since preservation, the railway has operated as a tourist attraction. it has increased the amount of rolling stock it has. it has done this by buying and building new locomotives and carriages. in 1976, an extension was opened along the former mineral line from abergynolwyn to the new station at nant gwernol. in 2001, the preservation society celebrated its 50th anniversary. in 2005 a major rebuilding and extension of tywyn wharf station took place. this included a much-expanded facility for the narrow gauge railway museum.