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Teifi Valley Railway

Discussion in 'Narrow Gauge Railways' started by Anthony Coulls, Jun 22, 2014.

  1. Pete Thornhill

    Pete Thornhill Resident of Nat Pres Staff Member Administrator Moderator Friend

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    Ok, thank you for the correction Elizabeth, I remember now Pont was the end of the track that was taken up? Bit more to do yet rather than refurbishment then.
     
  2. Elizabeth Perry

    Elizabeth Perry Member

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    The track was taken up all the way to Pont where the trackbed was wide enough for the infamous land train to turn round before heading back to Henllan. When the track was first laid the ORR insisted on a turnround loop so that carriages were pulled at all times. Presumably they may do the same now as it's a long way to propel.
     
  3. DcB

    DcB Well-Known Member

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    Sounds like there is space at Pont for a loop so services can start soon, but looks like they will then progress restoration to Llandyfriog where they can have a loop for the steam engine.
    [​IMG]
    Picture from Teifi railways website
    A temporary alternative could be to have 2 diesel locos at each end of the train and the 2nd loco pulls the train back from Pont, so a loop is not required, but not so ideal?
     
  4. Elizabeth Perry

    Elizabeth Perry Member

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    Laying a passing loop will require installation of 2 points and their levers. I doubt these are available because of the way the asset strippers sold every piece of metal for scrap in 2014.
     
  5. DcB

    DcB Well-Known Member

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    Are there old points left at Llandyfriog station which can be refurbuished? Or were they also scrapped by the asset strippers?
     
    Last edited: Jul 10, 2020
  6. DcB

    DcB Well-Known Member

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    Found an old video on youtube of the line in 1990 (by Nicholas Tozer?)


    Shows the then working loop and points at Llandyfriog which might still be there?
    About 6:30 mins in shows Pont.
     
    Last edited: Jul 11, 2020
  7. ross

    ross Well-Known Member

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    With the greatest respect to those who continue to mourn the great setbacks this line has had, it does seem there is still a beating heart to this little railway. These facebook photos present a much more positive picture than might be gained from the past pages here. I wish the new Teifi team every encouragement and success in their endeavour, and I hope their future holds even greater triumphs than were known in the past.
    It would be great if some member or members of the current team were to post here and bring news-they might find there is support to be had. Personally, I am not inclined to spend time and money on a dying duck, but I am ready to lend my support to a project with a future
     
  8. ross

    ross Well-Known Member

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    So, I just became a member of the TVR.
    Just trying to be clear about a couple of things- Previously, the TVR preservation team laid a line from Henllan heading west to Afon Teifi, with a terminus at Llandyfriog. Is that correct? Was there ever a line heading east from Henllan? Who owns the trackbed east from Henllan? Who owns the trackbed west of the Teifi toward Newcastle Emlyn?
    Sorry, for questions. I don't want to ask "what are the TVR's intentions, now or historically, as this leads to highly emotive conjecture etc.
    Cheers, Ross
     
