View source for Cambrian Railways

{{Short description|British railway company (1864–1922)}}
{{Redirect|Cambrian Railway|the heritage railway|Cambrian Heritage Railways}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2015}}
{{Use British English|date=July 2015}}

{{Infobox rail
| railroad_name                   = Cambrian Railways
| image                           = Map_of_Cambrian_Railways_1920.jpg
| caption                         = 1920 map of the railway
| logo                            = 
| gauge                           = {{Track gauge|4 ft 8 1/2 in}}
| length                          = {{convert|295|mi|24|chain}} (1919)<ref name="RYB">{{Cite book |title=The Railway Year Book for 1920 |publisher=The Railway Publishing Company Limited |year=1920 |location=London |pages=91}}</ref>
| tracklength                     = {{convert|396|mi|79|chain}} (1919)<ref name="RYB" />
}}

[[File:Image taken from page 20 of '(Picturesque Wales- a handbook of scenery accessible from the Cambrian Railways, etc.)' (11213890024).jpg|thumb|Map from 'Picturesque Wales: a handbook of scenery accessible from the Cambrian Railways']]
The '''Cambrian Railways''' owned {{convert|230|mi|km}} of [[Railway track|track]] over a large area of [[mid Wales]]. The system was an amalgamation of a number of railways that were incorporated in 1864, 1865 and 1904. The Cambrian connected with two larger railways with connections to the northwest of England via the [[London and North Western Railway]], and the [[Great Western Railway]] for connections between London and Wales. The Cambrian Railways amalgamated with the Great Western Railway on 1 January 1922 as a result of the [[Railways Act 1921]]. The name is continued today in the route known as the [[Cambrian Line]].

== History ==
=== Creation of the Cambrian Railways: 1864 ===
{{Infobox UK legislation
| short_title           = Cambrian Railways Act 1864
| type                  = Act
| parliament            = Parliament of the United Kingdom
| long_title            = An Act to amalgamate the Oswestry and Newtown, Llanidloes and Newtown, Newtown and Machynlleth, and Oswestry, Ellesmere and Whitchurch Railway Companies; and to confer Powers upon the amalgamated and other Companies.
| year                  = 1864
| citation              = [[27 & 28 Vict.]] c. cclxii
| introduced_commons    = 
| introduced_lords      = 
| territorial_extent    = 
| royal_assent          = 25 July 1864
| commencement          = 
| expiry_date           = 
| repeal_date           = 
| amends                = 
| replaces              = 
| amendments            = 
| repealing_legislation = 
| related_legislation   = 
| status                = 
| legislation_history   = 
| theyworkforyou        = 
| millbankhansard       = 
| original_text         = https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukla/Vict/27-28/262/pdfs/ukla_18640262_en.pdf
| revised_text          = 
| use_new_UK-LEG        = 
| UK-LEG_title          = 
| collapsed             = yes
}}
{{Infobox UK legislation
| short_title           = {{visible anchor|Cambrian Railways Act 1901}}
| type                  = Act
| parliament            = Parliament of the United Kingdom
| long_title            = An Act to authorise the Cambrian Railways Company to extend their railway at Pwllheli to grant further powers to that Company in respect of the use of steam vessels and for other purposes.
| year                  = 1901
| citation              = [[1 Edw. 7]]. c. lxix
| introduced_commons    = 
| introduced_lords      = 
| territorial_extent    = 
| royal_assent          = 2 July 1901
| commencement          = 
| expiry_date           = 
| repeal_date           = 
| amends                = 
| replaces              = 
| amendments            = 
| repealing_legislation = 
| related_legislation   = 
| status                = 
| legislation_history   = 
| theyworkforyou        = 
| millbankhansard       = 
| original_text         = 
| revised_text          = 
| use_new_UK-LEG        = 
| UK-LEG_title          = 
| collapsed             = yes
}}
The Cambrian Railways Company was created on 25 July 1864 when the '''{{visible anchor|Cambrian Railways Act 1864}}''' ([[27 & 28 Vict.]] c. cclxii) received [[royal assent]]. The company was formed by amalgamating most of the railway companies in mid Wales: the [[Oswestry and Newtown Railway]], the [[Llanidloes and Newtown Railway]], the [[Newtown and Machynlleth Railway]] and the [[Oswestry, Ellesmere and Whitchurch Railway]]. The shareholders of these constituent companies became the shareholders in the new Cambrian Railways Company. The {{not a typo|[[Aberystwith and Welsh Coast Railway]]}} was not included in the amalgamation because it was still under construction. In all, the new company had lines totalling {{convert|97+1/4|mi|km|0}} in length.<ref name=Johnson />

