The Most Isolated Station in Wales - Dovey Junction 

With apologies for my appalling pronunciation of the the placename 'Pwllheli' !! 😁

Dovey Junction had the only mechanical Signal Box in the country that worked semaphore signals in 3 different counties (Gwynedd, Dyfed and Powys). The track layout until the 15th of May 1984 had a passing loop on both the main (Aberystwyth) and Branch (Pwllheli) lines and at times you would have 4 trains there at the same time. It took 90 moves (Pulling and Putting Back) the levers to cross the 4 trains, the Main and Branch Loops were as long as their respective platform lines, at one time the two platforms were even longer going towards Machynlleth and were wooden but the wooden section was removed in the 1970's. The station house at the end is the old Glandyfi Station, great video Geoff,thank you for making it.

Cheers for the video Geoff. I was a guard based at Machynlleth back in the early 2000s and worked every single one of the TfW 158s! The video brought back some great memories. I'm not sure if anyone lives in the house over the viaduct on the Pwllheli branch anymore, but certainly back in my time on the Cambrian there was and they had to get permission from the signaller to walk over the bridge. I remember picking up the person who lived in that house on Wednesdays to go to Machynlleth market. Basically they had their own private railway station!

Ah, Dovey Junction, many is the time I sat on the train thinking 'there really isn't anything here!' while travelling between Aberystwyth and Birmingham New Street...

@6:30 I cycled there with my friend at the end of a four day bike packing trip across wales. We started from Knighton station which is pretty much on the border and cycled to Dovey Junction, nearly all off road. I am glad that we did not have the common belief that there was no access, otherwise we may not have done the trip! It was an epic bike ride i will remember it forever.

Honestly the bike shelter makes perfect sense to me. It just might be a mountain/gravel bike rather than a road bike.

I changed trains at Dovey Junction a few years back. Coming from Pwhelli direction, I had a 5-minute connection there for a train to Aberystwyth, but the one from Pwhelli was running about 10 minutes late! Fortuneately, they held the Aberystwyth, and my sole experience of using Dovey Junction consists of a mad dash between the two platforms!

As part of my job I drive up and down that path quite often, also acted as pilotman from there many times due to tidal flooding, the station house at the main road end is Glandyfi a closed station on the Aber line, the whole of Dyfi junction platform was recently raised a metre to stop some of the tidal flooding issues.

Ahhhh, my favourite station in Britain. I visited two years ago, and had it all to myself on a sunny day - sheer heaven. From the end of the footpath, it's about 30 mins walk up the road (in the Aber direction) to the stupendous Ynyshir RSPB reserve, which sprawls back down to the estuary and is involves sections of forest and boardwalked marshes. (There are only pavements for some of the walk along that road, but it never once felt dangerous.) The acclaimed Ynyshir restaurant is up there too - and so was my brilliant Airbnb. Happy memories :)

Trent Junction station in the East Midlands was another example. It was just there for people to change trains and to get something to eat. This was before catering facilities were common on trains. The station linked trains between London, Nottingham and Derby. The only link to it was a footpath from Long Eaton. There was even a row of houses provided for the staff. The station is long gone, but the houses remain. You can see them between Beeston and Long Eaton stations.

I did this line from Shrewsbury to Aberystwyth one week ago. It was absolutely lovely. It is good that it is not completely isolated as other junction stations could be.

Thanks for mentioning the Dovey Osprey/Wildilfe Centre Geoff!

Wow - my favourite station - make sure I pass through it every time I visit the UK from Canada. Thanks for sharing this, Geoff. First visited there while travelling between Aberystwyth and Tywyn on a sunny day back in 1982 - loved the location, with the sunlight playing on the hillsides and the constant ocean breeze. The station building was still there and tokens were still being exchanged. Visited again in 2017 with my son - we were staying at a nearby B&B, our host drove us to the footpath and we hiked to the station. In 2022, I was volunteering at the TR and my wife was arriving from Canada, but she first wanted to visit a long-time friend in Aberystwyth. Dovey Jct. was a great spot to surprise her on the train. Of course, we visited the station again last year during TR/FR volunteering stints. We'll return in 2025.

I didn’t know about that passing loop but it is good to know one has been installed. The legendary footpath away from this junction station remains obscure ,,,,,,,for the moment.

Thanks for another great rural video Geoff!!

Ah, Dovey Junction. I pass through it when travelling between university in Aberystwyth and home. Always been curious about it, so glad to see you've finally done a video on it!

Seeing you get rained on in Wales reminded me of every family childhood holiday I ever had. Bleak but beautiful.

