Hay Railway

From 1 May 1820, the Hay Railway was joined at its Eardisley terminus, in an end on junction, by the Kington Tramway. Together, the two lines totalled 36 miles (58 km) in length, comprising the longest continuous plateway to be completed in the United Kingdom.

The Hay Railway operated through rural areas on the borders of England and Wales and was built to transport goods and freight. Passengers were not carried on any official basis. Although wagons were horse-drawn there was an account in 1841 of an 'ingenious' man-powered vehicle, which was propelled by means of cogs and hand winch operated by two men seated on the vehicle. They travelled from Kington to Brecon at about 5 to 6 mph (8.0 to 9.7 km/h), loaded up with a ton of coal and returned the next day. They broke their journey for refreshments at the Hay Gas-House, during which time children played with the machine and broke one of the wheels. As a result of the damage the men had to push the machine to Eardisley, whereas they had been headed to Kington.

The Hay Railway was absorbed into the Hereford, Hay and Brecon Railway by virtue of the Hay Railway Act 1860 (23 & 24 Vict. c. clxxix) and the line was converted to standard gauge for operation by steam locomotives.