As well as incorporating existing railways, the new company had agreements to share traffic with the [[Mid-Wales Railway]], the [[Manchester and Milford Railway]] and the [[Great Western Railway]]. This allowed it to control the transportation of goods and passengers across mid Wales.<ref name=Johnson />

=== Early years: 1864–1869 ===

==The Cambrian Railways system==
[[File:Cambrian Railways map c.1921 - Project Gutenberg eText 20074.jpg|thumb|200px|Circa 1921 map of the Cambrian Railways]]

===Constituent railways===
The earliest section of the Cambrian was the section from [[Three Cocks]] to [[Talyllyn Junction]]. This had been opened in 1816 as part of the Hay Railway, a [[tramroad]] worked by horses connecting the town of [[Hay-on-Wye]] with the [[Brecknock and Abergavenny Canal]] at [[Brecon]]. The western section was sold to the [[Brecon and Merthyr Railway]]; the eastern section became part of the [[Mid-Wales Railway]].

In the following list the dates are: date of incorporation; opening date
[[File:Prince of Wales Steam train - panoramio.jpg|thumb|right|Vale of Rheidol No. 9 [[GWR Rheidol Tanks|''Prince of Wales'']] in Cambrian livery]]
* [[Oswestry and Newtown Railway]] {{convert|30|mi|km|0}}: 6 June 1855; 1860–61
* [[Llanidloes and Newtown Railway]] {{convert|12+1/2|mi|km|0}}: 4 August 1853; 1859. Until 1861 this section of the line was isolated
* [[Newtown and Machynlleth Railway]] {{convert|23|mi|km|0}}: 27 July 1857; 1863
* [[Oswestry, Ellesmere and Whitchurch Railway]] {{convert|18|mi|km|0}}: 1 August 1861; 1863–1864
* {{not a typo|[[Aberystwith and Welsh Coast Railway]]}} {{convert|86|mi|km|0}}: 26 July 1861; 1863–1869
* [[Mid-Wales Railway]] {{convert|45+1/2|mi|km|0}}: 1 August 1859; 1 September 1864. This railway was independent of the Cambrian until 1 January 1888, when the latter took over working the line. On 1 July 1904 the two railways amalgamated.
* [[Wrexham and Ellesmere Railway]] {{convert|12+3/4|mi|km|0}}; opened in 1895. [[Wrexham]] was the largest town served by the Cambrian.
* [[Van Railway]] (serving lead mines) {{convert|6+1/2|mi|km|0}}: built 1871
* [[Welshpool and Llanfair Light Railway]] {{convert|9|mi|km|0}}: {{RailGauge|2ft6in}} gauge: opened 4 April 1903; closed to all traffic on 5 November 1956: reopened as a [[heritage railway]] 6 April 1963.
* [[Tanat Valley Light Railway]] ([[Llynclys]] to [[Llangynog (Powys)|Llangynog]]) {{convert|15|mi|km|0}}: opened 5 January 1904: closed to passengers 1951
* [[Mawddwy Railway]] {{convert|6+3/4|mi|km|0}}: incorporated 5 July 1865: closed to passengers 1931; closed 1951<ref name=Johnson />
* [[Vale of Rheidol Railway]] {{convert|11+3/4|mi|km|0}}: [[2 ft and 600 mm gauge railways in the United Kingdom|{{Track gauge|23.5in}} gauge]]: built 1902, absorbed 1913.

===Branch lines===

* [[Abermule]] to [[Kerry, Powys|Kerry]]
* [[Ruabon Barmouth Line|Barmouth Junction to Dolgellau]]
* [[Llanymynech]] to [[Llanfyllin Branch]] 
(The information in this section was taken largely from ''The Railway Year Book 1912''.)

