Authors Paul Lawton and David Southern continue Graffeg’s series of pocket books exploring Wales’ railway heritage, each revealing a ‘lost line’ of Wales.

In this addition, take a nostalgic steam-powered journey back in time on the long-closed service between Bangor and Afon Wen, cut as part of the Beeching Axe in 1964. The line from Bangor to Afon Wen is one of the most interesting of the lost lines of Wales. It is still remembered with great affection by many local residents and railway enthusiasts.

The closure of many of these lines has had significant and lasting impact, and the recovery of some routes is of public relevance and a source of debate today. The history and social background of the railway and its passengers is explored station by station. Photo-illustrated throughout, its story is brought vividly to life through extensive research and archive photography, some of which has never been published before.

Paul Lawton grew up in Somerset next to the Cheddar Valley line and adds personal insight to this tour through its former stations. He later moved to Wales, writing extensively on the history and railway history of Denbighshire, and is the co-author of three titles in the Lost Lines of Wales series: Rhyl to Corwen, Bangor to Afon Wen and Conwy Valley Line.

David Southern.