The Gwili Railway thread

Well I think the problem with something like a hotel is the fact there are other locations within a short walk of town, like Pensarn. The beauty of abergwili is there is quite a lot of room. Has the idea of getting planning and raising funds for access been explored? I feel the sooner bronwydd car park is relieved the better. Maybe a possibility of room for an engine shed in the old car park? I think more mainline locos will naturally visit with a shed.

Tom

 

Yes shed (after the extension) has to be the number one priority for development but it comes down to money. With the extended line, about 150 running days a year and full time MPD staff the prospects of more locos do become brighter....the missing link is the shed though.

 

Progress on the Gwili has been great to see. I remember the Milk train Hymeks in the early 70s, walking the track looking at the rotten sleepers in those days and we became friends with a family whose smallholding you had to drive over the river bridge at Conwl to access when the track had been lifted or risk the river ford.

I would suggest that any shed must include provision for carriages as well. My Son and D in L do not look at whats on the front when they travel on heritage lines , the questions they ask me when considering visits are - whats the scenery like, will the carriages have clean windows and be in good condition?. 80% plus of your income is from the likes of them not enthusiasts dribbling over locos be they steam or diesel.
Yes, you need steam for events like Thomas, Santas etc but incurring steaming fees on day to day quiet midweek services often turns a profitable running day into a loss making day on smaller railways. Watch for the dreamers who want to bankrupt you with large coal gobbling engines, ditto for diesels, 14s, 20s and small Sulzers, are a lot more economic to operate than 37s and 47s. DMUs or DEMUs even better as long as they are not the high back seat padded cell ex suburban units.

Brian

 

Can't argue with any of that, it is easy to get focused on the front of the train. I agree that carriages are just as important, the new BSK acquired last year has improved the position and given us more options, plus the vintage carriages (when running) will also give another dimension. There are plans for a carriage shed at Abergwili too, but as ever money is needed.

In terms of running days it is the chicken and egg situation. If you are not open you won't attract any additional midweek passengers, we have looked to open as much as possible in the summer to increase numbers and income. We have seen an increase in coach bookings in particular which has assisted filling some midweek days. If anything the weekends seem quieter now!

Regards

Matt

 

To be honest, a shed isn't the most important thing, although very nice to have if you have the space. Look what Swanage has achieved, and we have a shed that can fit one tank engine in.....

 

I suppose the issue for us is that we certainly need a shed to repair engines, once they are operational it matters less if they are outside. It slows overhauls and repairs down when everything is done in the open. Most railways can get by without a running shed. The other point can be that sometimes loco owners do request that their loco should be stored under cover when not in use even if for just (say) the winter months.


Regards

Matt

 

Don't forget Great Railway Journeys tomorrow night BBC2 which features the Gwili showing among other things the southern extension (and matt78!).

Regards

Matt

 

To be honest, a shed isn't the most important thing, although very nice to have if you have the space. Look what Swanage has achieved, and we have a shed that can fit one tank engine in.....

That isn't strictly true, though, is it? You have Herston Works as well, and as the Gwilli expands, so will the maintenance burden.

 

I think that it is the experience of most heritage railways that decent undercover accommodation is the number one priority, at least in terms of workshop space, if not for storage. That is why the Swanage have Herston. Why the Gwili have neglected it for so long has always puzzled me.

 

The Traws Link idea raised its head again recently, see: http://www.isengard.co.uk/#News item 'TRAWS Link group fights for Cambrian Coast link'
I had received an email some months ago from the Traws Link team stating the Gwili trackbed would not be used. Does the Gwili have any info on this? Or are y'all just assuming this scheme won't ever go ahead?

 

This has not gone past the stage of political campaign yet, our LRO is enshrined in law so would be interesting to unravel! I understood that the Gwili part would be bypassed, this report does not seem to be direct from the campaigners and therefore there may be supposition in this article. If it happens, it happens.....believe it when you see it though.

Regards

Matt

 

It would be interesting to speculate an alternative route from Carmarthen to Pencader....
Any suggestions anyone - links to maps would be helpful! (Just for fun )

 

I have asked the question on numerous occasions apparently they are awaiting a report on the route.
If they were serious they would just say they were going to use our section of line and be done with it... However I agree with Matt there is a bit of political posturing going on.

 

Would it be possible to come off the main line to the west of Carmarthen and swing north around the western outskirts on a new formation?

 

Probably extensive tunnelling would be required so I would have thought using the old line would be best for the Traws project.

There is of course the possibility that the line could be rebuilt in stages - say Aberystwyth to Lampeter first (something similar to the Waverley). Going south past Lampeter the objective would have to be to complete the through route though as there aren't many significant towns of note until Carmarthen itself.

If the Gwili did achieve Abergwili to Llanpumsaint what would be economically better for Carmarthrnshire - a significant tourist line or a connection to North Wales? It is an interesting thought bearing in mind the grants we have received to date have been tourism funds to help promote carmarthenshire and were the line to reopen the traffic is likely to be seen as a gateway to the north wales tourism opportunities from the south's greater centres of population rather than an opportunity by north walians to travel south.

 

Why not a joint line with dual running powers? Commuter/leisure services during the week and heritage services over the Gwili boundary at the weekend with limited through trains?

 

I am a huge fan of railways! I just think a railway would be hugely beneficial, however it is such a costly line, which on its present route would take an awful long time. Unless there was double track it would be unlikely to be quick! Unfortunately I think a dual carriageway is the answer, with cheap convenient and fast coach services.

Tom

 

I don't think anyone on the railway would stand in tho way if this was a viable NR funded initiative as lets face it that what the founders of the railway wanted. This however doesn't seem to have any figures behind it or an explanation on how they will bypass some of the encroachments on the track bed.

I however wish them well in there attempt...

 

There is a huge problem with the length of time it takes to get between north and south wales West of Cardiff. The roads are absolutely terrible.

Tom