==Feeder lines==
The Cambrian had connections with many independent lines, including:

===Narrow gauge===

* [[Corris Railway]], at [[Machynlleth railway station|Machynlleth]]
* [[Hendre-Ddu Tramway]], at [[Aberangell railway station|Aberangell]]<ref name=Johnson>{{Johnson-CRNH}}</ref>
* [[Ffestiniog Railway|Festiniog Railway]], at [[Minffordd railway station|Minffordd]]
* [[Kerry Tramway]], at [[Kerry, Powys|Kerry]]
* [[Plynlimon and Hafan Tramway]], at Llanfihangel (later Llandre)
* [[Talyllyn Railway]], at [[Tywyn railway station|Tywyn]]

===Standard gauge===

* [[Potteries, Shrewsbury & North Wales Railway]] (later [[Shropshire and Montgomeryshire Railway]]), at [[Llanymynech]]
* [[Manchester & Milford Railway]] (later part of the [[Great Western Railway|GWR]]) at Aberystwyth
* [[Mawddwy Railway]] at [[Cemmes Road railway station]]
* [[Van Railway]] at [[Caersws]]

==Railway operations==
[[File:Oswestry railway station and Cambrian Railways head office c.1921 - Project Gutenberg eText 20074.jpg|thumb|[[Oswestry railway station]] and the company head office, circa 1921]]
The headquarters of the Cambrian Railways was at [[Oswestry railway station]] in Shropshire. The building still stands today, although detached from modern network main railway lines, and was in use for commercial purposes until 2004.  After restoration in 2005, this building was reopened as the Cambrian Visitor Centre in June 2006; but on 11 January 2008 closed due to the terms of the lease not being settled. It has since reopened and, amongst other things, is {{as of|2009|lc=y}} being used as the headquarters for the newly formed [[Cambrian Heritage Railways]] (CHR) restoration project. 
[[File:Bangor-on-Dee Station, 1862854 5e291cdb.jpg|thumb|right|{{rws|Bangor-on-Dee}} station in 1962]]
The largest station premises on the line were at {{rws|Aberystwyth}} (part of which has been restored and reopened as a [[J D Wetherspoon]] in the mid-2000s).

==Locomotives==
[[File:Cambrian Railway works, Oswestry - geograph.org.uk - 316616.jpg|thumb|right|Former Cambrian Railways workshops, Oswestry. Now an antiques warehouse]]
[[File:Cambrian Railways locomotive - Project Gutenberg eText 20074.jpg|thumb|right|The "latest Cambrian Passenger Express Locomotive", circa 1921]]
On vesting its headquarters in July 1865 in Oswestry, the company built the [[Cambrian railways works]] to the north of the station on Gobowen Road. Its construction hastened Oswestry's boom as a [[railway town]], from a population of 5,500 in 1861, to nearly 10,000 in 1901.

Built of local [[red brick]] and costing £28,000,<ref name=DisShrop/> the locomotive erecting shop had a central [[Traverser (railway)|traverser]] which was hand-operated, serving 12 roads on each side.<ref name=DisStat/> On the far north end of the works, 11 sidings accessed a carriage and wagon works.<ref name=DisStat/> Power to the machines was provided by a large steam engine via overhead shafting and belts. The {{convert|150|ft|adj=on}} chimney is still a local landmark.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www3.shropshire-cc.gov.uk/roots/packages/tra/tra_c03.htm|title=Two stations for Oswestry|publisher=Shropshire County Council|access-date=2012-02-05|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110107144315/http://www3.shropshire-cc.gov.uk/roots/packages/tra/tra_c03.htm|archive-date=7 January 2011|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref> Whilst many carriages and wagons were built in the workshops, only two locomotives were actually constructed at Oswestry, though many were rebuilt there.<ref name=DisStat>{{cite web|url=http://www.disused-stations.org.uk/o/oswestry/index.shtml|title=Oswestry|publisher=disused-stations.org.uk|access-date=2012-02-05}}</ref> After the Cambrian Railways was taken over by the GWR on grouping in 1923, the GWR kept the works open as a regional carriage and wagon works, and locomotive repair shop for the associated [[railway depot|locomotive shed]].

In 1911 there were 91 locomotives and one rail motor car in the Cambrian's rolling stock. At grouping in 1922, 94 standard-gauge engines and five narrow-gauge engines were transferred to the GWR, identified by type and builder at [[Locomotives of the Great Western Railway#Cambrian Railways|Locomotives of the Great Western Railway]].

