Talyllyn Railway Preservation Begins

On August 12, 1950, enthusiasts led by L.T.C. Rolt took over the bankrupt Talyllyn Railway, a 2 ft 3 in narrow-gauge line in mid-Wales, marking the birth of the global railway preservation movement. Using original locomotives No. 1 Talyllyn and No. 2 Dolgoch, volunteers restored track and rolling stock, demonstrating that heritage railways could operate sustainably. The effort inspired countless similar projects worldwide and preserved a vital piece of slate-industry transport history.