The Talyllyn - Suggestions

Yes it did seem rather mad.

 

Going through the mountain does seem to be a little extreme, but I do wonder what the gradients would be if you chose to go around it?

Streetmap.co.uk- search results for 275946,308108

Regards

 

Still out of the question, I think. I drive the A487 pretty regularly and the climb from Minffordd up to above Corris Uchaf is pretty steep. Yes, of course it could be done with zig-zags or WHR type loops or a fell rail, but I doubt it is at all viable in terms of cost or even of getting planning permission. It would hardly be 'railway preservation', it would be an entirely new mountain railway. Of considerable length and without a worthwhile destination (that is, the top of a mountain!) , although the views over Talyllyn Lake would be pretty good.

 

Steeper than Golfa? That's difficult enough to operate.

PH

 

I wasn't suggesting it as a 'goer' just as a piece of speculation! Yes the A487 climbs up and down but actually Abergynolwyn is around the 80 metre contour and Corris Uchaf is around the 120 metre contour and there was once a branch from Corris to a quarry above Corris Uchaf which could be followed to Corris itself, so it wouldn't, from an engineering point of view, be too difficult, but it would probably cost a fair few multiples of £10M which rules it out completely. Nice idea though!

Regards

 

The Talyllyn does look at suggestions continuously and closely evaluates all of them, however they have to fit with the Objects of the Society, which are enshrined in the Constitution. The Company is always looking at how it can improve the situation, either by raising income or reducing costs. Remember however that the Talyllyn is not near any major connurbations, is not on a main road from A to B so has to work very hard to attract passengers. We run Driver Experience trains, Birthday trains, hold Weddings, have a bar, cafe, museum all interlinked under one roof, which can be hired for private functions. All these came about from suggestions from members or others. What the Talyllyn is not going to do is be rushed into something without considering the overall impact. There may indeed be a short term gain, but it may lead to further difficulties in the long term. Be patient and see what develops.

 

Hmm, how about "preservation's longest tunnel"

With regard the Fell system, I'll try and post some photos of the surviving Fell-system engine and brake van from the Rimatuka incline in New Zealand. 4 miles at an average gradient of 1:15 (and max 1:13), up to five engines (little Victorian 0-4-2 tanks, but with four cylinders...) and brake vans per train, anything up to 45 minutes to make the journey (plus endless re-marshalling at the top and bottom as long trains were split into components with engines and brake vans scattered along their length). The other side of the hill was a comparatively slack 1:30-odd max and worked by conventional means!

Tom

 

Following the idea of another local railway, it could become "Rheilffordd Rhastl a Piniwn Talyllyn".

Richard (hoping that website translations are correct, or the Welsh speakers will be flaming me soon)

 

Ah! but the current situation has been developing for thirty years. Something will have to happen sooner or later, ideally sooner.

P.H.

 

Hi Paul,

Out of interest, and without prejudice What would you like to see happen sooner rather than later?

 

Ellis

Basically some 21st. century advance ticket sales to "capture" people as they surf the Net. If they are "rationing" themselves to one railway visit per holiday it might as well be the T.R. and you need to get in first.

Best wishes,

Paul

 

Valid point, now we have online donations, this will be a good gauge at the amount of interest in parting with money online. The TR is also very busy introducing Gift Aid onto fares which has required a whole new ticketing system. Online ticket sales cant happen straightaway because Gift Aid must take precedence and we need to gauge interest to new online ventures first.

 

Good! Somepositive news. I will shut up now!

Regards,

Paul

 

Perhaps we should get a weekends field work organised. Travel on both lines included of course. And maybe someone will build a model of it, which unfortunately is as far as it would be likely to get.

 

What is the relationship between the Talyllyn railway and whoever owns the rights to Thomas The Tank Engine at the moment?

I know that a while back they started asking silly money to license the "Day out with Thomas" that most railways had a few times a year. I notice that Talyllyn still has Duncan Days, do you have a good relationship with them because of the Awdry connection to the line, are you getting round it on a technicality somehow? Or have the fee's been relaxed to sensible levels?

If you can get away with it somehow I would have the connection to Rev W Awdry mentioned on the front page of the website, and the words "Thomas the tank engine" as many times as possible throughout the website (in words, not pictures or logo's), to get crossover web hits wherever possible. You do have 6 of the original TTTE engines running on the line after all.

 

I believe it is a delicate balance following an exchange of lawyers letters a good few years ago. I expect the use of the words Thomas the Tank Engine are protected and I believe the faces are, you have to make the faces look different. I doubt the TR want to risk upsetting the current status quo.

It is a shame really as for attracting bums on seats I would make one day a week in the school holidays, a "childrens day". You might have different events like Thomas days or Teddy Bears picnics etc but on that day of the week all the engines are in the alter ego's. The rest of the week they are faceless.

 

That's a real shame, Thomas is now run by accountants rather than the "Fat Controller" it would seem.

Another suggestion I have is only small but please start selling umbrella's. Our umbrella got destroyed on our last trip to Wales, I thought I would easily be able to pick up a replacement from the railway (liquid sunshine being a Welsh speciality). Not one to be found anywhere except for a petrol station in Dolgellau. Given the frequency of rain in Wales, I was shocked that umbrellas were so scarce. Its not going to save the railway but every little helps.

 

Now that is a really good suggestion! TR Crest for the serious enthusiast. "I got my liquid sunshine on the Talyllyn Railway" for Joe Punter. Can't imagine why it hasn't been done before - all the best ideas are the simple ones!

 

Due to 'mutation' the word for 'and' causes a consonant change; so it would be Rheilffordd Rhastl a Phiniwn' ...!

 

Yeah as long as it doesn't mention golden showers...