The Gwili Railway thread

I thought it was 1975 when the trackbed was bought. I'm at the railway tomorrow and will try to check...

 

1976 or 1977 I think - the 8 miles of trackbed including one mile of track plus the platforms at Bronwydd Arms and Conwil.

Regards

Matt

 

Thanks Matt, I'll try and change that now. I'll go for 1976, knowing that some one is bound to shout up and tell me if I'm wrong!

 

update-

Tamping on the extension is now complete, and the final platform surfacing is under way. Lots of smaller jobs ongoing such as painting handrails and fencing.

The ground frame at Abergwili is progressing, and the fencing contractor is progressing the final fencing works.

The Mile post heads are now almost finished and gradient boards in GWR style are also under production. Wood has been ordered for the anti-trespass grids, and we are awaiting a delivery of three rails to replace worn lengths installed previously. Lots of odd jobs too such as fishplate bolt fitting.

Next steps will be signage, which are a mixture of the traditional (SW) and more modern (footpath crossing signs). We are hoping to ensure that the modem signs are less obtrusive in terms of location etc.

The boring but essential paperwork is also being updated.

So all out efforts ongoing, it's been a busy year with hopefully more to come!

Regards

Matt

 

I guess it's a bit soon to ask about the next northward 3 miles?

I can't put my finger on it but I have a soft spot for the Gwlii

 

Not at all!

The next extension is going to be Conwil which is 1 mile. The platforms are still present but the small matter of three bridges in varying states of repair to negotiate.

Llanpumsaint is very much in the distant future as it stands but never say never.

I walked the Conwil section recently, it has been partially cleared and looks great. I will hopefully post a few pics later.

Regards

Matt

 

quick guide to the Conwil extension! (well the parts that are clear)

First photo shows Bridge 10, just off the present end of track. It is a wrought Iron bridge dating from 1860, with a temporary concrete sleeper deck.

The track bed is then fairly overgrown for the next 400 yards onto Bridge 11, a stone single arch bridge.

Photo two is just beyond B11, looking north, the track bed enters a shallow cutting and enters onto a ledge alongside the river.

Photo 3 looking north shows the line against a rock cutting with the river Gwili flowing away to the down side

Photo 4 is looking back towards Bronwydd showing the ledge to good effect after tree clearance a few years ago.

It is beyond this point that the line enters a shallow rock cutting, onto bridge 12 (another single span arch) and into Conwil station. Both stone platforms here were rebuilt in the 1980's, so are in good condition. The only features left aside from the platforms are the GWR spear fencing on the down side, a hole where the signal box lever frame used to be, and the cattle dock.

The total length of the extension is just under a mile, however a five-mile Gwili crossing 4 river bridges and hugging the river for much of its length will be a spectacular experience.

Regards

Matt

 

Looking forward to the northern extension!

 

It will be nice but there's quite a bit of work required to build the Abergwili car park and station first I think..

Unless someone out there would like to donate a replacement for bridge 10 (The condition report simply said "Significant strengthening required" Oh dear!) and a mile or so of track...

(I wonder where all this EU funding is that is supposed to be allocated ASAP so it's not lost when we leave. Anyone got a friend in Brussles?)

 

probably unlikely to come now would have thought. I'd think all such funding is now on what the Irish call "The Long Finger"

 

I wouldn't rule out getting to Conwil before the car park at Abergwili gets built, there is a car park at Conwil after all...

Regards

Matt

 

I should state also that Conwil isn't a WIBN idea either for the following reasons-

Our maximum train length at the northern end is 4 carriages. This may well be stretching things on some days, as we are now sometimes operating 5-coach sets to cope with demand. There is space at Conwil for a five coach loop.

Conwil station will present us with a public exit at the northern end of the line

Opportunities for much needed siding space just north of Conwil

And that's aside from the scenery bit I mentioned earlier!

Not sure if PH reads the Gwili thread mind -lol.

