Gwili Extention to Carmarthen?

From my understanding a short fall in fund raising, and a grant deadline not reached meant the project was halted, leading to Dan-y-Coed halt just short of a key missing bridge over the main road.

An explaination I was give a few years later, was that in someways not reaching Conwil was a good thing, because the Gwili would have gone from no-where deeper into no-where, that catch 22 of longer line, higher running costs, but not being any more appealing to passengers.

The Extension should however put the Gwili withing striking distance of a mainline station, and on the edge of a major A road (not the windy country roads leading to Bronwydd). However this projectis now also up against a deadline. Where Conwil was probably worth passing on, I would say Camarthen is worth pursuing to secure the future of the railway. With Carmerthen secured and after a suitable bedding in time, the railway would need a more natural terminus than Dan-y-Coed.

 

Hey thanks for the reply, I always wondered what had happened. They always seemed so close.

 

To give a bit more info here

There were several attempts to extend the railway to Conwil in the late 1980's and early 1990's.

The main problem in completing the extention to Conwil has always been the presence of 3 bridges across the river Gwili on the route all of which require refurbishment to a greater or lesser degree. One of the bridges is situated just north of the present terminus of Danycoed and is of wrought iron construction. The other 2 bridges are of stone arch construction and it is believed that all date from at least the 1890's.

Matters came to a head in the mid 1990's when the railway could not capitalise on an offer of a grant to complete the extension due to an inability to raise match funding.

As many members and others had given sums of money towards the Conwil extension, the project was compromised and the line extended 3/4 of a mile from Llwyfan Cerrig to Danycoed, which was just short of the first bridge.

Around this time the Carmarthen Bypass was completed and this resulted in a re-shift in focus towards Carmarthen.

In many ways this was a turning point for the railway and the failure of the Conwil extension did indirectly lead to other developments such as expansion of the corporate side (i.e Thomas events, wine/dine/Jazz trains) with the intention of increasing our turnover and viability as a business which (we hope) will result in the railway being in a better position this time to receive funding.

 

I will say something, the Gwili does have some serious potential as a line. In my travels in the South West a few weeks back, I was struck by how in someways there were a lot of similarities between the Gwili and the SDR, I would say the Gwili actually has the better scenery, a nice repro station at Carm. North etc.

 

just out of interest, i was told that the narrow gauge line was also being extended
is this true?

 

Won't disagree there- we have some cracking scenery and decent gradients as well. We are not always on the enthusiast radar ; probably because we are out on a limb and also that we don't have any ex-BR steam to show. Things are getting interesting in October with a visiting engine and a couple of GWR coaches though....

Not sure if you mean our own miniature railway or the Teifi Valley Railway here? (I think both are being extended!)

 

Matt -
calling the shop by phone is somewhat tricky with the time differences an' all (and cost!).
Would there by any chance be an email address so I could negotiate how to get a membership via the credit card, and pay extra post costs for magazines to the US etc etc?
This 'd be easier than trying to do all this down a phone line...!! \/

 

If you e-mail the shop I think the address is enquiriesATgwili-railway.co.uk

Any problems PM Me

Thanks

Matt

 

Any more updates?

 

yes sorry i meant the miniture railway that is at the centre station of the Gwili

 

A letter has recently been sent to members and shareholders with an update. The gist of it is that negotiations are still ongoing with certain bodies and this will be the case for the next few months at least.

It has been suggested to the railway by Carmarthen Council that we apply to renew the planning permission and this is being done.

On the ground 13 panels of track have now been laid and we hope that this track will see a train this autumn in conjunction with a photocharter.

 

Yes the 7 1/4 railway is being extended towards the turntable at the bottom of the site, all the track is in place just waiting for a bit of alignment work. It is then hoped to build a new station and proper working & Storage facilities.

But as always it’s the same people doing many projects so if you’re interested in helping PM me and I can put you in touch with the right person.

 

i wish i coud, but being in the south east it will be a little hard lol

 

I dont know your situation, but at the recent GVCG work week. We had a volunteer come down from Birmingham for two weeks, staying in the railways Mk 3 sleeper.

So no excuse !! [-X \/

 

lol had no idea you had a camping coach

 

Yeah we got a top notch MK 3 Sleeper, with shower, loo etc
I think it some were in the region of either 50P or a £1 PPN So its not exactly exspensive.

Anyway if you want any more info PM me.

 

Latest Progress,

Today 03 Diesel was run over the latest part of the exstension to check for any dips etc. Its a great credit to our P Way guys that not a single problem was found. Click on the images for larger versions.


View from the cab of the 03 Heading towards Carmarthen !!



Some of the locals inspecting the new P Way \/



Final picture is of Geoff Mossford who has done the bulk of the work on the exstension, yet some how seems to avoid the camera quite well !!

 

Latest progress- 6 panels ready to be laid over the next few months, all drainage work, trackbed levelling and sleeper positioning done, just awaiting the rails to be inserted.

During 2009 the plan is to insert another 15 panels along the straight which ends with this small bridge over a dried up leat(below). This point will leave around 3/4 mile to be tracked before the proposed station site at Carmarthen is reached.

 

Does the Railway still own all the trackbed north from Cynwil to Llanpumsaint? If not, when was it sold?
If it does still own it, is a northern extension even beyond Cynwil still possible after the southern work is done?

 

Yes the land is still owned by the railway...and a northern extension is most certainly possible but with 6 river bridges between the present end of track and Llanpumsaint Station site, it won't be cheap.....