News from The Talyllyn

News finally released (breathes sigh of relief!)
http://talyllyn.co.uk/news/talyllyn-railway-launches-new-build-project

 

Lol!

 

Significant release date of course!

PH

 

There's a maroon diesel (I think it's No.12 St. Cadfan) in the platform at Wharf right now (09:20) , with 5 wagons and a staff car in tow and a chap in high vis gear wrestling with what looks like a (pretty butch) strimmer. Gearing up, methinks.

 

Been enjoying the Mangers Wednesday walkabouts videos on Facebook.
Been a few years since I visited the railway and would like to visit again soon.
They have a passion for keeping everything in top condition.

They were also looking to help with the Corris railway with a visit of a loco and coach, when things allow.

 

This page does not exist! Can't see the link.

 

It's an April Fool from six years ago!
An old thread has been resurrected.

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Dolgoch in steam this morning at Wharf (09:45, and back there nearly an hour later), on what looks to be a light engine movement of some description.

 

Standing in Pendre platform with some sort of train @12.45.
Pat

 

On the Abergynolwyn railcam looks like the Toby trolley loco?

 

Today t'is Tom Rolt, seen with safety valves lifting outside the engine shed. The General Manager's latest 'Weekly Walkabout' explains all (do please consider subscribing to the line's YouTube channel - it's free and easy to do so) ..... life is gradually being restored to the line .... Hooray!

Here's the url to this week's offering (just shy of 14mins ..... keep an eye on that mobile data limit, folks)

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&sou...BMAJ6BAgEEAk&usg=AOvVaw3quqQNCHFCSzaElP7fhm-l

 

Today's 'Manager's Weekly Walkabout' confirmed 1st August (limited) resumption of services and demonstrated social distancing arrangements on the open stock (one transparent screen and middle compt. locked out of use). Initial services will be one train (to the Orange Timetable), by pre-booking only, but no-one will be able to join or leave the train at intermediate stations.

At £60 for a compartment, that makes singleton travel rather expensive, but reasonable enough for a family group. Here's the clip (8min 37sec):
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=OeMvRNhFrD8&ved=2ahUKEwin-8SUgs_qAhXWSxUIHUUUAqsQwqsBMAR6BAgDEA8&usg=AOvVaw1spQrd36v8GHxjMaxQ5XU0

 

Is that ‘reasonable’? I think it’s extortionate. By comparison, and I’m talking in normal circumstances, a day runabout for a family of 5 is £40 on the GCR, a longer railway which surely has higher costs.

I wish the TR well but at those prices I can’t see how they will sell enough tickets to make it viable.


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I'll admit to not being the most frequent traveller these days, so can't say it stood out unduly and checking back, my most recent trip on the Bluebell, last November (SP-HK 3rd class return), cost us £12 each. From memory, that's a slightly shorter journey than Wharf-Aber return, so on a bum/seat/mile basis (for a full compartment), not a million miles away.

Thinking on it, will any lines be able to offer 'all day' tickets, under current restrictions?

 

I wasn't really commenting on the 'all day' part of the example price I quoted from elsewhere. On most railways I visit, especially with the family, a single round trip and a visit to the cafe is all that we do anyway.

On the TR website based on separate adult and child fares the same family of 2+3 could do a round trip for £56.50 normally (or a bit less if they opt not to use the 'donation fares'); it's still way more than it should be in my view. There doesn't seem to be a family ticket on their website, so maybe I am missing something, or maybe they are missing a trick, or maybe in 'normal' circumstances all trains are full and they are hiking up prices to manage the demand, I don't know. It's a long time since I visited the TR. My son is very keen to visit (having read the Rev. Awdry's books) but I don't think I'll be rushing to do so at these prices.

For another example, the WLLR would charge £39.50 for the same family, or less if booked in advance - again, in normal circumstances (they're closed at present). And it's a similar length of line.

 

Whilst taking your point, in defence of the TR stance, this week's 'Walkabout' video did say arrangements were being kept under review, which I'd assume includes pricing.

With an old Confucian saying in mind ("all which exists may be turned to a person's advantage, if they can only establish how to do so"), I very much liked your comment about 'maybe missing a trick', which is applicable across the board. It's all too easy to become so weighed down by problems that any opportunities these may happen to throw up get overlooked .... when you come to think of it, that's just like life generally.

Can't help but notice most WLLR stock is of the 'open' variety .... which available evidence suggests seems far more problematic to adapt to current restrictions. Ditto the Corris and Brecon Mountain carriages ..... and on neither of those line's websites can I see mention of reopening, though the Corris have offered 'virtual journeys', as a novelty, on their website for years (and I do wish they'd publicise those a bit more .... maybe not the most spectacular income stream, but - especially with Gift Aid - potentially a useful one).

 

A few snaps from yesterday's members only trial runs prior to the railway's reopening to the public tomorrow...










...and a rough video clip

 

It is interesting that the footplate crew are not wearing masks. This is in contrast to the Ffestiniog for example, where in all the photos I have seen the crew have been masked.

 

Railways I am sure will make their own risk assessment; a relevant point is the necessity of timely safety-critical spoken communication between the crew, which would militate against wearing masks. You need to be careful that in protecting against one risk you don't introduce a greater one.

Tom

 

Absolutely, I am not passing judgement on the decision or the approach. I am simply noting that two different lines that are relatively close to one another seem to have taken different approaches. I have absolutely no doubts about the professionalism of either line and I am sure that the decisions were made for sound reasons. I think it highlights the difficulties within which lines are operating and the terra incognita nature of it.