The Gwili Railway thread

Unable to make this weekend, with you in spirit!
Well done all of the Gwili Railway!m
Will be visiting soon !

Nick
GWR 813 Fund

 

Update

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-south-west-wales-40459487

 

Well, what a fantastic day. We held the ceremony for invited guests today to officially open the Abergwili Jtn extension, running two trains for supporters and guests with over 150 attendees.

The official unveiling ceremony was performed by Mrs Sylvia Davies, the widow of Geler Davies who drove the last passenger train on February 22nd 1965. We also held a ceremonial "breaking the banner" on each trip, Moorbarrow doing the honours adorned with headboard and Welsh Guardsman at the rear of the 5- coach train.

One real highlight was the first up train through the level crossing at Bronwydd where the queue of cars decided to join in the occasion by sounding their horns!

And we do it all again tomorrow. First public trains starting at 10.30, again a 5- car set with bar on the train and Welsh Guardsman and Moorbarrow.

Regards

Matt

 

Video of the first public train through the gates for 52 years - Facebook link but open access

https://m.facebook.com/TheGwiliSteamRailway/?locale2=en_GB

Regards

Matt

 

Well what a weekend it's been. First public trains today went well, and we hope that the "bounce" effect will continue over the next few weeks. The extension is now part of the operating railway and will be available to travel on every operating day.

The magnitude of the achievement still hasn't sunk in, this has been 17 years in the making, we laid the first panels a mere 10 years ago...it just goes to show what determination and perseverance can achieve. In that time a phenomenal amount of work has been done. If anyone thinks extensions are easy feel free to PM me!

We hope that this will give us the springboard to move on. We are already looking north but equally there are some catch up jobs which are more "business as usual", but essential nonetheless.

In development terms the next project will be the pit inside the engine shed, hopefully just in time for the winter so we can "rail up" and get under cover for the first time in 39 years!

Many thanks to all those natpres readers who have expressed good wishes and followed the thread, hopefully the good news will continue. We are one of the smaller lines but I hope that what we have done will give others suitable encouragement for their aspirations.

Regards

Matt

 

A set of photos from the first day of public running on the new extension can now be viewed on my Zenfolio website at: - http://mickrogers.zenfolio.com/p590878097



Congratulations to all at the Gwili, and here's hoping that @Matt78 will have plenty more news about further progress on the railway in the future.
Cheers,

 

https://www.google.co.uk/amp/www.wa...m-railway-expansion-opens-bosses-13280088.amp

 

Anything in the pipeline to visit the railway soon? Even if loco owners haven't been approached, are the railway hopeful of hiring an ex-mainline guest over the next 18 months?

 

Hi Josh

As of now nothing is planned but it has admittedly been a while since we had an ex-BR loco so it's certainly overdue.

As is the way with these things any hire would depend on availability on the hire circuit and the pennies adding up.

I would say it's more likely than not in the next 18 months particularly with the 40th anniversary next year, but as to specifics I couldn't say.

Any suggestions, what would Natpres viewers like to see?

Regards

Matt

 

Thanks for the quick response Matt.

I'd love a Manor, in particular 7820 or 7828 ,to visit! 4566 looked great, 9 years ago now!, and at home on the Gwili, so maybe another Prairie.. 5526/42 if those vintage carriages are operational in time.

I don't think it would matter too much, I know I'd go whatever so long as I could make it, and I think a lot of enthusiasts would be drawn to the line now at 4 miles with a mainline loco running.

 

To be brutally frank I would think the Gwili would have enough novelty from their extended run to suffice for a couple of years at least without the trouble and expense of bringing in something over large from outside.

PH

 

i'll be there in a fortnight.

 

I suppose the two locos with most obvious links that i would like to see would be either 7820 as it was her first preservation home. The other would TVR85 as i believe the two TVR locos have never met in preservation ? Hopefully a working Ex Br loco visits sooner than rather than later !

 

can I ask , can you get out of the train at Abergwilli for photos ?

 

Thanks for the suggestions!

I have to concur a little with PH, we did opt not to get a hire loco in for the openning on grounds of cost and that the extension itself provides novelty factor.

A Manor is definite WIBN territory, both 7820 and 7828 have graced the line in the past but the former didn't run and the latter was a "once in a lifetime" deal many, many moons ago. Never say never but it would require some hands in pockets for sure.

A GW tank would look good with the vintage carriages when they are finished and provide a reasonably unique sight. Got to press on with finishing the carriages first though......

Regards

Matt

 

Yes, the platform is accessible from the train, there is also a footpath adjoining the site and one alongside the line for the first 1/4 mile north of the road bridge.

EDIT - there is no access to the footpath from the station but you can have a ride and then photograph the train from the footpath on the way home or something similar.

Regards

Matt

 

thx Matt. I know it's a long way west but it's well worth the visit, lovely line in a lovely valley. Essentially at the end of the M4, I recommend everyone to visit

 

Will get there this month at some point!

 

Would that be the royal 'we' or is this now official?

I hope time will now be found for catching up on all those jobs on the extension that were set aside in the push to get the track open. There are a lot more river views to be seen if only the brush and brambles can be cleared.

For the future I'd personally like to see the effort directed at completing the Abergwili extension works (as per the planning application) by building the new station and car park before looking anywhere else. Then the railway would have much better facilities for all the (extra?) visitors. (Would probably be cheaper than going north as well!)