Opened in 1873, the Glyn Valley Tramway linked slate quarries at Glyn Ceiriog to the canal South of Chirk, some 6 miles away. The route lay mostly beside the road, and wagons ran down the valley by gravity, returning to Glyn pulled by horses. Horse traction could not cope, and in 1888 the G.V.T. was converted to steam and re-routed through Chirk Castle estate to meet the G.W.R. at Chirk Station. The tramway was constructed to a gauge of 2ft. 4½ ins. Beyond Glyn, a new mineral line was built to serve new quarries at Pandy and the expanding granite quarry at Hendre, which was destined to become the G.V.T.'s principal customer. All manner of traffic was carried and eventually 250 wagons, 14 coaches and 4 locomotives were in use, but in the 1930's the quarries were closing or turning to road transport.

Motor bus services soon brought about the end of passenger trains swinging down the valley beside the road - one operator ran just in front of the G.V.T. trains picking up passengers all along the way. 6th July 1935 was the day on which the last mineral train ran. The news had gone round, and scores of local residents turned out at Glyn and all along the route to Chirk to see the "Tram" go by, never to return.

The engines were cut up at the shed, the passenger coaches were sold as garden sheds, the iron from the wagons was sold for scrap, and what remained was made into a huge bonfire. Talyllyn Railway bought some of the rails and put them to good use. The area where the trams would regularly wind through the valley is now popular with walkers and pony trekkers, and though not much is left of the tracks, there are still reminders along the way of what was once a busy track serving the local industry.