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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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    Hi Josh

    we aren’t in a position to make any announcements just yet but hope to have some more news soon. Our volunteers are continuing the task of clearing the line side at present.

    regards

    Matt
     
  2. Matt78

    Matt78 Well-Known Member

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    Update

    The overhauled boiler from “Moorbarrow” arrived back at the railway today. All systems go for the reassembly.

    lots of other jobs being done, the signal box is being painted among other things, also we have another large delivery due soon so keep an eye on the thread...

    regards

    Matt
     

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  3. Matt78

    Matt78 Well-Known Member

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    L92 has been out on test this week, first steam since 1st March!

    other work is ongoing, GWR 216 has entered the shed to complete its restoration, while the repaint of the signal box has been completed after some inclement weather!

    Many parts of Moorbarrow are being painted and we are pressing on with sone ashpan repairs before the boiler can go back into the frames.

    Other work ongoing includes replacement of the platform fence. Lots going on before we open in October, bookings can be made on our website.

    the “large delivery” has been delayed but we are hopeful that “it” will arrive by the end of the month. All will be revealed....

    regards

    Matt
     

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  4. Matt78

    Matt78 Well-Known Member

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    Update

    as Wales heads into a lockdown we have sadly had to cancel the proposed October running days. Nevertheless there is much activity onsite on a number of projects including

    - P Way renewals. The photos shows replacement of wooden panel track with concretes. Credit D Jones

    - Moorbarrow overhaul. The photo shows the dome cover being painted Credit D Jones.

    - GWR 216. The photo shows a GWR gas lamp being restored for one of the compartments. A myriad of smaller parts are being painted and repaired and the compartment interiors are being repainted ready for scumbling. Credit D Jones.

    - D2178. Our 03 is receiving some much needed TLC with the fuel pump being overhauled and replaced. Credit D Murray


    - tanker wagon. The photo shows the repaint of the vehicle in National Benzole livery.

    - new running-in board for Llwyfan Cerrig.

    lots of other items of interest in the background, hopefully more news soon!

    regards

    Matt



    -
     

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  5. Matt78

    Matt78 Well-Known Member

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    Well it’s only been a few days since the last update but a few more pictures today showing ongoing work on GWR 216 and Moorbarrow’s tank.

    The last photo shows some of the GWR “Pepper Pot” roof vents and lamp brackets being painted. Lots of smaller parts being refurbished including brass grab handles being polished, droplights being repainted. Doors are also being removed for a number of miscellaneous jobs on each.

    regards

    Matt
     

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  6. Matt78

    Matt78 Well-Known Member

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    More goings on in the west of wales (or should be wet Wales at the moment!)

    Work on Moorbarrow is proceeding very well and the chassis is almost complete. Repairs to the ashpan are nearly done and the boiler should hopefully be returned to the frames next week, signifying the final lap of the overhaul.

    as Moorbarrow is nearing completion then work has commenced on Haulwen. The photo shows the removal of boiler studs. The chassis will enter the shed shortly to allow a full assessment.

    in Carriage and Wagon the progress continues on GWR 216. Compartment walls are reaching the undercoat stage ready for scumbling, and we are removing the lower panel beading to replace this with all new wood and a better finish. Lots of smaller parts being made, this week the wood for the door draught excluders is being marked up. Doors are being removed for checking and door handles are being polished. We are looking at having blinds made for both of our vintage carriages and also to order glass globes for the (non working!) gas lights.

    also in the shed is the National Benzole tanker which is being sign written.

    On the P away front we have received a delivery of sleepers with further deliveries of materials to follow ahead of a busy winter.

    we are also still awaiting another delivery and after a few false starts we hope that this “item” will arrive in the next month or so.

    photo credits- Haulwen boiler D Murray, National Benzole tank D Jones and P Way materials M Whittall

    regards

    Matt
     

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  7. Matt78

    Matt78 Well-Known Member

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    The boiler of “Moorbarrow” has bee successfully returned to the frames today after overhaul. On the final lap now of the overhaul....

    stay tuned as there will be more news on several fronts shortly....

    photo credit P Ware

    Regards

    Matt
     

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  8. Matt78

    Matt78 Well-Known Member

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    As referenced elsewhere we are delighted to confirm am award of £46,563 from the Culture Fund (Wales). In addition to helping with fixed costs between December and March this money will allow us to move forward with our winter work programme which includes the reassembly of Moorbarrow, work on Haulwen, GWR 216 and P Way repairs and renewals.

    As you can imagine this is a tremendous boost for the railway and we are working to get the railway in good order for reopening at Easter 2021.

    regards

    Matt
     
  9. thb17

    thb17 Member

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    These updates are fantastic, congratulations to all those involved, looks like a birght 2021 ahead!
     
  10. Matt78

    Matt78 Well-Known Member

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    Work continues on GWR 216, now the sides are receiving the treatment. We have decided to start again with the waistline beading so we are making up formers to ensure accuracy as the old beading was a mixture of old and new. Other parts are being polished such as the “T” door handles and brass rings for the gas lamps.

