The Gwili Railway thread

I think that the new storage facility is meant to be in addition to the existing works facility at Llwyfan Cerrig

 

Quite right, at present since opening to Abergwili we are in the bizarre position of having more rolling stock than storage space. This has seen our railway crane parked on the loading/unloading pad in BA car park during the operating season.


The aim of the facility at ABJ is as other have suggested purely for storage, of course if we raise more money, then we can do more!


We will clearly free up some siding space by getting all the vintage coaches and the Mk1 dinning set undercover but I think the plan is to just do less shunting as a result !

 

Not quite- display and storage but yes no restoration work will take place in the shed.

The appeal's got off to a good start so if anyone has a desire to make a donation then it would be most welcome....

Regards

Matt

 

We are in the process of revamping the website and the new site will include a payment facility

Regards

Matt

 

More details regarding the appeal in this month’s Steam Railway mag

Regards

Matt

 

Waiting for Santa..

Regards

Matt

 

Hi all,

This year sees the 40th anniversary of the Gwili Railway in the preservation era. To celebrate this, a number of special events are being held throughout 2018, under the banner of 'Gwili 40'. Dates for the diary are...

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25th March 2017 - Anniversary of the first train in preservation
A special ‘Sunday Lunch’ dining train to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the first train in the preservation era - as close to the original date as we can! 1230 ex Bronwydd Arms - booking details to follow shortly.

March 30th/31st - ‘Gwili 40 - The Opening Act’
A family-based event to kick off our year, over the first two days of the Easter weekend. All visitors will receive a special goody-bag, whilst a special timetable will be in operation on both days.

April 21st - ‘Gwili 40 - The Diesel Day’
Our home-based diesel fleet will take to the stage on this day, with the first advertised diesel-hauled trains to Abergwili Junction in the preservation era. Normal fares apply.

June 9th/10th - ‘Gwili 40 - The Party’
Our biggest event of the year! A two day event to celebrate our 40th Anniversary in style. An intensive timetable will run on both days, with an evening train on the Saturday night. There will be plenty to see and do - come and be part of a memorable weekend.

October 6th - ‘Gwili 40 - The Finale’
Our traditional ‘end of season’ gala. Expect a busy timetable (featuring both passenger and goods trains, as well as double-heading), as well as other attractions.

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Thanks,

Phil.

 

New website now live....

https://gwili-railway.co.uk/

Regards

Matt

 

Huge improvement over the old site. Much more informative for guests and regulars alike.

 

The new site jumps around a bit on my android. Getting an overlaid image preventing accessing menus.

Suggestions please anyone?

 

Nice website Matt, very informative.

Chris.

 

Not too sure about having to scroll through all the list to try and find what's happening when or looking for a particular train on a particular day. What happened to the easily read coloured block calendar? Would it be easier to have this so you could then pick on a day and have all that days services pop up ?

 

Some updates on the Facebook page (open access) showing the winter P Way work on the track and the repainted and repaired dining car (bar car) which has its first outing next weekend.

https://m.facebook.com/photo.php?fb...8881320383&set=pcb.1615075605240029&source=49

Regards

Matt

 

We are also pleased to announce that we were awarded runner-up spot in the Heritage Railway Association Awards last night under the category “Morgan Award for Outstanding Achievement”, for the work completed on the extension, second only the the L and B who won the award for the reproduction heritage train.

We are very pleased to have been awarded second place in such a prestigious competition.

Regads

Matt

 

Evening all

There is now a donate button on the website for the Carraige shed appeal.

https://gwili-railway.co.uk/donate/

The good news is that we have to date raised £50,000 from secured and anticipated sources this year which is fantastic, but more is required to reach our target, so please consider donating.

Thanks for you support,

Regards

Matt

 

Hi all,

Exactly forty years ago today, the Gwili Railway steamed it's first locomotive in the preservation era. On 22nd March 1978, 0-4-0ST "Merlin" was steamed for the first time (for the benefit of the boiler inspector) - prior to the start of public running on 25th March 1978.

