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The Gwili Railway thread

Discussion in 'Heritage Railways & Centres in the UK' started by Matt78, Jan 28, 2012.

  1. Matt78

    Matt78 Well-Known Member

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    Yes sorry perhaps my reply was a bit serious! Things have been hotting up on the Abergwili extension (as you can see from the pics) so I have my "serious" hat on at the moment...

    Nevertheless we have started thinking about Conwil, deep breaths.....

    Regards

    Matt
     
  2. Felix Holt

    Felix Holt Guest

    Not at all, Matt. I thoroughly applaud the great efforts of you and the team to get to Abergwili! I hope to visit soon, it looks great in the photos.
     
  3. gwilialan

    gwilialan Well-Known Member

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    And with the hospital just around the corner already on the town circular bus route we might be able to persuade them to add a stop at the railway... Hopefully
     
  4. Matt78

    Matt78 Well-Known Member

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    Update

    1. Track's in good shape then!

    2. Bridge rail post for "SW" sign newly installed

    3. Not a bad view....

    Regards

    Matt
     

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  5. Matt78

    Matt78 Well-Known Member

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    Update

    In glorious sunshine today we ran a test train to Abergwili using Welsh Guardsman.

    Some of the latest work completed this week includes the fitting of the FPL bar at Abergwili (now complete), more fencing and completion of the white lining at Pontyfelin crossing.

    We ran the test train to check the final platform clearances, and test the loop, which were all within limits. The run alongside the river was especially enjoyed by those present, I managed to get a "from train" view of the same photo of the waterfall as per my last post, the view is definitely better from the train!

    all in all a most enjoyable day, and a taste of what is to come.....

    regards

    Matt
     

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  6. gwilialan

    gwilialan Well-Known Member

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    A reminder for any Gwili shareholders out there that this years AGM is to be held 11:30am on Saturday 19th November at Llanpumsaint Village Hall with the GRPS AGM following directly after.

    Prior to the AGM there will be a special train to Abergwili Junction for members and shareholders only (so bring your membership cards! ;)) departing Bronwydd Arms at 10:00am to view the progress of the extension works. I believe there will also be some of the extension team available to chat about what has been done this year and what is left to do. (Not a lot! :):):))

    Alan
     
  7. D1004

    D1004 New Member

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    Go on Matt78 - please give us a clue... When do you hope to be able to run the first public trains to Abergwili Junction please?

    D1004
     
  8. Matt78

    Matt78 Well-Known Member

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    Ok - my clue is it won't be 2016... ☺️

    I am determined that we will be opening in 2017, the job list is now quite small. The remaing work will be a combination of contractors (ballast regulator and fencing) and our own labour. Some jobs are quite small, such as erect some signs (the posts being in place already) or replace a few fishplates. Others are slightly more time consuming, such as change 4 timbers on the points immediately south of Bronwydd Crossing , and erecting the mile posts and gradient boards. A few pennies are still needed so we have just sent out an appeal with the AGM notices and of course we are aiming for a good Santa season too. There are a few jobs to do on the operational railway as well after Christmas, and another development project in the engine shed. So we hope that taking all this into account the jobs on the extension might be complete by Easter 2017 or just after. No date can be placed on it yet as there are a number of variables such as raising the final said pennies and volunteer/staff commitments both on and off the railway. Rest assured as soon as we know it will be shouted from the rooftops! If this seem like a very complex answer to a simple question then yes it is... but we are getting very close now.

    Regards

    Matt
     
    Last edited: Nov 12, 2016
  9. D1004

    D1004 New Member

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    Thanks Matt for such a detailed response.

    The railway team are doing a great job, I am really looking forward to visiting next year.

    D1004
     
  10. Matt78

    Matt78 Well-Known Member

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    Some pics of the Santa specials with Welsh Guardsman and Moorbarrow in action.

    Also a picture of some recent detail work with a new GWR style running-in board, posts and fire bucket rack.

