51L: The finely detailed railway model. A brief background to Cambrain Railways

Cambrian Railways: A brief biography

The Cambrian Railways was very different from many of the other Welsh railway companies which joined the GWR at Grouping. It was predominantly a a rural railway with over 300 miles of line threading through the scenery of mid Wales. It operated services all over mid Wales from Pwllhely and Aberystwyth at Cardigan Bay to Brecon and Whitchurch in the east. To the north Wrexham, the only industrial town, was reached; and by running agreements Chester, Crewe and Warrington were served. This was also predominantly a single line railway only competing perhaps with the Highland in this respect. Even so the Cambrian operated a significant number of express trains to the North West with through carriages to London via the GWR and the LNWR. Most unusual of all the Cambrian had its head quarters at Oswestry an English border town!

During the summer months the railway catered for an influx of visitors enjoying the coastal resorts of Pwllhely, Barmouth, Aberdovey and Aberystwyth. Indeed it was only when the Victorians and Edwardians started to travel widely for annual holidays and week ends or day breaks that the financial arrangements of the Cambrian became secure.

There are several excellent books on the Cambrain and we recommend the following for further study:

A Regional History of the Railways of Great Britain.. Vol 11, North and mid Wales
The Cambrain Railways A portrait of a Welsh railway network, R Christiansen
The Cambrian Railways Album, Volume 1 and 2
The Cambrian Railways, 2 volumes, R Christiansen, R W Millar
Railway Archive Volume 2, The Railway Photographs of E Pouteau, P73-86, ISBN1477-5336-02
Railway Archive Volume 3, TheCambrian Railway photographs of H W Burman, by Mike Christensen P81-86, ISBN1477-5336-03
Railway Archive Volume 5, The Cambrian Railways Photographs of H W Burman, part 2, by Mike Christensen P61-66, ISBN 1477-5336
Railway Archive Volume 9, The Cambrian Railways Photographs of H W Burman, part 3, by Mike Christensen P51-58, ISBN 1477-5336

Many of the these books may be obtained from specialised book sellers for some suggestions press here.

Research groups for those interested in the Cambrian Railways:

Welsh Railways Research Circle

Having problems finding what you want? Finding missing links?
Pictures not displaying correctly? Please, please, contact our techie and give him an earful