Regards

Matt

 

It sounds like a sensible extension from what you've posted here, nice scenery good stuff at the end, and only a mile long - roll on! Must make a return visit some day, visited a few years back on a classic car day which worked well, as at the time it made the journey there worthwhile!

 

I look forward to the prospectus

 

Please don't take my name in vain! It's only one mile, the total length won't be excessive and as far as I know you will not be using over-large motive power. Just don't let the existing bit get racketty because all effort is going on the extension.

PH

 

update in the sunshine...

1. Facing Point Lock at Abergwili taking shape, ground frame itself to be installed this weekend

2. Public footpath crossing taking shape as well

3. Work ongoing to prepare old rail as posts for "SW" signs

Mile post heads now complete and gradient boards being produced, platform surface ongoing.

Regards

Matt

 

Used to stay B&B with the Fayers in the 70s at Conwil. The Hymeks were on the milk and coals to Lampeter and beyond but by the mid 70s the line had been closed and lifted we then accessed the B&B by car by driving over the river bridge instead of wading through the ford. The walk on the track/trackbed to Pumpsaint was really rural as well as over the bridges down towards B Arms. I was not surprised the line closed the track condition was awful a 37 went past once and chocks were spat out from the chairs moving about in the rotten sleepers like gattling gun bullets.

It will be a fantastic countryside line once relaid but the Gwili have been very sensible in going to Carmarthen first to get access to potential passengers, not a lot of attractions or people to the north. Observation trains etc an absolute must to maximise numbers and income.

 

Hi all,

Just a quick reminder of the gala coming up on October 8th. The timetable has been sent off for checking, and should be available over the next few days - I'll post a link when it's ready.

The first train is expected to be 1000 ex Bronwydd Arms (hauled by D2178, with bacon rolls on board), followed by the first steam departure at 1030. Further details (fares etc) are in this thread, or also in the 'gala' section of the forum.

Hope to see some of you there on gala day.

Cheers,

Phil.

 

Update

1. Cattle grids now being installed

2. Ground frame installed

3. Last signal arm erected

Regards

Matt

 

Hi all,

Gala timetables etc are now available - thanks to PLEG for hosting them online. Links are...

Public timetable: http://pleg.org.uk/files_ln/Gwilitt.pdf
Working timetable: http://pleg.org.uk/files_ln/Gwiliwtt.pdf

Fares: adult £12.75, senior £11.50, child £5.50, family £29.50.

Limited car-parking at Bronwydd Arms station - overflow carpark at Bronwydd Arms Village Hall (SA33 6BE). As an aside (not mentioned on this thread before), the West Wales O Gauge group will be holding their annual show inside the village hall during the gala - 7 layouts, 3 traders + demonstrations.

For those that are interested, we will be closing the event by posing TVR No.28 (the last surviving Welsh-built standard-gauge steam locomotive, owned by the NRM) for photography, outside of it's usual stabling point in Llwyfan Cerrig yard. The locomotive will be especially positioned at both Llwyfan Cerrig and Bronwydd Arms, with a connecting rail-car service to allow passengers to photograph it.

To see it, alight at Llwyfan Cerrig at 1625, to watch TVR No.28 being shunted from the yard to the platform. The locomotive will be posed under the canopy of the station building (ex Felin Fach) from approx.1645-1700, before being steam-hauled (by RSH No.71516 "Welsh Guardsman") to Bronwydd Arms at 1705. A special connecting rail-car service will depart Llwyfan Cerrig at 1720, to return passengers to Bronwydd Arms by 1730 (see timetable).

At Bronwydd Arms, TVR No.28 will be positioned for photography until approx.1745 - before being shunted outside the signalbox (ex Llandybie, 1885) for more photographs.

The event will also feature a busy timetable, with plenty of things to see and do - trade stands, vintage bus etc, details further up the thread. Hope to see some of you there!

Cheers,

Phil.