Defunct preserved railways

Vale of Neath had a base in Aberdulais, they moved to the Gwili in 1994.

Rhondda Society joined up with the Bridgend Valkeys (now Garw) in about 2004 I think.

Regards

Matt

 

Ah, surprised it was Aberdulais given that the line is still used through there - or was it away from that?

 

It was a yard adjacent to the line. I think one of the reasons that the scheme never came to pass was because of the fact that the line was still used. At one time they had amassed a collection of locos including an LMS Class 11, and two of the NCB South Wales locos, Pamela and Sir John.

Regards

Matt

 

Sounds interesting - thanks for this

 

We stumbled across the Vale of Neath site on a family holiday years ago. I can't remember how old I was at the time, but I do vaguely recall that there was a signal box there too, presumably recovered from somewhere. Am I right or is my mind playing tricks on me?

 

Yes, from ffairfach on the central Wales line, now the museum at Bronwydd.

 

What is an LMS Class 11? A bit more than two Black 5s...?

 

If only....
It is a diesel loco, very similar to an 08
Regards
Matt

 

Not defunct, but here in the US, "Steamtown" used to be located in Vermont, until the original owner got killed in a plane crash in the late 60's. That's when all of the stock was moved to Scranton, PA

 

GWR tool van No. 92 was indeed at the GWSR when the post was made. Earlier this year it moved to the Vale of Berkeley Railway, Sharpness.

 

With regard to this location, of which I know little, can anyone help regarding the mystery of what became of BR Marl I [suburban} BS 43159 that was almost certainly located their. Below is what we have on the RCTS website:-

"Despatched from Whittlesea, Cambridgeshire (with 46140 & 46213) on 10th January 1978, to Cresswell, Staffordshire (junction for Cheadle branch), then vanishes! 46140 & 46213 were subsequently sold from Ellastone, presumably referring to The Titanic Steamship Company, Crab Key, Ellastone, Staffordshire. Was 43159 located with them and if so precisely where? What then became of it?"

Please note that several publications have recorded it as being located at Steamtown, Carnforth. However, no one has ever claimed to have actually seen it their and the earliest published reference has been established to have 'lost' some words creating an error which has been perpetuated.

The reference can be found at http://www.rcts.org.uk/features/carriages/index.htm?id=carriages/preservationdisposals where perusal will find mention of several defunct schemes.

 

Does steamtown at carnforth count??? I know before WCR took over it was still alive up till round the late 80s.

 

I visited Steamtown on various occasions before it closed to public access. Good in its day, but eclipsed by preserved railways offering a proper ride.
Andy

 

Can't agree with that or Didcot and Barrow Hill would have failed by now

 

Sorry, I haven't read the whole thread. Did anyone mention the Great Yorkshire RPS at Starbeck shed? They were planning to reopen one of the lines in the Harrogate area. Their industrial stock moved to the Derwent Valley Line at the Yorkshire Faming Museum, and I think some unrestored Gresley coaches may have moved to the NYMR.

 

I liked the steam shed atmosphere at Carnforth, even when nothing was running.

 

The two Gresley vehicles that moved to the NYMR are owned by LNERCA members and were taken to Starbeck because several LNERCA volunteers lived in the Harrogate area at that time. They were always destined to move to the NYMR.

Sawdust.

 

I think Didcot and Barrow Hill both responded differently to Steamtown as the preserved railways blossomed. Didcot became a place to see everything Great Western, with a splendid collection of locomotives and rolling stock, infrastructure including broad gauge, buildings, displays of small relics and artifacts, paperwork etc. Barrow Hill is more recent as a preservation centre, but plays to its strengths of being a roundhouse and a servicing centre for railtours.
Steamtown on the other hand just went into a steady decline, without proactively developing a portfolio of attractions for the visitor. Remember all the netting in the shed to stop lumps of concrete falling on your head? Yes it had a significant collection of locomotives stabled there, but there's a lot more to railways than locomotives alone.
Andy

 

True. Easy to forget how dark those days were from this distance. Steamtown was a safe refuge for so much, when Bob Knows, one was needed! It served it's purpose well and, in it's current guise, still does.

 

I also think Barrow Hill has done rather well from privatisation, letting the likes of Harry Needle and DRS use it as a base (for the right price) has provided a regular source of cash, giving it a good foundation to build on so to speak.