Stations at Stations on the Talyllyn Railway 

Nearly one hundred people took part in what is believed to be a unique Good Friday event on the Talyllyn Railway in Mid-Wales. Called ‘Stations at Stations’ a special train travels up the railway, stopping at the stations along the route for readings and prayers telling the Easter story of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ

Bishop Michael leads the devotions at Rhydyronen Station 

The event started in 2009 and is sponsored by the churches in Tywyn. This year The Right Reverend Dr Michael Langrish, formerly Bishop of Exeter, led the spiritual pilgrimage. The event brought together Christians of many denominations including Anglicans, Catholics, Methodists and Baptists with some travelling to Tywyn from places as far afield as Manchester to take part in the journey.

This year’s fine Easter weather enabled people to enjoy the scenery of the journey at its best, as well as providing the opportunity for reflection along the way. A collection was also made in aid of the charity ‘Embrace The Middle East’ for medical work in the Syrian town of Aleppo. This raised over £800 for the project.

The current chairman of the Talyllyn Railway Preservation Society is Baptist minister the Revd Ian Drummond, moderator of Middleton Park Baptist Church in Leeds. He said, 'Stations at Stations has proved to be an extremely effective means of communicating the story of Good Friday both to people of faith and those with none.

'In a series of simple meditations people are given the opportunity to reflect on the events of that day and through conversations along the journey to build a sense of community and friendship. We are very grateful to Bishop Michael for leading the event so helpfully this year.'

The Talyllyn Railway is a 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 the 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. Find out more here.


The Stations at Stations train waits at Brynglas. Images | Ian Drummond