Archive photos of the first steaming (courtesy of photographer John Jones) have been added to Facebook today - you can see them here (even if you don't 'do' Facebook) - https://www.facebook.com/TheGwiliSteamRailway/

Forty years on, we're running a dining train on the date of the exact anniversary of the first train - which is this coming Sunday (25th March 2018).

We're also running a special event over the first two days of the Easter Weekend, as the first part of our 'Gwili 4o' celebrations ("Gwili 40 - The Opening Act" on March 30th/31st 2018). "Moorbarrow", "Welsh Guardsman" and D2178 will be in steam on an unusual timetable - featuring the return of the Cwmdwyfran shuttles (a la 1978), as well as a double-headed non-stop run from Abergwili Junction to finish the day off. Hope to see you there.

Don't forget the other 'Gwili 40' events this year - flyer attached.

Thanks,

Phil.

 

40 years - well done to everyone involved and keep up the good work!

 

Hi all,

For those that are interested, today marks the exact date of our 40th anniversary. On Easter Saturday (25th March) 1978, the railway ran it's first public services - formed of 0-4-0ST 'Merlin' and a DMU trailer.

Forty years on (to the day), we'll be marking the occasion. At 12 noon today, a special dining train will depart - carrying invited guests, including our founder members from the early years of the railway.

Don't forget our other 'Gwili 40' events this year - details are in the attached leaflet.

Thanks,

Phil.

 

Hi all,

Our 40th anniversary year is now underway....

Last Sunday, we ran a commemorative dining train with our founder members, 40 years (to the day) since the first train ran in 1978. The sun shone, people wore their railway ties from the '80s (or before), and everyone had a smile on their face! There were lots of small touches to celebrate the line's preservation history - such as our original guard flagging off the first train (using his original flag), whilst the loco carried a lamp used on 'Merlin' on our first day of operations, back in 1978.

Our next 'Gwili 40' event is coming up this weekend: "Gwili 40 - The Opening Act", on March 30th/31st 2018. This will be a two day event to recapture the spirit of our first weekend of operations in 1978, whilst also being our traditional 'family friendly' Easter event.

Both RSH No.71516 "Welsh Guardsman" and RSH No.7849 "Moorbarrow" will be in action, as well as class 03 D2178. During the event, we'll be recreating the 'Cwmdwyfan shuttle' - running a steam locomotive and DMU trailer from Bronwydd Arms to the site of Cwmdwyfran Halt and return, as was done back in 1978.

There will also be family entertainment (Easter egg hunt, face-painting, balloon modelling etc) around the railway during both days. Each day will end with a double-headed non-stop run from Abergwili Junction to Danycoed, with both "Welsh Guardsman" and "Moorbarrow".

A copy of the timetable is attached - normal fares apply. If you're around in West Wales this weekend, come and join us - hope to see you there.

Also attached is a copy of the timetable for Easter Sunday and Easter Monday - an hourly timetable, alternating between steam and DMU.

Thanks,

Phil.

 

Well it’s been a while since I updated you on the goings on so here is a summary -

Welsh Guardsman, Moorbarrow and the DMU are all currently available for traffic.

Olwen’s boiler is progressing slowly as and when time permits. Plans in hand to recommence work on the frames and other parts.

We hope that construction of the pit within the new loco shed will commence shortly, and that will enable us to get “under cover” at last...

On the carriage and wagon front there have been a few goings on, the TPO has received “Royal
Mail” transfers to complete the repaint on one side as can be seen here

https://m.facebook.com/TheGwiliStea...8881320383/1672359536178302/?type=3&source=54

(Facebook link but open access)

Meanwhile in the shed CK 16232 is undergoing a repaint on one side (BR Maroon)

One of the doors for GWR 216 is being repaired offside and is nearly complete. The carriage itself is expected to enter the shed in due course for summer work.

Meanwhile repairs have commenced on the former Aberaeron Signal Box with the plan to re-erect this at Llwyfan Cerrig so that the two surviving Lampeter Aberaeron and New Quay Railway buildings can be displayed together.

The Carriage Shed project appeal remains open and here is a link should anyone feel the need to
contribute.

https://gwili-railway.co.uk/donate/


Regards

Matt