    Regards

    Matt
     

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  11. Reading General

    Reading General Part of the furniture

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    you're doing really well...if I visit in June will the extension be open do you think? (I calling anyway)
     
  12. Matt78

    Matt78 Well-Known Member

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    Hope so but can't guarantee it at this stage, work has slowed due to the Santa season but we hope to pick up the baton again in January to get those final jobs done. All updates will be on Natpres!

    Regards

    Matt
     
  13. hoffman

    hoffman New Member

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    Just wanted to say that I really like this little line. I visited last year (in the rain!) and not only was it a nice little line (with hopefully a future to look forward to) but the staff were some of the friendliest I have come across for some time.

    Stu
     
  14. Matt78

    Matt78 Well-Known Member

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    We'll now the dust is settling on Santas and 2016 we can look forward to next year. We are open again at February half term and onwards from Easter. In the meantime there are a number of projects ongoing, we hope that the engine shed can now be erected in the first few months of the year having been put on the back burner during the operating season. And of course we are going to get those final jobs done to get the extension open in 2017- first extension for 16 years! This will change the face of the railway, no doubt about it.

    In addition lots of the usual repairs and improvements are ongoing such as some repairs to the crossing gates, completion of "Olwen's overhaul, repaint of the kitchen car and there are plans to give our TPO a makeover into "Royal Mail" livery before Easter. Later on this year we may get to start stripping down "Haulwen" to assess work required for overhaul. The vintage carriages continue to progress slowly towards working condition, now aided by the completion of a new woodwork shop facility at C and W. The main jobs outstanding on both GWR216 and TVR220 are the doors - one from the latter has been sent away for contract repair while others are being progressed on site. TVR 28 now has it's own gang to continue conservation, carry out small scale work on components etc.

    Welsh Guardsman will be the principle loco in 2017, aided by AN other steam loco (TBC) and the 03 and DMU.

    Thanks to all those who have taken interest in the thread this years and a happy new year to all NP readers!

    Regards

    Matt
     
  15. Matt78

    Matt78 Well-Known Member

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    Update

    The 1001 jobs to complete the extension are now in progress. Several "lift" plates have been acquired and are being fitted to some joints while odd jobs at the platform such as adding a small amount of anti-trespass grids have been undertaken.

    We are watching the GWSR P-Way blog with interest as we are hoping to hire the ballast regulator ourselves once it has been repaired and strutted its stuff on the Broadway extension.

    Our RRV is receiving attention ready for a return to extension work in the next week or so. Meanwhile the crossing gates are being repaired and repainted ahead of the opening.

    More jobs planned for the next few weeks.

    In other news the Kitchen Car (ex MK1 BG) has received a repaint in the dining train livery of southern racing green, and very smart it looks too. Next in line for attention is the TPO, which will get a repaint into 1960's Royal Mail livery.

    Olwen's boiler is progressing slowly between other jobs while now that the running season has finished we hope to clear the north end of the loco sidings in the next few days ready for the contractor to move in and build the engine shed - yes, a shed!!

    Hopefully some photos to follow over the next few weeks.

    Regards

    Matt
     
  16. Matt78

    Matt78 Well-Known Member

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    Picture update

    1. Kitchen car looking smart having been lined and lettered

    2. Engine shed site being cleared before work starts.

    Regards

    Matt
     

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  17. Ploughman

    Ploughman Part of the furniture

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  18. Matt78

    Matt78 Well-Known Member

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    From memory the RRV we have although being a wheeled/tracked 360 does not have the right fittings to allow such an attachment (so I'm told!). We are hopeful that the Ballast Regulator should be available to us soon, and that it fits with the timescale we envisage.

    thanks for the tip though!

    Regards

    Matt
     
  19. Matt78

    Matt78 Well-Known Member

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    Update

    The shed site has now been cleared and marked. The site will now be handed over to the contractor. Didn't get a pic as I forgot my phone! Hopefully more updates to follow.

    Regards

    Matt
     
  20. gwilialan

    gwilialan Well-Known Member

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    I'm not sure that it's a full 360 deg. machine either when on rails. I think it's restricted to front and rear arcs because of the higher centre of gravity when on rails. Could be wrong though... :(
     

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