The Brecon Mountain Railway: A Vision Brought to Life
The Legacy of Anthony Hills
The Brecon Mountain Railway is more than just a heritage railway—it is the result of one man’s unwavering passion, determination, and engineering ingenuity. Anthony ‘Tony’ Hills, the visionary behind the BMR, had a lifelong love of steam locomotives. Born in 1935, Tony initially followed in his family’s footsteps in the world of finance but soon realised that his true passion lay in steam engines.
From a young age, Tony was fascinated by locomotives, even purchasing his own steam engine in his twenties and restoring it in his garden. A visit to the Ffestiniog Railway in the 1960s cemented his desire to one day create a railway of his own. By the mid-1970s, he began searching for the perfect location—one that would combine stunning scenery with industrial heritage. His search led him to Merthyr Tydfil, once the heart of the global iron industry and the site of the world’s first steam locomotive trial in 1804 by Richard Trevithick.
In 1978, after years of meticulous planning and securing permissions, Tony’s vision began to take shape. The railway he sought to revive followed part of the old Brecon & Merthyr Railway, which had closed in 1964 during the mass closures of Britain’s railway network. What he faced was no small task—years of neglect had left only ruins. The original rails, bridge girders, and ballast were stripped away, and the remaining structures were reduced to little more than shells. Undeterred, Tony and his team set to work, painstakingly rebuilding the railway from scratch, replacing bridges, restoring station buildings, and sourcing locomotives from around the world.
His tireless efforts saw the first section of the railway—between Pant and Pontsticill—open to the public in 1980. The first train, pulled by a small locomotive named Sybil, was just the beginning. Over the next three decades, Tony oversaw the railway’s expansion, reaching Dolygaer in 1995 and finally Torpantau in 2014, the highest point of the original line at 1,313 feet above sea level.
Anthony ‘Tony’ Hills at the controls of ‘Sybil’, working one of the first trains, pulling into Pontsticill Station in 1980.
BMR Loco No. 2 running on the line after its restoration.
Tony’s commitment didn’t stop at the railway itself—he also worked to preserve steam locomotives, many of which had been deemed beyond repair. One such engine, BMR Loco No. 2, a Baldwin Pacific 4-6-2 built in 1930, was salvaged after being written off following a crash in South Africa. Through meticulous restoration, Tony and his team breathed new life into it, just as they did with Santa Teresa (BMR Loco No. 1) and many other locomotives that now run on the line.
Sadly, Tony passed away in 2015 at the age of 80, but his legacy endures. His son, Matthew Hills, now carries the torch, ensuring that his father’s vision lives on. As Matthew put it, “Dad had a simple vision—to leave something behind for people to enjoy. The railway was his life.”
A Railway Lost and Found
The railway that Tony revived had its origins in the Brecon & Merthyr Railway, which was first established in 1859 to serve South Wales’ booming industrial landscape. This railway once transported iron, coal, and goods through the challenging terrain of the Brecon Beacons, connecting remote communities with industrial hubs. However, like many of Britain’s rural railways, it suffered from declining passenger numbers and competition from road transport. It was closed in 1964 as part of the infamous Beeching Cuts, which saw thousands of miles of track ripped up across the UK.
What was once an essential artery of commerce was left to decay—until Anthony Hills took on the challenge of bringing it back to life.
Building the Brecon Mountain Railway
Tony and his team rebuilding the railway.
With the closure of the old line, the infrastructure was completely dismantled, meaning that Tony and his team had to reconstruct it almost entirely from scratch. The first step was laying track between Pant and Pontsticill, which was completed in 1979. Restoration work also extended to the old station buildings, many of which had fallen into disrepair or had been repurposed. The original waiting room at Pontsticill station was converted into a small workshop, while seven bridges were replaced or repaired during this period.
By the mid-1990s, the railway had expanded significantly, with a large station, workshop, and visitor facilities at Pant, including a café, shop, and booking office. The extension to Dolygaer in 1995 and Torpantau in 2014 further cemented the Brecon Mountain Railway as one of the most scenic and ambitious heritage railway projects in the UK.
The Living Spirit of Steam
Today, the Brecon Mountain Railway is one of the most immersive heritage railway experiences in Britain. Passengers travel through breathtaking landscapes, with stunning views of the Brecon Beacons, Pontsticill Reservoir, and the historic Morlais Quarries, once a vital source of limestone for the iron industry.
The railway operates with powerful, fully restored steam locomotives, many of which were painstakingly rebuilt by Tony and his team. The workshop at Pant remains a hub of traditional railway craftsmanship, where locomotives, carriages, and wagons are built and maintained using techniques dating back over a century.
More than just a nostalgic journey, the Brecon Mountain Railway stands as a tribute to Wales’ industrial heritage and the passion of one man who refused to let its history fade away. Visitors today are not just stepping aboard a train; they are stepping into the legacy of Anthony Hills—a man who built a working railway from nothing, giving new life to forgotten locomotives and a lost piece of Welsh history.
The Brecon Mountain Railway in it’s early days (1970s), alongside a photo from more recent times.
Step Aboard and Experience the Legacy
Whether you’re a railway enthusiast, a lover of history, or simply looking for an unforgettable journey through the heart of Wales, the Brecon Mountain Railway offers an experience like no other. Come and see the steam, hear the whistle, and feel the legacy of Anthony Hills’ vision as you travel through some of the most spectacular scenery in the country.