Gwili Railway Diesel Gala - or, Why steam enthusiasts need to come to this event...

Hi all -

Looking for something different to do this weekend...? Treat yourself to 'something completely different', and come and sample the Gwili Railway's first ever Diesel Gala!

(Steam enthusiasts? Scroll to the bottom, to find out why you should support this event if you can!).

Visiting locomotives D9521 (from the Dean Forest Railway) and 08 631 (from the Mid Norfolk Railway) will be on passenger services, alongside our resident class 03 D2178 (working its only public trains this year) and our new blue/grey 117 DMU (celebrating its 50th birthday in style this year). These will be operating a very intensive timetable over the full length of the line....all for only £7.50! ('on the day' Adult Rover fare).

A wide range of sideshows will support the event, including a brand new book launch! "Welsh Railways; A New Perspective" by Wayne Eldridge and Jeff Morgan (published by Coastal Shipping) will be officially launched at the event, with both authors available throughout the weekend to talk about their book, as well as to sign copies. The adjacent 7.25" Llwyfan Cerrig Miniature Railway will be running an intensive service, featuring (for the first time ever) visiting locomotives, including a Class 20 and a County Donegal Railcar! A wide range of sales and display stands will also be available to browse, in Bronwydd Carpark.

Looking for something to eat or drink over the weekend....?

At Bronwydd Arms, a "Mr Chips" portable Chip Van will be parked up in the car-park (alongside the trade stands), selling a usual range of burgers/hotdogs with "chip-shop-style" chips etc, as well as sausages etc, and fresh battered fish. Soft cold drinks will also be available from here.

Also at Bronwydd Arms will be the "Gwili Tea-Rooms", serving a range of cakes and pastries, as well as a genuine Welsh Cream Tea. Teas and coffees will be available. Come sample the home-made cakes from our very own resident Bond Girls!

At Llwyfan Cerrig, our friendly catering outlet will be serving its usual range of hot food, including the now famous bacon rolls, as well as the "Gwili Gronk Griddle Burger" (1/4lb burger with generous helping of bacon, plus optional cheese (no extra charge), and as many fried onions as we can fit on!). Other hot food also available, as well as a range of cakes/crisps/chocolate bars etc, plus teas and coffees. If the weather's fine (and why wouldn't it be...), then "Joes" icecream can be purchased from here too.

On the train, the bar will be open, serving local ales "Cwrw Braf" and "Cwrw Haf", as well as "Magic Lagyr" and "Taffy Apples" cider. This will be attached to all service trains, and will be open all day - including for your viewing pleasure, a big-screen DVD film show provided by Visions International, complete with sound-system.

On the Saturday Evening, we'll be running our evening Curry Train - "The Pontyfelin Paxman". On board will be two separate curries, as well as a veggie option....plus as much popadoms/rice etc as you can eat! All for a fiver...can't say fairer than that, can you?

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Working Timetables are expected to be released publically tomorrow (10th August) - I'll post a link up on here when this is done. Meanwhile, further details (including details of where to park - please note that there will be no parking at the railway, and that a special park and ride service with vintage buses will be in operation) are available on this link; http://www.preserved-diesels.co.uk/2010b/gwili_poster.pdf. Don't forget that if you're travelling to the event by rail (and using the buslink from Carmarthen station), if you present your valid National Rail ticket at the booking office, you'll get £1 off your rover ticket!

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A final word to the steam enthusiasts that are reading this... This event is something of an experiment for the Gwili, as we have never attempted a Gala on this scale before (ie two visiting locos brought in, intensive timetable, closing the carpark and running a bus-link, outside catering, etc etc...). If this event proves successful, then it proves that the Gwili can run events like this...laying the future for steam events on a similar scale.

Imagine a Gala with 3205 in BR livery, a brought in Collett 'B' set, a black pannier (5786?) to match out maroon stock/WR stations etc, and all supported by our fleet of industrials (including "Olwen" as Swansea Docks No.1144) and our two vintage coaches, all in the beautiful setting of the green Gwili Valley.

Or how about an "Industrials" themed gala, making use of our spectacular ruling 1 in 60 gradient to really make the engines work hard - with visitors from Foxfield, Tanfield, etc?

Or getting in something completely different - a J15, "Bellerophon" or FR20 (would look great on the vintage coaches!), or "Ring Haw" tempt?

