Present-Day Llanelli Railway
The heritage railway currently operates a short section of track at the Cynheidre Heritage Centre, showcasing locomotives, rolling stock, and railway memorabilia. The LMMR continues to expand its facilities and track, with ambitions to extend the running line for heritage train operations. It also hosts special events, open days, and educational programs celebrating the area’s industrial heritage.
Preservation and Reopening
In the late 1990s, a group of enthusiasts formed the Llanelli and Mynydd Mawr Railway Society to preserve part of the historic railway. Restoration work began on a section of the line near the site of the old Cynheidre Colliery, intending to recreate a working heritage railway.
History of the Llanelli Railway
The line was originally established as the Carmarthenshire Tramroad in 1803, making it one of the oldest railways in Wales. Built as a horse-drawn tramway, it was designed to transport coal from the Mynydd Mawr collieries to the port of Llanelli for export. It was later converted to a conventional railway, becoming part of the Llanelli and Mynydd Mawr Railway Company in 1840, and played a significant role during the height of the coal industry in South Wales. The railway saw a decline in use during the mid-20th century as coal mining in the region diminished. The line was eventually closed to passenger traffic in 1921 and fully ceased operations in the 1980s after freight services ended.