I love everything about this

I used to live about four villages towards Aberystwyth from Glandyfi, and only once ever used Dyfi Junction. My aunt had tried to drop me for the train at Aberystwyth, but we missed it by about 2 minutes. Cue hectic drive back along the line and this was where a run along that path got me to my train! I swear the taka-ta-tum taka-ta-tum sound of 158s echoing over the estuary was one of the soundtracks of my childhood!

Lovely video Geoff. Reminded me of my second year at Aberystwyth University in 2012 when my friend (in their final year) lived in the cottages opposite the station entrance. Walking along that footpath with a pair of head torches in the pitch dark returning from a night out will always stay with me - such an eerie experience with just the sound of the river and the wildlife

Interesting fact about Shrewsbury station, what is now the ground floor was the last to be added by excavating the car park and that’s why you go under to get to the platforms 😊

Brilliant. It rained when I was there too, but I did see the nest, it can be seen from the train. You can't walk to it, there's no path, which causes problems when it comes to ringing the chicks before they take flight The catering at the Osprey project is also out of this world, but you wouldn't be any nearer the ospreys, even at the Observatory, which could be seen distantly from one of your positions. Although I found it mesmerising, you missed the best part.

When i was a driver at st pancras i looked at moving to Machynlleth ❤ But my 1977 seniority date was about 20 years to junior 😢 I even looked at a house near Carno. But I'm happy in Norfolk and have a little used station near-by. Spooner row.

I love the name of the station!

I remember around 5 years ago I got off here to run along and grab a bus to Aberystwyth from a bus stop along the main road 😂

i'm not from UK. (correct me if i'm wrong) but i love how isolated, little or least used statios most of the time are served by sprinters

Sorry about the weather when you came on your trip. We live in Glandyfi and walk to the station very early every morning for exercise whatever the weather and it usually is windy and more often than not wet! A lovely hour's walk from home and always enjoyable whatever the weather. We really enjoyed your video - so well produced and informative. The remains of the old Glandyfi platform is at the back of the Station House but you probably already know this! Thanks again! Sue & Dave.

Thanks Geoff. If possible try and get hold of a book called "Stopping Train Britain" by Alexander Frater from 1983. It has a feature on the Dovey Junction to Pwllheli line and relates how the line had, (maybe still has) serious flooding issues at Dovey at the highest of tides. There's a tale about how a signalman there decided it was time to get out, so pulled all the signals to danger and rapped out the Section Obstructed signal, then made off on hands and knees on the Aberystwyth route, waves breaking about his ears, to the safety of the nearest hillside!

I worked at the local RSPB reserve around 20 years ago. The only change to the station ive seen is the new bike racks and waiting shelter. When working at the reserve we used to do a weekly nightjar watch from the platform, which was free for RSPB members to attend.

We should make things like the Seiryu Miharashi Eki Station in Japan. Just isolated stops for the sole purpose of enjoying the scenery. This, unintentionally, is such a station. Berney Arms also fits that feel.

On a cycling tour in 1963 I remember seeing the same BR Standard 2-6-4 Tank Locomotives at Dovey Junction which used to ply their trade on the LTSR line in the previous 10 years. Love the isolation of the place as you seem to do.

Enjoyed your video - you missed a real treat not having time to visit he Osprey Project - a great reserve and excellent cafe there. My first visit to Dyfi junction was in 1961 on the Cambrian Coast express which I believe in those days used to actually be split at Dyfi, part went on to Abeystwyth and part to Pwllheli. We were going on holiday to Barmouth.

From my limited understanding of Welsh pronunciation, Glandyfi is pronounced Glan-Dovey. Hence Dovey Junction / Dyfi Junction.

I have actually got off a train close to the old Glandyfi station. After travelling along the estuary with the water up to rail height, the train stopped short of Dovey Junction with it being announced that the water was up to the platforms and the train would have to wait until it went down, that is until the tide started ebbing. After a few minutes it was decided a coach made more sense, so the train reversed back to Glandyfi where we all climbed down using the wooden steps carried for the purpose and walked back to the road.

A hidden station, I like that you only walk in or ride in and that there's a local bus to pick you up and drop you off.

Wouldn't it be nice to just go to that Station and sit there all day enjoying the quiet and scenery.

Hi Geoff, off topic but I thought you'd appreciate this. Last month I took a Scotrail day trip from Crianlarich to Glenfinnan and briefly got off to take a pic at Corrour. On the Ft William to Mallaig section, who should be the conductor but none other than the lovely lady who had her dog with her when you filmed for All The Stations. I had to laugh when she said she wished she'd her hair done!

