Steam Season Begins at the Brecon Mountain Railway

There’s always a special moment each year at the Brecon Mountain Railway when the steam locomotives return to service. After months of winter maintenance, preparation and inspection, we are delighted to confirm that both of our steam locomotives have today successfully passed their annual boiler examinations, meaning they are now officially cleared to operate for the 2026 season.

For many visitors, the sight, sound and smell of a steam locomotive climbing through the spectacular landscape of Bannau Brycheiniog National Park is the highlight of a trip to the railway. But before a locomotive can take its first passengers of the year, a huge amount of work takes place behind the scenes during the winter months.

Winter Maintenance and Inspection

Each winter our engineering team undertakes an intensive programme of work on the locomotives. This includes a comprehensive strip-down of key components, allowing every element to be thoroughly inspected, serviced and rebuilt where necessary.

A crucial part of this process is the annual boiler examination, which takes place in two stages:

Cold Examination – carried out while the locomotive is out of steam, allowing inspectors to examine the internal condition of the boiler, pipework and fittings.

Hot Examination – undertaken once the locomotive is back in steam, ensuring everything performs safely under operating pressure.

Only once these inspections have been successfully completed and certified can a locomotive return to passenger service.

Passing these tests is always a proud moment for the team, marking the culmination of months of careful engineering work and preparation.

Steam Returns in March

With both locomotives now passed fit for service, steam services will return to the Brecon Mountain Railway on weekends throughout March, offering visitors an early opportunity to enjoy a trip behind a working steam engine before the main season begins.

Locomotive No.1 will be rostered for the first three weeks of these March services, before Locomotive No.2 takes over for the Easter period.

Our full 2026 operating season begins on Saturday 28th March, when trains return to a regular timetable and the railway welcomes visitors for another year of steam-hauled journeys through some of the most beautiful scenery in Wales.

A Wonderful Time to Visit

Early spring is a particularly lovely time to travel on the railway. The mountains are beginning to wake from winter, reservoirs shimmer beneath the hills, and the railway offers a peaceful way to experience the landscape before the busy summer months arrive.

Whether you’re a railway enthusiast eager to see the locomotives back in action, or simply looking for a memorable day out in the National Park, there’s nothing quite like travelling behind a working steam engine.

We look forward to welcoming you on board very soon.