Barry Tourist Railway - What's Occurring.

We're running 4-days over the Easter Bank Holiday.

On Sunday 27th March we intend to run our Sentinel Steam Loco (Susan, Works No 9537 built 1952) - this will be a rare chance to run behind a Sentinel steam loco.

On Saturday 26th March, come and experience an authentic Southern (our GLV is an ex-HAP emu carriage) / InterCity Mk 2F Gatwick Express. We've installed a generator in the GATEX set over the winter period, so we can fully power up the set.

On Good Friday and Easter Monday, we're running our IRIS II Railcar set (ex BR Derby Research)

In summary then, our programme over Easter Bank Holiday will be as follows:-

Good Friday - IRIS II (Ex BR Derby Research) Railcar set
Saturday - Class 73, 73118 with Gatwick Express stock and GLV operating in push-pull mode
Easter Sunday - Sentinel Steam loco 'Susan' hauling IRIS coaches
Monday - IRIS II Railcar set

Our heritage trains depart at 11.35, 13.10, 14.10 and 15.10 from Barry Island Station each day for a 40 minute 'round trip' to Gladstone Bridge platform, including a guided locomotive shed tour.

Fun for enthusiast and the family alike .......and no need to book....... just turn up and go.

Every child gets a free Easter Bunny gift too.

Fares are £7.50 adult, £4.50 child, £16 Family ticket.
Enthusiasts 4-day unlimited travel 'Easter Easy Rider' ticket £25 adult, £10 accompanied child.

Please note we reserve the right to change the roster and substitute the booked train set for another should, for any reason, the rostered set, loco or crew not be available.

John Buxton
Director
http://www.barrytouristrailway.co.uk
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On the Sunday will the Sentinel haul the DMU out of Barry and then be dragged back as per the Santa specials or will it run round?

 

Thanks for your interest in our railway. In outline, our plans for the future are as follows:

Infrastructure
Short term - continue to maintain running lines to a very good standard and bring sidings up to a good standard
(0-3 yrs) - replace rotted out level crossing gates at Waterfront Station (new gates have been made)
- continue with improvements to Platform area at Barry Island Station
- expand railway workshop where we are currently refurbishing an ex-GWR loco and wagon
- open a further museum and miniature railway exhibition line
- apply for T&WA / Planning Permission for line extension and Turntable installation
Medium Term - install turntable and coaling facilities capable of servicing main line steam locos
(3-6 yrs) - extend line to Barry Docks Station (0.5 miles)
- work with Network Rail to upgrade the Causeway Viaduct from RA5 to RA6
Long Term - Extend the line through the tunnel to a new Pier Station (0.5 miles)
(6-10yrs) - enhance infrastructure for 2-train operation

Summary: this will give us 3.5 miles of running lines (main line and Waterfront Branch) and a turntable with main line connection (renewed in 2014/5), a well equipped railway workshop, two museums and a model exhibition.
With our fully signalled main line connection we aim to attract Steam and Diesel excursions to the railway where we will have full servicing facilities and the ability to turn main line steam locomotives. We are located near to the attractive capital city of Wales (Cardiff) at an ideal distance from London, Midlands and North East & West for 'day-out' excursions, so demand should be high.

Locomotives &
Rolling Stock
Short term -maintain 2xCl 73 locos and Sentinel Steam Loco in good order; home base for Thomas the Tank loco
- complete refurbishment of IRIS II Railcar set (only small items to do)
(0-3 yrs) - complete refurbishment of GATEX set - refit inside and repaint in GATEX livery
- start refurbishment of or Hebridean Observation Saloon (No. 6300, ex-Cl 101 trailer car)
- start refurbishment of wagons to form 2 demo trains: one air braked and one vac braked
- start restoration of our ex-GWR 0-6-2T loco No 6686
Medium term - complete refurbishment of ex-Hebridean Observation Saloon to work with steam locos
(3-6yrs) - complete the refurbishment of our wagons to form two demonstration freight sets
- start restoration of ex-GWR Track Recording Car DW139 to form another Observation car
- continue restoration of ex-GWR 0-6-2T loco 6686
Long-term - complete restoration of ex-GWR Track Recording Car and form 'steam' set with No 6300
(6-10yrs) - complete restoration of ex-GWR 0-6-2T loco No 6686

Summary: this will give us 3 working steam locos (exGWR 6686, Hunslet 'Thomas the Tank, and Sentinel No 9537), 2 Class 73 electro-diesel locos (73118 & 73133), 3 passenger trains viz; Heritage Railcar set IRIS II, Gatex push-pull set and 'steam' set (also can be operated one of our Cl 73's and by visiting vac fitted diesels) plus two demonstration freight trains (one air braked; one vac fitted).

In addition to this, we intend to expand the services that we offer to main line railway companies for the stabling, servicing, staff training, commissioning and testing of mainline traction and rolling stock, yellow plant and equipment including use, where appropriate of our facilities, including our 5 rail sheds and workshops.

We intend to make the Barry Rail Centre, incorporating the Barry Tourist Railway, 'buzz' with activity, just as the railways in this area did more than a century ago. This will be not only be good for the railway, but will benefit the town, the island resort and the community immensely.

Comments and further thoughts about our plans are always welcome.

John Buxton
Director

 

We intend to run as we did for the Christmas trains - Sentinel hauling out from Barry Island; railcar set to drag Sentinel back stopping at the Main Depot on the way for the guided shed tour.

 

Just a line to update you. We're now planning to run the Sentinel Steam Loco Susan on Easter Monday as well as Sunday. It will run with the IRIS II railcar set and again include the guided shed tour in the itinerary.

John

 

This coming weekend we are running:-

Saturday 30 April - Sentinel team loco Susan dragging our Class 101 railcar set 'Iris II'
Sunday 1st May - Railcar Class 101 'Iris II'
Monday 2nd May - Class 73 loco 73118 operating in 'push-pull' mode with Gatwick Express set

On Sunday and Monday we hope to be offering 'Driver for a Fiver' runs from Barry Island to Plymouth Road too utilising our Sentinel Steam Loco Susan, providing we have sufficient additional staff.

Trains depart Barry Island Station for a 40min round-trip to Gladstone Bridge Platform (including a guided tour of our Barry Main Depot Shed) at 11.35, 13.10, 14.10 and 15.10.

Hope to see you,

Kind Regards

John