    Also finished is the first section of the new platform fence at Bronwydd, with more sections to be replaced over the winter.

    regards

    Matt
     

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  11. Matt78

    Matt78 Well-Known Member

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    Another update...

    work is proceeding well on Moorbarrow with many more parts being painted/cleaned and reassembled. The cladding bands have been painted and reassembly of the cladding is next, the tank is due into the C & W workshop for painting once the petrol tanker has been completed.

    meanwhile work continues on Haulwen’s boiler with more parts being stripped, the frames are now in the shed ready for work to start and the boiler is due to be sent away for repair once the stripping work is complete.

    the P Way team are having a good sort out ahead of more deliveries and also the work due to commence next week to replace 6 panels on the mainline.

    Photo credits D Jones M Whittall and D Murray



    Regards

    Matt
     

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  12. thb17

    thb17 Member

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    What a brilliant addition the shed is! It must make such a difference!

    I hope l92 is keeping well! I look forward on seeing her once we are back to normal.

    Tom
     
  13. Matt78

    Matt78 Well-Known Member

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    News on our Facebook page of a generous donation of bullhead rail and point work

    (open access link)

    https://m.facebook.com/TheGwiliSteamRailway/?__tn__=C-R

    Also below is the link to a trailer for “The tale of the Curious Mouse” which was part-filmed at the railway recently.



    regards

    Matt
     
  14. Respite

    Respite Member

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    Welsh Guardsman is now at Embsay.
     
  15. Matt78

    Matt78 Well-Known Member

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    The work continues on many fronts....

    Moorbarrow with the boiler lagging on (Photos D Jones)

    P Way are on with the renewals (a first for December...) and we are replacing the last 6 panels of wood in the mainline with concretes. Photos M Whittall.

    tanker wagon just out-shopped...Photos D Jones

    Work continues on GWR 216, this week we varnished draught excluder strips and more bodywork. We will keep at it until we are happy with the finish!

    work also continues on Haulwen’s boiler.

    the last of the track has also arrived from Rhymney, and that’s not the end of the deliveries as we have a rather large one planned this week...stay tuned.

    Regards

    Matt
     

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  16. Matt78

    Matt78 Well-Known Member

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    Press release

    The Welsh Railways Trust (WRT) and the Gwili Railway are pleased to announce its latest arrival, 75T Breakdown Crane ADRC 96714, thanks to the support of the Science Museum Group and Network Rail. The crane will significantly increase the lifting capability of the Gwili Railway and will also play a key part in the railway’s northern extension towards Llanpumsaint.


    Crane ADRC 96714 was manufactured by Cowans Sheldon in Carlisle, entering service with British Railway in 1980 as part of the modernisation of recovery operations. Operating across the United Kingdom, the crane was based in South Wales from 1983 until 2008. The crane remained in operation until 2017. In 1999, the crane was fully overhauled, and in the same year, due to the historical significance of these pioneering breakdown cranes, the Railway Heritage Committee (RHC) selected crane ADRC 96714 to be preserved at the end of its working life.


    In 2019, the Railway Heritage Designation Advisory Board (RHDAB) – the successor body to the RHC, which reports to the trustees of the Science Museum Group - identified ADRC 96714 as a candidate for transfer to a new home. Following a process of due diligence with a number of interested parties, the Welsh Railways Trust were announced as the successful recipient of the crane.


    Following six months of planning, the crane was successfully delivered to Bronwydd Arms on the 16th/17th December. The transport of this large crane was made possible thanks to the financial support of the Transport Trust.


    Matt Bowen, WRT Trustee and Chairman of the Gwili Railway said: “We’d like to thank the RHDAB, the Science Museum Group, Network Rail, DB Cargo and Railway Support Services for all their help and assistance in making this happen. We are extremely pleased to be able to bring this piece of important railway history back to South Wales, for both display to the public and use in service as part of our plant and equipment.


    Lord Faulkner of Worcester, RHDAB’s co-chair said: “We were very keen to ensure that this crane could be preserved. Having identified it as an artefact which represents a significant part of our nation’s railway story, we are delighted that it will have a future in heritage preservation and will be used to develop the Welsh Railway Trust. I would like to express my thanks to Network Rail, DB Cargo and the GwiliRailway for making this happen.”


    Jonathan Evans, Network Rail’s Business Development Manager said “we are very pleased that Crane 14 is heading to a new home, close to where it spent much of its working lifein South Wales. It was important to us help make the transfer as smooth as possible. Mark Bowler, our Fleet Engineer has worked with the WRT to provide the records anddocumentation for the crane along with a package of spares that will help keep it operational and available to support the railway’s future expansion plans”.
     

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  17. thb17

    thb17 Member

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    Conwil looks that bit closer...
     
  18. jamesd

    jamesd Member

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    I’ve never heard of the Welsh Railways trust before. Are they exclusively linked to the Gwili?
     
  19. thb17

    thb17 Member

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    I believe it is an amalgamation of the gwili vintage carraige group and the Caerphilly railway society, originally for the restoration of a welsh train, TVR 28 and 4 wheel taff vale railway coaches. I am sure someone who knows a lot more than I can comment on the future aims of the trust?

    Tom
     
  20. Matt78

    Matt78 Well-Known Member

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    yes that’s correct. We are merging two smaller charities to make a larger entity, which has custody of some interesting items of Welsh relevance, and the collection is slowly growing. The legals of the merger and name change currently underway.

    The aim is to use the Gwili as a primary base but doubtless as some of our more interesting items get restored there will be opportunities for display or use at other venues.

    Regards

    Matt
     

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