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The Gwili Railway thread

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

  1. Pete Thornhill

    Pete Thornhill Resident of Nat Pres Staff Member Administrator Moderator Friend

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    Good luck with the opening. I can't make it Sunday but intend being that way late August so will definitely be making a visit then.
     
  2. nick813

    nick813 Well-Known Member Loco Owner

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    Unable to make this weekend, with you in spirit!
    Well done all of the Gwili Railway!m
    Will be visiting soon !

    Nick
    GWR 813 Fund
     
  3. Matt78

    Matt78 Well-Known Member

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    Last edited: Jul 1, 2017
  4. Matt78

    Matt78 Well-Known Member

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    Well, what a fantastic day. We held the ceremony for invited guests today to officially open the Abergwili Jtn extension, running two trains for supporters and guests with over 150 attendees.

    The official unveiling ceremony was performed by Mrs Sylvia Davies, the widow of Geler Davies who drove the last passenger train on February 22nd 1965. We also held a ceremonial "breaking the banner" on each trip, Moorbarrow doing the honours adorned with headboard and Welsh Guardsman at the rear of the 5- coach train.

    One real highlight was the first up train through the level crossing at Bronwydd where the queue of cars decided to join in the occasion by sounding their horns!

    And we do it all again tomorrow. First public trains starting at 10.30, again a 5- car set with bar on the train and Welsh Guardsman and Moorbarrow.

    Regards

    Matt
     
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  5. Matt78

    Matt78 Well-Known Member

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  6. Matt78

    Matt78 Well-Known Member

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    Well what a weekend it's been. First public trains today went well, and we hope that the "bounce" effect will continue over the next few weeks. The extension is now part of the operating railway and will be available to travel on every operating day.

    The magnitude of the achievement still hasn't sunk in, this has been 17 years in the making, we laid the first panels a mere 10 years ago...it just goes to show what determination and perseverance can achieve. In that time a phenomenal amount of work has been done. If anyone thinks extensions are easy feel free to PM me!

    We hope that this will give us the springboard to move on. We are already looking north but equally there are some catch up jobs which are more "business as usual", but essential nonetheless.

    In development terms the next project will be the pit inside the engine shed, hopefully just in time for the winter so we can "rail up" and get under cover for the first time in 39 years!

    Many thanks to all those natpres readers who have expressed good wishes and followed the thread, hopefully the good news will continue. We are one of the smaller lines but I hope that what we have done will give others suitable encouragement for their aspirations.

    Regards

    Matt
     
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  7. frazoulaswak

    frazoulaswak Member

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    A set of photos from the first day of public running on the new extension can now be viewed on my Zenfolio website at: - http://mickrogers.zenfolio.com/p590878097

    EOS 5D Mark III_170702_2348.jpg

    Congratulations to all at the Gwili, and here's hoping that @Matt78 will have plenty more news about further progress on the railway in the future.
    Cheers,
     
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  8. Matt78

    Matt78 Well-Known Member

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  9. JBTEvans

    JBTEvans Well-Known Member

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    Anything in the pipeline to visit the railway soon? Even if loco owners haven't been approached, are the railway hopeful of hiring an ex-mainline guest over the next 18 months?
     
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  10. Matt78

    Matt78 Well-Known Member

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    Hi Josh

    As of now nothing is planned but it has admittedly been a while since we had an ex-BR loco so it's certainly overdue.

    As is the way with these things any hire would depend on availability on the hire circuit and the pennies adding up.

    I would say it's more likely than not in the next 18 months particularly with the 40th anniversary next year, but as to specifics I couldn't say.

    Any suggestions, what would Natpres viewers like to see?

    Regards

    Matt
     
  11. JBTEvans

    JBTEvans Well-Known Member

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    Thanks for the quick response Matt.

    I'd love a Manor, in particular 7820 or 7828 ,to visit! 4566 looked great, 9 years ago now!, and at home on the Gwili, so maybe another Prairie.. 5526/42 if those vintage carriages are operational in time.

    I don't think it would matter too much, I know I'd go whatever so long as I could make it, and I think a lot of enthusiasts would be drawn to the line now at 4 miles with a mainline loco running.
     
  12. paulhitch

    paulhitch Guest

    To be brutally frank I would think the Gwili would have enough novelty from their extended run to suffice for a couple of years at least without the trouble and expense of bringing in something over large from outside.

    PH
     
  13. Reading General

    Reading General Part of the furniture

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    i'll be there in a fortnight.
     
  14. Gareth

    Gareth New Member

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    I suppose the two locos with most obvious links that i would like to see would be either 7820 as it was her first preservation home. The other would TVR85 as i believe the two TVR locos have never met in preservation ? Hopefully a working Ex Br loco visits sooner than rather than later !
     
  15. Reading General

    Reading General Part of the furniture

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    can I ask , can you get out of the train at Abergwilli for photos ?
     
  16. Matt78

    Matt78 Well-Known Member

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    Thanks for the suggestions!

    I have to concur a little with PH, we did opt not to get a hire loco in for the openning on grounds of cost and that the extension itself provides novelty factor.

    A Manor is definite WIBN territory, both 7820 and 7828 have graced the line in the past but the former didn't run and the latter was a "once in a lifetime" deal many, many moons ago. Never say never but it would require some hands in pockets for sure.

    A GW tank would look good with the vintage carriages when they are finished and provide a reasonably unique sight. Got to press on with finishing the carriages first though......

    Regards

    Matt
     
  17. Matt78

    Matt78 Well-Known Member

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    Yes, the platform is accessible from the train, there is also a footpath adjoining the site and one alongside the line for the first 1/4 mile north of the road bridge.

    EDIT - there is no access to the footpath from the station but you can have a ride and then photograph the train from the footpath on the way home or something similar.

    Regards

    Matt
     
    Last edited: Jul 5, 2017
  18. Reading General

    Reading General Part of the furniture

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    thx Matt. I know it's a long way west but it's well worth the visit, lovely line in a lovely valley. Essentially at the end of the M4, I recommend everyone to visit
     
  19. JBTEvans

    JBTEvans Well-Known Member

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    Will get there this month at some point!
     
  20. gwilialan

    gwilialan Well-Known Member

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    Would that be the royal 'we' or is this now official? :)

    I hope time will now be found for catching up on all those jobs on the extension that were set aside in the push to get the track open. There are a lot more river views to be seen if only the brush and brambles can be cleared.

    For the future I'd personally like to see the effort directed at completing the Abergwili extension works (as per the planning application) by building the new station and car park before looking anywhere else. Then the railway would have much better facilities for all the (extra?) visitors. (Would probably be cheaper than going north as well!)
     
    Last edited: Jul 5, 2017

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