Narrow-gauge Railways

In the 19th and 20th centuries the branch-line trains, the slow trains as they were known, were pulled by steam locos that stopped at little local stations. When road traffic boomed people deserted the old railway system for cars and buses. Along with the decline of the railways came the end of slate quarrying. As the quarries closed so the narrow-gauge railways that served them died.
But groups of enthusiasts emerged that refused to let the steam -hauled railways die and disappear. One example is Gwili Railway. It is part of an original line built in the Victorian age and closed in 1973. Part of the line was re-opened in 1975 and is run as a tourist attraction. Today a run along the lovely Gwili valley is well-worth the visit. Another example is Llanfair light railway. It was opened in 1903 to serve the needs of the local farmers and country dwellers. It was closed in 1956. In 1963 the restored line ran its first passenger service. Llanfair station from the tea room to the modern platform has a charm that reeks of nostalgia and loving care.


 Hay-on-Wye
is a little town whose northern and eastern boundaries border England. It is known throughout the world as the 'Town of Books.' Richard Booth opened his first second-hand bookshop in 1961 and created the largest second-hand and antiquarian book-selling centre in the world. This unique town with its narrow ancient streets now houses over 30 bookshops with over a million books on every conceivable subject.

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