages in the late 1950s. Less focus, however, has been placed on the very early years of the line following construction when the railway faced the challenges of developing traffic in order to achieve financial stability. Completion of construction and opening in 1864 did not mean that the railway’s problems became any easier. Based primarily on Mid Wales Railway company minutes, this article explores the early operating years from 1864 until 1888 when the Cambrian Railways assumed responsibility for running the line. Heavily indebted and…