One of my favourite stations! The Dovey viaduct - that you can see in the drone shot - was rebuilt, along with a load of the other viaducts along the route when Barmouth bridge was rebuilt last autumn (see my recent article in Today's Railways UK) A couple of years ago I met a member of TFW train crew who lives nearby and has a key for the vehicle gate there, so they can park at the station & take their train to work!

I remember being in Peterborough and being told to change trains for Aberystwyth in Dyfi Junction " wherever that is!". The short stretch between the bridge and the River Llyfnant flowing into the Dyfi is the only part of Montgomery (or is it Merioneth?)that meets the sea, the Dyfi Estaury deeming to end at the bridge. I was on my good friend and colleague David Hides's licence to net sewin on this part of the Dyfi.

There's already a pair of 2car 197's based at Machynlleth shed for driver training and fettling with the ERTMS signalling system to get it working so TFW can give their 158's the boot.

Thank you for the video Geoff, it was very interesting. ❤ I've done mountain-walking a few times in Wales. 🙂

Love this Geoff. Wales is such a beautiful place and even a cold windswept station makes me miss Wales.

I must say that Dovey Junction is pretty much in Mid Wales where you got lots of mountains and hills all over and the view of it is breathtaking. The closest road to get to Dovey Junction station is the A487 and where Morben Isaf Caravan Park is located near to the railway station that is only a short distance by foot.

What a lovely place and a lovely video

As a former Aber student great to see love for Dovey Junct

When I was growing up my dad had a friend that lived in Dovey Junction (we lived a few towns over and it’d take about an hour to get there maybe shorter) and I always remember passing the train station wondering why there even was one because it was the tiniest place, my dad’s friend lived up a hill in a solitary house surrounded by fields and stuff and it was always muddy. I was just always excited to see his and his wife’s black lab called Jet

Passed through this station many times on the way to and from Aberystwyth while I was a student there 😅

Lovely video Geoff, looks like a great place for a day trip!

Absolutely excellent video, one of your best in a while! Have been interested in this place for many years and the unusual operations of the station are so interesting too. Really looking forward to a new request stops video next ;)

Cheers Geoff. Very interesting…..loved it!

Isolated but with such a lovely view it would be worth a visit. I haved added it to my working list for next year when I make it back to the U.K. This Florida girl will have to bundle up it looks chilly😊

No video filmed in Wales, is complete without rain .... good video as your latest one on barmouth bridge 😊😊😊😊.....

Marvelous...! I recall when Cambridge station was set up like that - total chaos...!

I had a copy of "Stopping Train Britain" by (IIRC) Alexander Frater(?) when I was young, the author interviewed the signaller at Dovey Junction, and got to try working one signal - the effort made him imagine the signaller going home to tear up telephone directories to amuse his grandchildren. The chapter on the Cambrian had referred to the tide coming over the track, and made the place seem very isolated, so when I changed trains there heading from Aberystwyth to Pwlheli in 2004 I walked along the path to the main road and back, to see the "barbed wire" logo sign, and confirm to myself that it wasn't only for changing trains at. The new loop (when did that go in, it wasn't there in 2004?) is the same arrangement as Penrhyn on the Falmouth branch, a long platform with the loop points half way along.

Lovely video, thanks Geoff

Been to Dovey Junction soon after it was rebuilt about 2012/13 or ‘14ish. We were staying at Aberystwyth and took the bus to Machynlleth to catch a steam special to Pwhelli. We got off at Porthmadog and went to Tan-y-Bwulch and back, catching the steamer on the way back. It was hauled by a Black 5 in BR livery with BR MarkI coaches in maroon livery. West Coast Railway ran the train I think. On another visit we were travelling on a Class 158 from Harlech to Shrewsbury (the section to Pwhelli was closed after storm damage) we had to take a bus from Porthmadog to Harlech. Thanks, Geoff for a very interesting video. Now semi-retired in Picton, South Island, New Zealand.

I'm a local in Shrewsbury (even though I live in the outskirts of the town) and I must admit I knew about the exit from Dovey Junction into the main road to the next stop which is Borth, where I've stopped for a few days' holiday. The proof is that if you can look outside on the left-hand side from the train windows you can see it. Believe me, I've been past Dovey Junction before and even changed trains there from Borth to Tywin and vice versa.

