Talyllyn Railway is going back to the Victorian era on Sunday, August 14, when it holds a special Victorian Day with a range of activities.

Activities will include a demonstration of slate splitting at Tywyn Wharf Station to recall the days when the railway served the quarry at Bryn Eglwys. Tywyn Wharf was where the slates were transferred from the narrow gauge railway to the main line trains for onward transport.

There will also be demonstrations of Victorian dancing and music, as well as a range of Victorian children’s activities at Tywyn Wharf Station. Victorian picnics will be available for people to take up the line and eat in places like the Dolgoch Ravine, just like Victorian and Edwardian families used to do more than 100 years ago.

As well as the railway’s normal trains, its genuine Victorian train will also be service that day, consisting of all its original passenger coaches and one of the original locomotives, all dating from the 1860s. This will depart from Tywyn Wharf Station at 11.40am and 2.35pm for the return trip to Nant Gwernol, making it possible to experience riding the line just as the Victorians did nearly 150 years ago.

There is a special offer for people who come dressed in Victorian costume who will be allowed to travel free all day. For other passengers, normal fares will apply.