The Gwili Railway thread

Is it near the West Wales General Hospital entrance?

 

Yes, a few hundred yards down the road

 

glad to hear that the new station is to be called ABERGWILI JUNCTION , not Carmarthen North

 

Hi all -

For those that are interested, the loco roster for the next few weeks is below. Please note that (as ever) this is posted in good faith, however plans do sometimes change - so if you're travelling especially to ride behind a specific locomotive, it is best to ring the railway in advance (01267 238 213) to doublecheck.

14th April - Haulwen
17th April - Jennifer
18th April - Haulwen
21st April - Haulwen (Sunday Lunch train)
24th April - Haulwen
25th April - Haulwen
27th April - Haulwen (Evening Dinex - 1930 ex BA)
28th April - Haulwen
1st May - Haulwen
2nd May - Haulwen
4th May - Haulwen
5th May - Haulwen

On normal service days, trains depart Bronwydd Arms at 1030, 1150, 1320 and 1450. On days when a Sunday Lunch train is operating, departures are at 1230 and 1400.

Cheers,

Phil.

 

If anyone's visiting Sunday come and say hello to the fireman!

 

update-

track laying has restarted on the extension, with a further 2 panels inserted by lunchtime today. Only another 25 or so to go until the present end of sleepers! Work will be ongoing this week.

Lots of tree clearance on those parts of the line we didn't touch before,openning up views not seen for 40+ years.

Jennifer is rostered on Wednesday this week, while at Llangollen the hydraulic test of Welsh Guardsman's boiler is due this week I understand

regards

Matt

 

Just posted this in the Gala and Events section but shall thought it's worth posting on the Gwili thread aswell.

The Gwili Railway is pleased to give advance notice of its ‘Anything Goes’ Gala, which will take place on Sunday 29 September. The gala will provide an opportunity to enjoy an intensive service between Bronwydd Arms and Llwyfan Cerrig stations, and will be the last enthusiast-orientated event to take place before our Carmarthen extension is opened in spring 2014.
Star billing will go to our two ‘Austerity’ 0-6-0Ts, ‘Haulwen’ and ‘Welsh Guardsman’, and it is anticipated that both will be in operation, subject to availability. Current Gala plans incorporate regular ‘double-heading’ following passenger feedback from previous events, with both ‘Austerities’ working hard on the gradient between Bronwydd Arms and Llwyfan Cerrig. It is also believed to be the first such pairing of ‘Austerities’ to take place on the railway.
Further attractions under consideration for the Gala will include the chance to see some of the railway’s diesel fleet in action, with the steam service supplemented by our Class 117 DMU. There will also be an opportunity to drive our Class 03 shunter within the confines of Bronwydd Arms Station for £5 (subject to availability), visit trade stands, savour the atmosphere in our popular Gwili Buffet, and ride our miniature railway at Llwyfan Cerrig.
This shall be an exciting opportunity to see the railway and the majority of its stock Including the Vintage coaches and speak to the railway about the Carmarthen Extension
“…Although the Gala attractions listed are subject to change at this early stage in the planning process, all information correct at time of writing. It is our intention to make further periodic announcements as our plans for the Gala continue to develop”.
For further information, please contact: Gwili Railway, The Railway Station, Bronwydd Arms, Carmarthen, SA33 6HT or telephone 01267 238213.

 

More progress on the Abergwili Junction extension reported on the facebook site- today saw a refurbished GWR bracket signal erected south of the level crossing as part of the extension signalling, and more tracklaying has taken the head of steel to within site of Bridge 5 (the one carrying the main Carmarthen-Lampeter road over the railway). Ballast trains are also due to start soon so things are coming together.....

https://www.facebook.com/gwili.railway


Regards

Matt

 

Progress continues on the vintages carriages. At present work is centered around making missing beading, this is being stock piled ready for fitting later in the month.

 

I meant to post this link of a short clip from ITV Wales about a month ago. The main point of discussion is the re-opening of the whole of the Carmarthen to Aberystwyth line with a "while you wait" clip of us relating part of the route! I can't see it happening to be honest due to 1) cost and 2) parts of the route being built on. Admittedly there is more chance of it happening "post devolution" (after all part of the Waverley Route is to return in Scotland) but even so a collosal amount of money would be required for it.

http://www.itv.com/news/wales/story/2013-03-14/calls-to-reopen-west-wales-railway/

 

Hi all -

For those that are interested, the loco roster for the next few weeks is below. Please note that (as ever) this is posted in good faith, however plans do sometimes change - so if you're travelling especially to ride behind a specific locomotive, it is best to ring the railway in advance (01267 238 213) to doublecheck.

