Passengers on the world’s first preserved railway in Mid Wales could in future be forgiven for thinking they are seeing double or even triple!

Their eyes are not deceiving them because Talyllyn Railway has probably scored another world first by having triplets pass their training as assistant guards on the same day.

Brothers Jake, Ross and Joe Waddington all came through their assessment with flying colours and have moved to the next level of training before becoming guards on the railway.

The brothers, who live locally, have been volunteering on the railway for a couple of years and to ensure they could all qualify together, special arrangements were made for them all to be assessed on the same day.

Ian Drummond, Talyllyn Railway Preservation Society’s chairman, said: “Joe, Jake and Ross have contributed a great deal to the railway already. Their positive attitude in all that they do has won them many friends on the railway and we look forward to seeing them progress further in the years ahead.”

The narrow gauge railway opened for goods traffic in 1865 and shortly after for passenger services, which have operated every year since between Tywyn on the west coast of Wales and Nant Gwernol, just over seven miles inland.

In 1951, operation of the line was taken over by Talyllyn Railway Preservation Society and became the world’s first preserved railway. Operation of the line is primarily by volunteers from all walks of life, with a small paid staff. It is now a major tourist attraction in the mid-Wales area, contributing significantly to the area’s economy.