Corris Railway, narrow gauge railway
The Corris Railway is a narrow-gauge railway in Wales with a track width of 2 feet 3 inches. Today it operates restored steam engines that carry visitors on short journeys through a valley of fields, woods, and hills, with station buildings housing a small museum and exhibits of old railway equipment.
The railway began in 1859 as a horse-drawn tramway to carry slate from quarries to ports. After changing owners several times, it was taken over by the Great Western Railway in 1929, ceased operation in 1948, and was restored from the 1960s onward by railway enthusiasts.
The name Corris comes from the village it serves. The railway remains a symbol of how slate mining shaped daily life and work in this Welsh valley, and visitors today can see how the landscape reflects this industrial past.
The railway operates mostly spring through autumn on weekends and holidays. Visitors can reach it by taxi or bus from nearby towns, and should expect a ride of about 50 minutes as trains move slowly through fields and forests.
The track gauge of 2 feet 3 inches is rare and was used by only three other British railways, including the nearby Talyllyn Railway. This uncommon standard makes the railway a distinctive piece of British heritage.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
