The Gwili Railway thread

Hi all,

On 22nd February 2020, the Gwili Steam Railway will be running an impromptu class 03 running day using both D2069 and D2178. The event is marking 55 years since the introduction of the class to West Wales, as well as providing a 'last chance' to pair the shunters up before D2069 moves back to it's home railway at the Vale of Berkeley.

Full details are in the attachment, as well as the 'galas and events' section of the forum. If you've got any questions, do ask.

Diolch,

Phil.

 

So where has Welsh Guardsman gone?

 

still parked outside the shed at Bronwydd at present. She will be off next week, on the lorry bringing in L92. It isn’t for me to say where she is off at this stage but we will make an official statement next week.

regards

Matt

 

Update

a picture from yesterday and the 03 double header and also of the work reassembling the motion of Moorbarrow.

regards

Matt

 

Awesome work. I hope guardsman will come back?

Tom

 

A day of mixed emotions...a former Welsh engine returns and a current one departs


We are very pleased to announce that L92 has arrived, having makes the journey from South Devon this morning. She will be received into MPD and subject to the usual checks should be making her debut on the St David’s Day Diner on Sunday March 1st. L92 was based in Wales throughout her working life until she was transferred to London Transport.

Steam locomotives “Welsh Guardsman”has today left us for the Severn Valley Railway. We are sad to see the locomotive leave us but would like to thank the Lewis Family and Felinfoel Brewery for their valued support and generosity in making the locomotive available to us over the last 6 years. We hope that she will return at some point in the future but for now we wish her all the best on the SVR.


Regards

Matt

 

Thanks for the update matt! Sad to see guardman leave. When I was a child it felt like a flagship loco for the railway in its war department livery with white wheel rims. But engines have always come and gone.

It's great to have a pannier on the railway though! Is there any news on olwen? Will moorbarrow be staying at the railway after her overhaul?

Thanks
Tom

 

I agree Tom, Guardsman has always been a flagship for the railway so really sad to see her go. Nevertheless we are very happy to be hosting L92.

At the moment our focus is getting Moorbarrow back together, and we expect her to be in action later this year on the railway.

regards

Matt

 

Hi Mat,

What are the plans for Haulwen? Next into the shed after Owen? It wold be good to see two Gwili steam locomotives running.

Alan

 

Hi Alan

yes, once Moorbarrow is on the home straight then Haulwen will be next. We have already completed a boiler inspection and she is in generally good condition.

regards

Matt

 

Test run in the pouring rain

regards

Matt

 

Hey matt I believe panniers worked the aberaeron branch and llandeilo branch but did they ever work line between carmarthen and aber?

Either way it looks great and totally at home!

 

Hi Tom

just about managed to dry off now....

the Aberaeron branch was worked by 74xx class locos and the Newcastle Emlyn loco was for many years 1472. There is evidence of 46xx panniers working the NCE line post passenger days and they would have accessed the branch via the south end and Bronwydd Arms.

it seems unlikely that L92 ever used the line in BR days as she was based in the SW Valleys.

regards

Matt

 

Check out this month’s Steam Railway for an extensive feature on TVR28 and plans for our vintage carriages.

regards

Matt

 

28 is a beauty - I would love to see it working and I can't think of a better home than the Gwili. I'm off to the newsagents...

 

As the article mentions the chassis is in good condition generally, after previous work completed years ago. This has given us a good head start. The other factors that assist are the drawings located at the NRM and the retention of most of the parts which were dismantled in the early/mid 90’s. Still a few more to find/replace though.

regards

Matt

 

Brilliant article on tvr 28. Also great to see updates on the home fleet too. Fantastic to see l92 trundling up and down the valley too.

There must be a lot in the decision which locomotive to hire, like steaming fees, availability, transport costs, efficiency etc. But has having the shed helped in terms of having more to chose from as I guess ex br engine owners like to keep their locos in the dry. Does this make it more likely to see ex br on the gwili more often in the future?

It also sounds like haulwen and Olwen are not far off, I guess this would reduce the requirement to hire in locos in the future?

Cheers
Tom

 

hi Tom

After Moorbarrow, Haulwen will be next and we are targeting a reasonably quick turnaround.

as for future visits, our present focus is to have a good season with L92 and we’ll see how it goes from there. No promises but If there is enough increased interest then who knows.....

regards

Matt

 

Like many railways we have launched an emergency fund, please consider supporting us.

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

many thanks

regards

Matt