  9. TVR Volunteer

    TVR Volunteer New Member

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    Hi ross Welcome to The Teifi Valley Railway Family.
    If and when you get to visit I will personally give you a guided tour.
    So The Teifi Valley railway owns tracked both east and west of our central terminal 'Henllan'.
    Historically the railway only ever laid on top of the trackbed in the western direction. However, we do own the trackbed to the east past the engine shed at Henllan which has never run other than when the standard gauge was operational.
    So from Henllan, the track was laid westward toward Newcastle Emlyn. There is a passing loop at Henllan to which the train departs west, under a bridge around a sweeping curve. A long straight leads into our first station, 'Forest Hault'. The track makes a few meandering curves that tails into our next station 'Pontprenshitw'.
    Up to this station, the track was all but removed under previous management. We have now all but relayed this track and are on the heel of the platform at Pontprenshitw.
    From Pontprenshitw continuing west leads down the valley side, high above the teifi river and along an avenue of trees that follows the track on either side down to our furthest point. 'Llandyfriog' which is the furthest point we operate to. Llandyfriog has a run around loop overlooking the river Teifi. This is where the old iron bridge has collapsed into the river due to erosion of the riverbank. This why the Teifi never crossed the river originally, although we do own the trackbed on the other side of the river.
    So we own the trackbed from Llandyfiog almost into Newcastle Emlyn town, however, there is an industrial estate that has been built where the original railway ran. I am not sure of the specifics I must admit.
    We also own the trackbed to the east of Henllan heading toward Pencader junction. We have not laid any track easterly from Henllan but again we do own the trackbed.
    We do not, unfortunately, discuss our future endeavors but I will tell you what we are doing as I believe this will answer what our intentions are.
    So in 2014 the track was lifted for contractors to operate, this completely destroyed all the sleepers and damaged a large percentage of the track as they just moved the track aside causing damage to rail and trackbed.
    this damage was from henllan to pontprenshitw, from pontprenshitw west the track was untouched but has now become overgrown and neglect. We have now nearly reconnected to the old track where it would be a case of deforesting and replacing for the majority.
    This is where I would say we did the impossible, we only had a small amount of track, therefore, we could only charge a tiny amount. we had to buy new sleepers and relay track all with nothing but a few hand tools. All while paying off the debt from previous management.

    Hope this helps and i thank you for your membership.
     
  10. DcB

    DcB Well-Known Member

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    Byron, good to have your input as the railway moves towards restoration.
    I linked the Facebook photos as not all use Facebook and they helped the discussion.
    If you want them removed by the mods and want to add your own photo updates please do?
     
  11. Pete Thornhill

    Pete Thornhill Resident of Nat Pres Staff Member Administrator Moderator Friend

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    Yes agreed it’s good to have some input from the ground and is welcomed on the forum. I’m not sure what the issue with linking the Facebook posts is though as it’s information that the railway has published for public view, sharing here only bringing it to a wider audience which can surely only be a good thing?
     
  12. TVR Volunteer

    TVR Volunteer New Member

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    I believe the face book upload was just sustifying how it got here no issue with it.
     
  13. ross

    ross Well-Known Member

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    As I mentioned in post no584, I am now a member of the TVR. I've got to the point in life where I can consider volunteering, and I have a skill set which might well be useful in the non-operational side of a railway. Building and restoration is my business, but I'm open to all aspects of the thing. I have yet to do anything at all on the railway, so I can't say I am a volunteer-yet. So I'm an interested observer who has decided to try and do more than just watch and comment.
     
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  14. Elizabeth Perry

    Elizabeth Perry Member

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    Thanks Ross for wanting to contribute. I can fully appreciate the efforts the volunteers are making. We were a very small group when we bought 9 miles of jungle in 1981. No water, electricity, phone, carriage shed, cafe, toilets, rail, sleepers. dogspikes, tools, wagons, rolling stock, or money. It took us a month to cut through to uncover the 2 Henllan platforms, clear the cattle dock and find the Victorian cesspits. It was lucky that the Manpower Services schemes were running locally otherwise we would never have been able to open a mile of track in 1984.
     
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  15. Elizabeth Perry

    Elizabeth Perry Member

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    What lies ahead on the trackbed beyond Pont - more than overgrown vegetation I'm afraid.
     

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  16. ross

    ross Well-Known Member

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    Yes, its a bit of a mess. It is hardly the disaster of biblical proportions that people have bewailed, is it? It needs a bit of graft with motivation and direction. If the current volunteer team are able to supply these without being overwhelmed by doomsayers, it will be a walk in the park. A messy, smashed up park with damaged rail all over the place, but a park nonetheless
     
  17. Elizabeth Perry

    Elizabeth Perry Member

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    A picture of one of our achievements before Dearing - the erection of the pagoda framework, fabricated by the local blacksmith Barry Evans
    (wearing a cap back to the camera). Fair number of passengers waiting for the train on the new platform.
     

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  18. Robkitchuk

    Robkitchuk Member

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  19. DcB

    DcB Well-Known Member

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    Last edited: Aug 15, 2020
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  20. Elizabeth Perry

    Elizabeth Perry Member

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    To create a happier atmosphere, a picture of Alan George attracting some future enthusiasts . Dave James in his Victorian driver outfit.
     

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