After becoming part of the [[London Midland Region]] in 1963, the depot closed in January 1965, the works in early 1966.<ref name=DisShrop>{{cite web|url=http://www.discovershropshire.org.uk/html/search/verb/GetRecord/CCS:MSA10279|title=Cambrian Railways works|publisher=discovershropshire.org.uk|access-date=2012-02-05|archive-date=23 April 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160423005907/http://www.discovershropshire.org.uk/html/search/verb/GetRecord/CCS:MSA10279|url-status=dead}}</ref> A [[Listed building|Grade II listed building]], the works today is an antiques centre, small business hub and document storage centre.<ref name=DisShrop/>

== Accidents ==
[[File:Bettisfield Station 1863391 991ebb7e.jpg|thumb|right|Bettisfield Station in 1962]]
*On 1 January 1883, a passenger train was struck by a landslide at [[Friog]], [[Merionethshire]]. The locomotive and its tender were pushed into the sea. Both crew were killed.<ref name=Hoole4>{{cite book |title=Trains in Trouble |first=Ken |last=Hoole |volume=4 |publisher=Atlantic Books |location=Redruth |page=24 |year=1983 |isbn=0-906899-07-9}}</ref>
*On 11 June 1897, [[Welshampton rail crash|a passenger train was derailed]] at [[Welshampton]], [[Shropshire]] due to a combination of defective track and excessive speed. Twelve people were killed. 
*On 17 January 1918, two freight trains were in a head-on collision at Parkhall, [[Shropshire]] due to irregular operation of tablet instruments by signalmen at Oswestry North and Ellesmere Junction signal boxes. The design of the circuitry connecting the instruments and the weather were contributory factors.<ref name=Vaughan>{{cite book |last=Vaughan |first=Adrian |title=Obstruction Danger |year=1989 |publisher=Patrick Stephens Limited |location=Wellingborough |isbn=1-85260-055-1 |pages=55–59 }}</ref>
*[[Abermule train collision|A head-on collision]] occurred at [[Abermule]] on 26 January 1921, killing 15 passengers, including [[Lord Herbert Vane-Tempest]], chairman of the company and son of the [[George Vane-Tempest, 5th Marquess of Londonderry|fifth]] [[Marquess of Londonderry]]. The accident was caused by a confusion amongst the staff at Abermule whereby the driver of the train in the station was given back the [[Token (railway signalling)|token]] he had just handed over, for the section of track he had just travelled over – it would not have been possible to give him the token for the next section. The driver did not check which token he had and set off. He soon collided with the Aberystwyth to Manchester express coming the other way, which had the token for that section.

==Legacy today==
A registered museum dedicated to the history of the Cambrian Railways is run by [[Cambrian Heritage Railways]] in Oswestry.

[[File:Cafe at Chinnor Station - geograph.org.uk - 1498816.jpg|thumb|left|No. 247 at Chinnor Railway station.]]

A selection of original Cambrian Railways coaches have survived into the present day. Coaches 4, 251 and an unidentified saloon/brake car all stand in private residence. No.&nbsp;9 is in private storage. No.&nbsp;110 is being restored to service on the [[Swindon and Cricklade Railway]]. No.&nbsp;238 and an unidentified six-wheel brake resides with the [[National Museums & Galleries of Wales]]. No.&nbsp;247 is currently being used as the café at [[Chinnor railway station|Chinnor station]] on the [[Chinnor and Princes Risborough Railway]] and No.&nbsp;250 as a museum on the neighbouring [[Cholsey and Wallingford Railway]] having formerly been the [[Wallingford railway station (England)|Wallingford station]] café. Both No.&nbsp;247 and No.&nbsp;250 are grounded bodies. An unidentified first class passenger body also stands on the [[Tanat Valley Light Railway]]. A full brake car, No.&nbsp;104, was recovered in August 2018 and currently resides on the [[Swindon and Cricklade Railway]] awaiting restoration.

No Cambrian [[standard-gauge]] [[locomotives]] still exist.

==See also==
*[[Railways of Shropshire]]
*[[Cambrian Heritage Railways]]
*[[The Old Bell Museum]], [[Montgomery, Powys]]

[[File:Oswestry Gwersyllt, Plas Power & Wrexham RJD 55.jpg|thumb|[[Oswestry railway station|Oswestry]] with {{rws|Gwersyllt}}, Plas Power and [[Wrexham]] on the [[Railway Clearing House]] map.]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Cambrian Railways}}
*[http://www.cambrianrailways.com/ Cambrian Heritage Railways]
*[http://tvlr.co.uk/ The official Tanat Valley Light Railway Company Ltd]
*[http://www.corris.co.uk/ Corris Railway]
*''[https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/20074 The Story of the Cambrian]'', by C. P. Gasquoine, 1922, from [[Project Gutenberg]]

{{Historical Welsh railway companies}}
{{Big Four pre-nationalisation British railway companies}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Cambrian Railways| ]]
[[Category:Pre-grouping British railway companies]]
[[Category:Great Western Railway constituents]]
[[Category:Vale of Rheidol Railway]]
[[Category:Railway companies established in 1864]]
[[Category:Railway companies disestablished in 1922]]