Many thanks Geoff! I'd hoped to walk to Dovey Junction last month on my way to Aberystwyth but it was absolutely pouring with rain. So I continued on my way, briefly stopped at the new Bow Street Station and then sheltered in the warmth of Aberystwyth Arts Centre! 🙂

Hi. Woah, first time I passed through Dovey Junction on the train was for my interview at the University college Aberystwyth in 1988. It really did feel like it was in the middle of nowhere :) The seats on those old trains were sideways in some carriages. It was a spectacular view of those hills. Thank you for the trip down memory lane also 🥰

Yes, some 197's are being fitted with ERTMS and will be used on the Cambrian Line. Great video, Geoff!

Been through at least four times - aged 9 in 1973, I've a memory of sitting at Dovey Junction for an interminable time awaiting the connection from Aberystwyth to Shrewsbury - we'd arrived from Llwyngwril. I guess even 10 minutes can seem like a life time to a nine year old!

Great watch thanks

4 carriages to Aberystwyth is very rare 😮

Shrewsbury is our local hub station. Used to work in Aberdovey and Barmouth. Glad you enjoyed the Cambrian Line. Expecting an Osprey in flight shot!🎉

Great video, as always!

Quite amazing to see the ETCS signs at Dovey Junction.

that's the best video you've done for a while

The Castle is called Glandyfi (pr: glan-duv-ey) Castle and is a mock castle built by a barrister in 1819. It was for sale a few years ago (fantasies of owning it and having exclusive vehicle access to the station 😜). There was a much more ancient Aberdyfi Castle about another mile further to the coast, but only the motte remains.

Love these videos!

Very interesting video, Geoff. Keep doing more videos as interesting as this one, and the previous videos and I am sure the number of video like will increase and the number of subscribers will also increase!😊

The 'dyfi' in Glandyfi sounds like Dovey.

The final batch of 2 car 197 units to be built by CAF at Newport will all be fitted with ETCS equipment to enable them to operate west of Sutton Bridge Junction in Shrewsbury. They will be based at Machynlleth. Delivery is expected to commence later this year and once testing and driver training has been completed, should come into service in 2025.

Many many years ago we was on a family holiday to Aberystywth and wanted to catch the train to Barmouth. We got to the station but there was a long wait for the train and the ticket clerk said to drive to Dovey Junction as there was a train due in like an hour or so.. We did that and ran up the path to catch the train, my dad managed to get to the platform and tell the guard to wait as my mum in her flip flops was waaaay behind 😅 We managed to all get on the train, but the guard was not happy and I think we delayed the service by about 5 minutes. IIRC it was a 158 in Central trains colours.

Fancy going to Wales with no suitable coat! 🌧🎐😄

I remember looking at this route ages ago online and that Station house at the end of the path at 9:15 is that is site of the former Glandyfi Station which closed in 1965. Great Video Geoff and looking forward to the request stop video soon.

I used to get this train a lot when I was at uni in Aberystwyth. You definitely could get off an down the main road from Dovey Junction. Most trains split at Machynlleth with one end going toward Pwllhelli and the other going to Aberystwyth, so as long as you were in the right end of the train there was no need to change at Dovey Junction. I have seen people get on and off at Dovey Junction, but it was pretty rare

Awesome video

Whilst listing the facilities, you didnt mention the defibrillator. ❤️❤️❤️

Great video for tourists.

I pass this nearly every year on my way to Barmouth great video

Interesting video!

Hi Geoff, this was a great video. I'd never heard of this place before, it looks so remote, but so interesting and windy. It's a pity you didn't take a walk to the bird sanctuary and the castle, but I could see you weren't prepared for it (you should have worn warmer clothes)! Can you do another video of Dovey Junction again in the summer and then video/visit the bird sanctuary and the castle? That would be brilliant. 🕊️🏰🤗

I have left a train at Dovey Junction before and walked 3/4 of a mile (15-20 mins) to the nearest road to catch a bus.

Great and informative video Geoff! I would have never known about somthing so intresting eithout your channel, keep making great video's!

Good to know the hills have not moved!

The Aberystwyth platform at Dovey Junction was always this long. It enabled the portion of a train from Pwllheli to set back onto the portion from Aber sitting in the platform and still have the whole train platformed. Such trains as the Cambrian Coast Express. There were run-round loops for both platforms, enabling loco movements. I'm not sure how long after the end of steam (early 60s) such arrangements lasted and clearly, from your old photos, the track had been rationalized by the early 80s.

As a former local to this area, I would love to see Geoff try to pronounce all the stations along the Cambrian Coastline. Have fun with Penrhyndeudraeth!

