This work reports the development of a novel high temperature, optically-accessed experimental facility and optical methods for Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC) research at the University of British Columbia (UBC). Vibrational Raman spectroscopy is applied to determine the flow-wise distributions of key gaseous species in a model Direct Internal Reforming (DIR) SOFC reformer fuelled with methane at operating temperatures of 600 and 700 degrees C. This work describes key aspects of the rig design for high temperature operation and details the in-situ calibration methodology developed to allow results to be reported in terms of mole fraction. A sample set of experimental results is presented and discussed. Elements of the reformer design and the operating characteristics of the apparatus that directly influence the results are identified. Potential applications of the apparatus are described. Copyright (C) 2011, Hydrogen Energy Publications, LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.