In 2014 the line received its first visiting locomotive since the 1980s, when Palmerston returned from the Ffestiniog Railway for the first time since its original periods of hire around the First World War, and in 2015 the line held its first ever enthusiast-orientated gala event.

The Vale of Rheidol Railway ( Welsh: Rheilffordd Cwm Rheidol) is a 1ft 11 + 3⁄ 4in ( 603mm) narrow gauge heritage railway in Ceredigion, Wales, between Aberystwyth and Devil's Bridge; a journey of 11 + 3⁄ 4 miles (18.9km). [1]The Rheidol Railway". Banbury Guardian. British Newspaper Archive. 20 June 1946 . Retrieved 17 September 2016– via British Newspaper Archive. Leaving Capel Bangor the line passes the Rheidol Riding Centre before it begins to climb steeply through the woods at Tanyrallt. After about 10 minutes the train reaches Nantyronen a small country station and request stop. Here locomotives take water from the water column before the train continues on the climb to Aberffrwd.

The railway has been seen on television on many occasions, including an episode of Great British Railway Journeys filmed in 2012 and the detective series Y Gwyll filmed in 2016.The revenue of the Vale of Rheidol Light Railway Company". Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer. British Newspaper Archive. 16 February 1911 . Retrieved 17 September 2016– via British Newspaper Archive. A series of aqueducts collects the water and channels it into the Nant-Y-Moch reservoir. From there, water flows to a power station at Dinas featuring a 13 MW generator. Aberystwyth is served by Traws Cymru T1, T1C, T2 and T5 busses. Arriva and Lloyd's Coaches also operate local bus services. The upper reaches of the scheme are over 750 meters above sea level up in the remote Plynlimon mountain range. A series of aqueducts collects the water and channels it into the Nant-Y-Moch reservoir. Water flows from this reservoir to a power station at Dinas where it drives a 13,000 KW generator. From the power station, the water flows into Dinas reservior.

The new railway from Aberystwyth to Devil's Bridge". Lancashire Evening Post. British Newspaper Archive. 23 December 1902 . Retrieved 17 September 2016– via British Newspaper Archive. To learn more about the power station and the landscape that that feeds it, visit the Statkraft Rheidol Powerstation Visitor Station. Next door is the Magic of Life Butterfly House. Cross the Rheidol at the wier to reach the Aberffrwd station of the Vale of Rheidol Railway. As dusk falls, the water of the wier dances in the pretty floodlights. From 30 May 2023, Hywel Dda University Health Board patients will be able to receive outpatient physiotherapy clinics on the ground floor of the Canolfan Rheidol building in Aberystwyth. There are a number of tourist attractions in the Rheidol valley. These include the Devil's Bridge waterfalls where three bridges, each built over the previous, span the top of a spectacular waterfall.The Rheidol Valley or 'Cwm Rheidol' is a good choice for a touring day out, featuring typically Welsh scenery, some unexpected attractions such as major hydro-electric power station and a chance for activities such as fishing and cycling In 1989, the line was privatised and sold to Peter Rampton and Tony Hills (the late owner and General Manager of the Brecon Mountain Railway). [21] In 1996, Rampton and Hills split their partnership, with Hills retaining control of the Brecon, and the Rheidol being sold to a trust formed by Rampton, the Phyllis Rampton Narrow Gauge Railway Trust. [22] Unusually, the VoR operated completely without volunteers for approximately the first 20 years of its privatised operation. For many centuries the economy of the Rheidol valley had been based on metal mining. This has now been replaced by forestry, tourism and the farming of beef, dairy cattle and sheep.

The River Rheidol (Afon Rheidol in Welsh) is 19 miles in length with a catchment area covering 73 square miles. It rises in the headwaters of the Nant y Moch reservoir on the western edge of Plynlimon and then flows south through the village of Ponterwyd on the main Aberystwyth to Rhayader road. Continuing south-westwards through ancient Welsh Oak woodlands, the Afon Rheidol joins with the Afon Mynach. The environment was taken into consideration when designing its scheme in the 1950s. The award winning Felin Newydd Falls in Cwm Rheidol were designed to blend in with the surrounding countryside, and many of the scheme’s building are clad with local stone.The railway is a registered charity, dedicated to preserving the heritage railway for future generations to enjoy. The historic coal fired steam locomotives and vintage carriages were built by the Great Western Railway in the 1920s and 30s and are now fully restored. Aberystwyth is the main terminus where the company's administrative headquarters and workshop are located. Leaving Aberystwyth, the line travels eastwards towards the village of Llanbadarn Fawr. There is a request stop at Llanbadarn. Trains towards Devil's Bridge pause here briefly to activate the level crossing before proceeding. A short distance from Llanbadarn, the line passes over the River Rheidol on a timber trestle bridge and then passes the Glanyrafon Industrial Estate, before heading out into the open countryside. After 4.5 miles (7.2km) Capel Bangor station is reached. There is a passing loop here and a station building. All trains stop here. Trains normally wait for one hour at Devil's Bridge station before returning to Aberystwyth. Alight at one of the recently restored intermediate stations and explore the many walks the valley has to offer. If you would like more time than an hour to explore, you may return by a later train. Please discuss this with the Guard.