Running, for approximately 8 miles, from Llangollen to the current
western terminus at Carrog, this railway is the only operational
standard gauge heritage line in North Wales. For most of its length it
follows the course of the River Dee affording excellent views of the
dramatic Welsh countryside many of which are not available to travellers
on the main A5 road which also follows the route higher up the valley
side.
In its previous life it formed part of a main route linking
Ruabon with the coastal line at Barmouth. The line led a relatively
quiet life but did not open up to tourists and in its early days made a
number of small slate quarries viable concerns.