10th May - Haulwen
12th May - Haulwen (Sunday Lunch Train)
15th May - Haulwen
16th May - Haulwen
19th May - Jennifer
21st May - Haulwen
22nd May - Haulwen
23rd May - Haulwen
25th May to 1st June - Haulwen (half term trains - steam daily)
2nd June - Haulwen (Evening Diner, 1930 ex BA)

On normal service days, trains depart Bronwydd Arms at 1030, 1150, 1320 and 1450. On days when a Sunday Lunch train is operating, departures are at 1230 and 1400.

Cheers,

Phil.​

 

update-

2 photos attached, the first looking towards Bridge 5 and the station site, and the second looking back towards Bronwydd. There are around 14 panels with rails needing to be inserted until the end point in the first photo is reached. More work scheduled for the next few weeks.

Ballast deliveries will start soon, as well as the platform construction. We have secured 2 dogfish and a shark brakevan on loan and these will arrive next week.

Regards

Matt

 

some more pictures of the new bracket signal south of Bronwydd Arms Station which will control trains on the extension.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/gwilirailway/8723338963/in/photostream/

more track laying this week, hopefully some more pics soon

Regards

Matt

 

Taken from the Dinmore Manor facebook page -

What makes the next 2 years even more interesting is that we plan to commemorate 7820’s journey from a scrapyard wreck to restored glory by taking ‘Dinmore Manor’ back to the railway that first secured the locomotive by bringing it out of Barry in 1980. Next year (2014), the Gwili plan to complete the extension of their operating line south from Bronwydd Arms towards Carmarthen and we have agreed in principle that ‘Dinmore Manor’ can return to their line to join their celebrations. We anticipate that this will provide mutually beneficial publicity and welcome income for both organisations.

Cant wait to see 7820 departing Abergwili Junction!

James

 

Matt, question for you. I drove up towards Cardigan today in my lorry, noticed some distortion to the trackbed where the contractors have been clearing trees. Much damage?

 

Nothing a bit of slewing won't take care of. We have a tamper booked in for September to do the whole extension all being well, so should be rectified then.

A lot of tree clearance is being undertaken on this section near the road, certainly needs it.

Hopefully get some more pics of tracklaying in the next few days.

Regards

Matt

 

A few more snippets...

This bank holiday weekend, we are providing an unusual 'site specific' venue for the third year recitals for students on the Performing Arts course at Trinity St Davids College in Carmarthen. This collabration sees performances on this coming Saturday, Sunday and Monday (25th-27th May), departing Bronwydd Arms at 1930 each evening. The train will be steam-hauled, and formed of the dining set (with the bar-car open). The performance, called "Time and Time Again", is an adaption of "Alice In Wonderland" and will be performed both on and off the train.

Tickets are £10.00 for adults and £8.00 for concessions, inclusive of the train ride and performance. Expected arrival back at Bronwydd Arms will be at around 2115ish. I watched some of the rehearsals earlier this week - fascinating to watch, it should be a unique set of performances!

Also, the Gwili featured again on TV earlier this week - on the Welsh magazine programme "X-Ray", on an item about national rail fares. To watch it on iPlayer, the link is http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b01skx37/XRay_Series_13_Episode_2/ (starts at 22:58).

The Dogfish and Shark are due to arrive on the railway later today.

Finally, don't forget the half-term services starting tomorrow, featuring "Haulwen" - steam daily from May 25th to June 1st. Departures from Bronwydd Arms at 1030, 1150, 1320 and 1450 - normal fares apply.

Cheers,

Phil.

PS "Jennifer" is booked for use on passenger services on Tues 4th and Wed 5th June. "Haulwen" will be back in traffic on Thurs 6th June, ready to take part in the 1940s weekend on 8th+9th June.

 

Also last night two ballast wagons arrived from SVR in preparation for the start of ballasting the exstension.

 

2 photos attached,

First one is of the newly arrived Shark (together with 2 dogfish) from the SVR, with our grateful thanks. Ballast trains due to start in the next few weeks.

The second photo is the current end of railhead, a few panels further on from last time. about 10 panels to go now to the end of sleepers, more laying scheduled for next week.

Oh yes and confirmation of the Dinmore news in Steam Railway this month, if all goes to plan it is going to be a great start to 2014 as things stand......

Regards

Matt

 

some more pictures from the flickr page, including

Vintage Carriages at Llwyfan Cerrig
http://www.flickr.com/photos/gwilirailway/8847454001/in/photostream/

Tree Clearance on the extension
http://www.flickr.com/photos/gwilirailway/8847849948/in/photostream/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/gwilirailway/8847777125/in/photostream/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/gwilirailway/8848401524/in/photostream/

More signals ready to be installed
http://www.flickr.com/photos/gwilirailway/8848144220/in/photostream/

regards

Matt