Are these gala suggestions on a big scale? Maybe, but the concept is nothing different to what we're planning this weekend. This is the first event of its kind, in Gwili history - so please come and support us this weekend if you can, as impressive visitor numbers could lay down the foundations for something much more exciting!

Hmm. A Manor or 3205 blasting through the Valley with a 'B' set, perchance? A Pannier on some vintage coaches? Or even a meet of some South Wales colliery stalwarts like "Sir Gomer", "Sir John" and "Haulwen", raising the echos... (Suggestions for what also might whet the appetite in future, if this weekend is successful, are equally welcome!).

Hopefully meet some of you this weekend!

Cheers,

Phil.

 

Re: Gwili Railway Diesel Gala - or, Why steam enthusiasts need to come to this event.

Yes.

Yes.

:lol:

 

Re: Gwili Railway Diesel Gala - or, Why steam enthusiasts need to come to this event.

Best of luck with the gala - it will be good to see the railway raise its profile and try some more ambitious events!

I can't comment on the poularity of diesel events but I'm sure that a steam gala which has an authentic theme for the line and pushes the boat out a bit would lead quite a few to visit you - not least because it would be a "new" venue for such events to many.

The reference to the future use of a GW "B Set" however is wishfull thinking I'm afraid - they were all consigned to the breakers a long time ago - unless you have found one locked away in a shed in Swansea docks perhaps!!

 

Re: Gwili Railway Diesel Gala - or, Why steam enthusiasts need to come to this event.

Oops! Not quite sure what I meant when I was typing that - oh well. I'd love to have an excuse, but I haven't really - hey ho...

I agree that an event with an 'authentic' theme would certainly put us more on the enthusiast radar. Would an 'all-out' event (such as the Swindon & Crick did for GW175) appeal, or is this too risky a business? Suggestions/comments welcome...

Nonetheless, the Diesel Gala this weekend is shaping up to be a fun event. D9521 is on site (off to shunt with it later today!) and it looks (and sounds...) great. All the other locos had test-runs in the week, with positive responses - so we're very much 'on' for the weekend.

We're picking up the Event Programmes this afternoon, the beers have arrived, we're positioning all the locos ready for tomorrow morning, and tonight I'll be shunting the bar-car (gently...! So as not to break the glass) onto the main passenger rake. If you do make it down, please do say hello - both myself and Matt78 (Sun only) would be pleased to put names to faces, and do our best to make you feel welcome.

Flyer is here; http://www.preserved-diesels.co.uk/2010b/gwili_poster.pdf (containing details of parking/fares etc).
Event Working Timetable is here; http://www.preserved-diesels.co.uk/2010b/gr_0810v1.pdf.

The sun is currently shining in South Wales... roll on the first 'gig' of D9521's Summer Tour!

Cheers,

Phil.

 

Re: Gwili Railway Diesel Gala - or, Why steam enthusiasts need to come to this event.

Would there be any potential in a mixed traction home fleet gala? Ie the austerity, RSH, 03 and DMU? Should keep costs down, and could bring people in

 

Re: Gwili Railway Diesel Gala - or, Why steam enthusiasts need to come to this event.

There might be some merit in this idea, potentially we are looking at this sort of thing when the 2 vintage carriages become available so that we can have a 1920's train, a 1950's train and a 1970's train.

Anyway, looking forward to the weekend- a final plea to come and support us- Phil and others have been putting in a lot of effort into this weekend which is our first venture into a diesel event- whether we run another one will depend on support to a certain extent so hope to see you there!
Regards,
Matt

 

Re: Gwili Railway Diesel Gala - or, Why steam enthusiasts need to come to this event.

Some photos from the weekend are now on a few sites-

http://philtpics.fotopic.net/c711126.html

http://mthomas.fotopic.net/c1884265.html

Overall we were pleased with how things went although numbers were not what we had hoped for. If anybody did attend and would like to provide feedback, then PM myself or Phil Guard, or leave a comment on this thread. We believe that everyone who did attend went away happy. Is there any way we can reach out to those who did not attend, or is the Gwili just a bit too far away for you?

A special thanks to the Class 14 boys, what a cracking machine, we would welcome it and the crew back anytime. It will be operating on the photo charter next saturday (spaces available- pre booking required- again PM Phil Guard) before it's visit to North Wales.