Lord Hendy, chair of Network Rail, has unveiled a heritage plaque on the walkway next to Barmouth Viaduct.

Joining Peter, Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill at the unveiling were Ken Skates MS, Owain Pritchard, the Mayor of Barmouth, and members of the Network Rail project team that refurbished the viaduct.

A £30m restoration of the 156-year-old Grade II* listed Barmouth Viaduct was completed in December 2023 after a four-year programme of work to restore the structure to its former glory.

Included in the restoration was the installation of new handrails on the viaduct funded by The Railway Heritage Trust, which also provided the plaque on the walkway.

After unveiling the plaque, Lord Hendy rode on a Class 97 locomotive from Barmouth to Tywyn where he officially named the locomotive.

The locomotive has mounted the cast nameplates in the style of the Talyllyn Railway logo, which provides a testament to the close relationship between Network Rail and Talyllyn Railway as neighbours.

David Ventry, Talyllyn Railway chair, and general managers, Liz Porrett and Lorraine Simkiss were presented with mounted replica nameplates cast from the same pattern.

The Talyllyn Railway opened in 1865, and in 1951 became the World’s first preserved railway when the Preservation Society was born and took over the railway after the death of its owner Sir Haydn Jones.

Heritage steam engines operate between the coastal town of Tywyn and Nant Gwernol in the mountains above Abergynolwyn.

Last November, Network Rail engineers presented a replica of the viaduct to a local school.

The restoration of the iconic Barmouth Bridge, the longest viaduct in Wales and a vital part of the Cambrian railway line, will provide a huge boost to our rail infrastructure, linking communities and encouraging more tourists to see this beautiful part of Wales, supporting the local economy.

Ken Skates. Cabinet Secretary for North Wales and Transport