Margam Park

Does anyone know how Margam Park railway operates? I know the country park is owned and run by Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council, but not sure if the railway itself is run by them, a separate commercial entity, or a volunteer operation.

Cheers

Chris

 

Telephone contact is given as 01639 881635 unsure whether this is up to date.

 

Further to this, I gather there may be an opportunity for volunteer involvement at Margam - if you're interested let me know

 

I don’t think there ever was a railway here no more but nearby was the Swansea valley railway so it could be that.

 

???

http://www.margamcountrypark.co.uk/1259

and

 

Considering I was up there last week giving the loco a once over and taking her out along the line - it's definitely there, will definitely be operating, and potentially has a really exciting future ahead

 

Ok what is the exciting future as it sounds interesting

 

I didn’t know this line existed so I have been researching it and made some notes. It has a good length and is a disused loop I can see some points. Is it that they could use these old points to make a siding as it looks like there is no shed or yard which is the most interesting part. Is there possible for steam to run here?. The engine looks like the bicton line near here

 

The loco is a standard Alan Keef design so yes, similar to the local at Bicton. There are a few plans in place for potential improvements, but some way to go yet

 

The locomotive has a very decent paint job for a Keef- I don't think painting is the strongest suit at Lea.
Your p-way looks very clean and tidy.

 

I think that at one time someone had an o-4-0T steam loco they were going to run there but it didn't happen and the loco was sold to Statfold. With the closure of the 2'6" line there I believe it has now been sold on.

 

The line at Margam is 2' so that doesn't seem right. I think you might be referring to La Meuse, which was going to be run at the Glyn Valley Tramway but ended up at Statfold and has now been sold on to the St. Nicholas Abbey Railway in Barbados. I believe it was owned by Chris Philmore at one stage?

 

You are probably right -just me getting confused!

 

There are plenty of 2 foot engines so hopefully it will be easy for them to get a steam loco there as a trial. They will have to get a water tower first and a place to put coal. This would be best done by getting a siding for it. They have a spare set of points that can be moved to make the siding so hopefully it will be soon they have steam there rather than years away

 

You are writing as if there is a declared aspiration on the part of the railway operator to have steam? If you are simply playing "wouldn't it be nice" then fine, carry on, we all do it, but Margam Country Park Railway has been operating for eighteen years with just one diesel loco. I can't say I have ever heard any suggestion that they might get steam?

 

There is an aspiration going forward to make a lot more of the railway, but things tick along quite nicely at the moment. Those involved and getting more involved know what they're doing City of Truro Fan

 

Have there been any improvements at this line now?

 

No kilmersdon won't fit..

 

Unsurprisingly not, what with the global pandemic and most of south Wales being particularly badly hit and in some form of local lockdown. Cautiously optimistic some progress may be made next year

 

Excellent I hope it’s going to go well there