Drove past the sign to this earlier and everyone in the car was thrilled that I'd watched this video days earlier and could tell them all the facts they didn't know they needed to know 🤓

I’m surprised nobody mentioned Malcolm Roots fantastic atmospheric painting of Dovey Junction in steam days, depicting Manor Class, 7820 Dinmore Manor calling at the station with the Cambrian Coast Express with a view down the wooden platform showing some of the station buildings on a wet and overcast day with a throng of passengers changing trains including schoolboys sitting on suitcases in shorts noting numbers. Have the Waddingtons jigsaw…

Thanks for the video Geoff 👍 I watch the Dyfi Osprey webcam online and you can see the trains going by, and I had always wondered what it looked like at Dyfi junction, so now I know 😀

Hi Geoff, I used the train in 1970 to attend the Outward Bound School at Aberdovey. I started out from Newcastle upon Tyne Central Station via Birmingham New Street, Wolverhampton, Shrewsbury and Machynlleth before alighting at Penhelig Halt. What a journey that was. On the return trip all the lads who were travelling home by train were told to change trains at Machynlleth. When we got to Dovey Junction the Euston Express from Aberystwyth was already at the station so a few of us got off very quickly and boarded the waiting train and managed to find seats. When it eventually got to Machynlleth all the passengers from our previous train were waiting on the platform and the train was in the sidings there to allow the express through. I remember the Euston Express must have had about six or eight carriages behind a diesel loco. This is probably why Dovey Junction has such a long platform on the Aberystwyth side.

You should add defibrillator to your station checklist. I’m surprised and impressed that there’s one at such a remote station!

Goodness Geoff, you're getting around a bit these days with Guildford, Highgate and Dovey Junction in three successive videos. Nice.

What a wonderful place to sit and contemplate the world. Will you be doing the most isolated stations in England and Scotland too?

Hello Geoff and everybody. A few corrections and extra info from someone who regularly changes at Dyfi Junction aka Cyffordd Dyfi aka Dovey Junction and lives and travels up and down the Cambrian Coast Line. 197s - There's no might about 197s coming to Cambrian Line (Shrewsbury to Aberystwyth) and Cambrian Coast Line (Pwllheli to Dovey Junction/Machynlleth). They will be coming but, due to the ERTMS signalling system that's used on the 2 lines, all other TfW 197s are being made first and then the 197s that are coming to the 2 lines will be built with the special equipment they have to have in order to work with ERTMS. Cambrian Coast Line and Cambrian Line were the guinea pigs for ERTMS in the UK before they started the roll out across the rest of the UK. So, it's more when rather than might. Osprey Nest - travelling from Machynlleth, the Osprey nest is on your right as the train comes into Dovey Junction. Can also be seen from the Machynlleth end of Dovey Junction if you look carefully. You can't get any closer to the nest than the train or station but, if you search RU-vid for "Dyfi Osprey Project" you can see the nest up close on 4k livestream and from at least 2 camera angles (it cycles between cameras) you can do a bit of remote train spotting. passing loop - was reinstated at least 10+ years ago. hourly service. has been promised for a number of years but, still not a thing. No bin bags- That's because it gets so windy there particulalrly in the winter (can confirm Platform 2b is no fun in big winter storms) that bin bags wouldn't last that long at all. Dovey Junction did actually win best kept station 6 or 7 years ago. Certain people might suggest that this was partly because the wind quite quickly makes the litter disappear. Facilities - Whilst no cafe there now, There did use to be one there. Presumably due to the signal box and lots more trains stopping there back in the days of steam trains. If you want to find out more about the Cambrian Coast Line and Cambrian Line along with history and how things are now, there's a good facebook group - facebook.com/groups/57102437958 Look forward to see which request stop station(s) you'll be visiting Geoff. Could it be my local request stop station?

In 2013 I was part of the Aberystwyth University Real Ale Society's first (well only...) Dovey Junction Beer festival on the platform. Probably the only thing to have happened there before and since!

When at uni in Aber - I heard that Dovey Jct was popular with tourists who would ride the train there then cycle back to Aber or the other way. Hence the bike shelter.

1km from Station Entrance to platform? I wonder if there are any which are further on the UK rail network. Maybe on the tube somewhere perhaps? St Pancras front entrance to the far end of the EMR? Who knows

The first timee I saw Dyfi Junction it was asmall island platform no longer than 2-3 coaches long. You can imagine the confusion every Sturday in summer monthsThere used also to be Gogarth that was nothing but a corrugated iron lean to. It was blown awy one stormy night never to be seen again!

6:27 lol I'm a local and I've cycled to Dyfi Junction a few times, its a nice trick for a slightly shorter bike ride than cycling all the way to Machynlleth, since every train going north from Machynlleth will also stop at Dyfi Junction