Уэльстік көл темір жолының тарихы мен дамуы

Heritage railway line in Gwynedd, Wales

The Bala Lake Railway (Welsh: Rheilffordd Llyn Tegid) is a narrow gauge railway along the southern shore of Bala Lake in Gwynedd, North Wales. The line, which is long, is built on a section of the former standard gauge Ruabon–Barmouth GWR route that closed in 1965. Another section of the former permanent way is used by the Llangollen Railway. The Bala Lake Railway, which runs on 600 gauge preserved rolling stock, is a member of the Great Little Trains of Wales. The railway now has the largest collection of historic narrow gauge quarry locomotives built specifically for the slate industry in North Wales by the Hunslet Engine Company in Leeds.

The narrow gauge Bala Lake railway uses the permanent way of the former standard gauge GWR Ruabon–Barmouth line. The railway, which opened in August 1868, was built by the Bala and Dolgelley Railway Company. Its original 19 mile (31 km) route ran between the Corwen & Bala Railway at and Cambrian Railways' station at In 1877 it became part of the network operated by Great Western (GWR). In 1896 was redeveloped with the addition of a passing loop and second platform, extended building and a new signal box. Passenger services through Bala Junction ceased on Monday 18 January 1965 when the line from to was closed. Although originally earmarked for dieselisation by the Western Region of British Railways in the early 1960s, the to Bala–Barmouth line was included in the 1963 Beeching Report. Traffic on the line was gradually reduced and facilities rationalised; the last scheduled through rail service was the mail train from in December 1964. Long distance holiday charter trains and through freight traffic were diverted on to the Cambrian main line via Goods traffic finally ceased on 1 January 1968 when the branch at Pontcysyllte was closed.

By 1969 the track had been lifted. Reuse of the line as a narrow gauge railway began when local engineer, George Barnes, saw the potential of the lakeside section for both local and tourist traffic. With the help of Tom Jones, then chairman of Merioneth County Council's Finance Committee, they established Rheilffordd Llyn Tegid Ltd, the first company in Wales to be registered exclusively in the Welsh language. Bala Lake Railway opened on 13 August 1972. In its first season, it operated a small industrial diesel engine with two open carriages on of track between Llanuwchllyn and Pentrepiod. Extension work continued throughout this period with the help of local ex British Rail employees. The line was extended to Llangower by the start of 1973. In 1975 the line reached a new temporary station at Pant yr hen felin. The following year the line reached Bala (Llyn Tegid), now known as Bala (Penybont). There were expansion plans to extend the line into Bala's town centre by 1981 but these plans were abandoned early in that year. The canopy at Llanuwchllyn was built in 1979 with supports which were made for the Cambrian Railways station at Pwllheli, but were relocated to Aberdovey in 1907 when Pwllheli station was moved. The stations along the line are:
Llanuwchllyn, includes the main buildings, cafe, workshops and railway offices. Pentrepiod Halt, an operational request stop. Glan Llyn Halt, a limited use station, open only during the Halloween and Santa Special train services. Llangower, principal intermediate station that all trains stop at. It has a passing loop for two train services. Bryn Hynod Halt, a request stop that closed in 2011 (platform demolished in February 2012). Bala (Penybont), terminus located near the town of Bala. The company now has the largest collection of historic narrow gauge quarry locomotives built by the West Yorkshire Hunslet Engine Company specifically for the North Wales' slate industry.

The Llanuwchllyn Heritage Centre is a museum of Welsh narrow gauge railway located at Llanuwchllyn railway station. It won the 2020 Railway Heritage Association award for Outstanding Visitor Attraction. Exhibits on display include Hunslet Engine Company locomotive Nesta and a replica of Lord Penrhyn's private carriage, both from the Penrhyn Quarry Railway. The plans also include: a new engine shed, a visitor centre, the rebuilding of the carriage shed, which was completed in 2019, and a new set of carriages. In March 2017, the Trust announced that it had acquired land required in Bala for the new railway terminus. In October 2019, the Trust purchased land from Bala Rugby Club for the extension of the line. A further area of land adjacent to the new station site was acquired in 2022 and will be used for sidings. Over the weekend of 12/13 June 2021 the event 'Bala Rerailed', was held on the site of the new station in Bala using Winifred and a Penrhyn coach to provide rides to the public. The preserved railway turned 50 in 2022 and staged a variety of events. These included: 'Bala at 50' over the May Day Bank Holiday, complete with the launch of a pictorial album "Bala Lake Railway, The First 50 Years, 1972 2022", and a celebratory beer; the '50th Anniversary' on 13 August; and a 'Gala' over August Bank Holiday.