Teifi Valley Railway

This information about relaying the track has been removed from the web site, and also the land train photo and empty track bed photos has gone as well.

 

The person responsible for the land train has disappeared, together with his promises to relay the track. Timber fellers have caused considerable damage to the track beyond the lifted section. New volunteers have fortunately appeared to begin the recovery. The Yard was open for halfterm week, the miniature train was running, and several wellwishers offered to help. It feels like coming out from under a poisonous cloud.

 

that sounds beter. Was the timber felling the motive for the "takeover"?

 

I hope he got his fingers burnt with the land train etc.

Hope they have a fairly dry winter so they can make a good go at getting the track back working again.

 

I belive there has been some good news about the sgt, as I understand it, the boiler smith has now been paid and it is hoped to get him back in one peice in the not to distance future, well done to all those involved.

 

Has anyone one read the article in SR this month it seems to paint a slightly different picture to the one on here? According to that David Morgan and Martin Dearing have both been elected to the board of the parent company. There is also a rather stark warning that if it doesn't re-open next year that the railway may be closed.
Sad news if it comes to pass..

 

In my role as Editor of Narrow Gauge World I was today invited to the Teifi by the new Acting General Manager, a former General Manager of the line from around five years ago, to hear all about what has gone on and what is going on. It's a very complex story, not all of which can be printed, and some of the things I saw today, at the top end of the line where a commercial logging operation has decimated the trackbed while the track was still on it, were horrendous. But the new team in charge are all railway people, Alan George was in steam with Sgt Murphy's paid-for boiler on a wagon alongside, and they are determined to have trains running over at least part of the line at Easter. The GM told me closure is most definitely not an option.
Obviously I'll be producing a detailed piece for the next issue of Narrow Gauge World, emphasising that the railway needs resources, particularly people, to help get things up and running again.
Andrew Charman
Editor
Narrow Gauge World

 

One thing I think the guys at the railway could do is to produce a list of where to stay and who to contact for possible new volunteers, I dont expect they will get a flood of volunteers, but if the local tourist trade has links of places to stay then both they and the railway can expect to see a bit of a revival in the area.

Regards

Colin

 

https://twitter.com/NarrowGaugeWrld/status/531502525921628160 - Pic by Andrew C on Twitter.

If that isn't grounds for a serious legal case of criminal damage to a statutory railway I don't know what is! An expensive bill to sort it out, whoever pays it...

 

Dear God.

 

That is a right mess, and no mistake - hope the loggers are going to pay for the re-instatement.

 

The loggers were working for Martin Dearing, the tenant, and paying him for the wood.


Dearing was appointed a Director of the TVR Company at a Special General Meeting on 24th September, as was David Morgan of the HRA, making up a 4-man Board with Raymond Sanderson (Chair) and Michael R Martin (Treasurer). These appointments were not reported to Companies House.


None of the other 3 Directors appear to have done anything to stop Dearing's decimation of the track during October.


Dearing was made bankrupt on 31st October. https://www.thegazette.co.uk/notice/2226314


Police investigations are in progress.


The person now in charge is Ivor McFadzean, who likes to be known as Mac. He was previously employed on a self-employed basis as General Manager. It was decided not to renew his contract at the end of 2006 (8 years ago, not 5 as he's telling all the press). Mac was, along with Chris Shanks, appointed as a Trustee of the TVR Society at the SGM.


Earlier this week it was decided that Mac, rather than being a Trustee, would be head of a Management Team, and David Morgan would be a Trustee rather than a Director.


Much more to follow after the Police investigations are complete.

 

So no point suing Mr Dearing then.

What a mess.

 

Yes, it looks like a job for some big lads on a dark night!

 

Better to be working in the daylight if you are working with replacing track work, or maybe some spotlights and a generator.