Blaenavon Here We Come

Good news all, pending completion of outstanding paper work (which we WILL do), the Railway Inspector has given approval for the Pontypool and Blaenavon Railway to open its Blaenavon extension on Saturday May 29th.

Trains will be top and tail with No.19 and the new arrival Austerity 71515, first train 10:40 from Furnace Sidings.

By then 71515 will have it's lettering and not look rather bare as she does now

http://www.aligrieve.fotopic.net/p64651180.html

regards
Alistair Grieve

 

Good on you Alistair & chaps! I hope it brings you a healthy increase in visitors and more variety in operations. Here's longing for the day you run the first train over the viaduct into Abersychan - and maybe even over big Arch (with a branch off to the British underneath of course!) and on down to Pontypool! I remember watching the last train through Talywain as a kid, then walking the line with my Grandad after they had dismantled the track. The rails were gone, but I remember all the sleepers still in their 'holes' but each one was levered up at an angle ready to be lifted out. I felt very sad, even though I was a nipper. I guess maybe it shows you can be born with a passion for railways?

 

Excellent news. Given that the Austerity has now arrived, how long is No.19 staying for?

 

No. 19 will be staying untill at least October and possibly longer.

 

Good news as well; that's one fun bit of kit!

 

Here is a link to our website news page where you can look at the new extension, also if you click on the 'here' link you can see how we managed to relay 1 1/2 miles of wooden bullhead track to Concrete in just 2 years! http://www.pontypool-and-blaenavon.co.uk/pages/NEWS2010 - page1.html

Alex

 

That is a fine record of works. We often take it all for granted when we see trains running on completed track. Well done fellas