A brief history of the MNGR.
The Maesffordd and Nant-Gorris was initially set up as a means of transporting goods and produce from the Gorris Valley to the sheltered harbour at Porthcoed, serving farms, small industries and also conveying slate from the two quarries in the valley. It was built in the 1890's and originally worked by two 0-4-0 tank loco's, no's 2 and 21 (an odd number sequence but 21 was the director's lucky number, and he thought it appropriate, the loco was subsequently named "Dilys" after his wife to remind him that luck could change sometimes). There were no plans originally for a passenger service, but after much pressure from the locals, the first passenger facilities were introduced 2 years after opening along with the introduction of three passenger coaches. These vehicles served the railway well until the closure to passengers in the late 1940's with freight lasting another five years until final closure . The line sat idle for many years, track overgrown, buildings dilapidated until a preservation trust was formed, gradually the MNGR was brought back to it's former glory and the original two engines (found hidden in a barn nearby) brought back to work the line. sadly number 2 was found to be the worst of the two and became a source of parts for 21, it is hoped that it will steam once again sometime in the future.
Today the MNGR is home to a varied fleet of locomotives and rolling stock, still earning a living mainly as a tourist attraction, but also still serving the purpose it was built for, conveying goods along the Gorris valley, this time it's from the harbour transporting locally caught fish, lobsters and imported goods to the village shops and restaurants.
