Oswestry Update

That's snow good ilvaporista! Keep up the good work though.....Just goes to show 'Tis grim on the Welsh Borders/up South!

 

Today has been heavy duty gardening! Large holes have been dug and tomorrow they will be filled with more equipment necessary for reopening. Pictures to follow.

 

A magic bean was planted in one of the holes outside of Weston and overnight a distant signal has appeared.

 

Doesn't look too distant there, ilvaporista! Rather close up if you ask me.........! As even good work none the less.

 

A couple of items.

The new CHR website has gone live, this reflects the coming change in operation of the railway in order to allow online booking for passengers. The website is designed to be more for the visiting public but still retains the information sections for enthusiasts. Take a look and tell us what you think.
Cambrian Heritage Railways – Preserving the history of the Cambrian Railway in Shropshire (cambrianrailways.com)

Secondly a photo update. Weston is putting it's party face on for the upcoming opening. It's not really a reopening as there was never really any passenger facilities. Here the lamps are being fitted with Totems for Weston Wharf.

 

The next two weekends are for staff training. So it was back to class for many..

 

Just to show how far we have come in the last few years. From the CHR Facebook page.

 

Did the "then" track date from before BR closed the line or had it been laid subsquently but allowed to deteriorate?

 

The 'then' track was from the BR days and was left in place after closure of the railway to passengers in 1966. Freight trains continued until 1988 to Blodwell quarry along the line but with minimal maintenance.
The PWay team have dug out the rails and sleepers and relaid with newer sleepers and fresh ballast, finally the line was tamped using a hired in tamper.

 

Yesterday we ran the first of several trains to promote the railway to invited tourist operators and special guests. The weather could have been kinder but all went well and everyone had a good time.

 

Here is the train at Weston. So far bookings have been going really well. There are now a very limited number of places left on the first weekend. If you want to come along best book now.

 

Great to see how much has been achieved....Well Done to All concerned.

 

Crew training in progress. Thanks to CHR Facebook for the picture.

 

Another image shamelessly robbed from the CHR Facebook page.
Weston over the years.

 

Just bought my tickets (for the 15:00 train) Would have gone for an earlier train, but we are house hunting in the area, so I suppose I had better leave some time for that earlier in the day.

BTW. For the last 2 days, the T&C page has been saying Maintenance mode. This makes it impossible to “read and agree to the Terms and Conditions of booking” as required when booking tickets. I confess I have therefore bought tickets without reading the T&Cs.

 

Nice to see the Southern bail out the GWR !
Seriously though hope all goes well and a success

 

I've asked to see if we can resolve the issue.
Thank you for booking and we hope you have a great day, maybe you will find the ideal house and celebrate at the brewery with a free drink on the 2nd April!
I am still waiting to finalise my plans, so many things going on that weekend in three countries that I have to deal with!

 

Website error corrected. The maintenance mode was left on by mistake following an update.
Unfortunately we have suffered from an over eager potential passenger breaking a window and letting off a fire extinguisher in one of the coaches. Either that or a brainless idiot has passed by.

 

The replacement locomotive for the opening of the railway has just arrived in Oswestry. Many thanks to the Ecclesbourne Valley Railway for the loan of Barclay 2217.