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Brecon Mountain Railway

Discussion in 'Narrow Gauge Railways' started by lynbarn, Sep 15, 2016.

  1. ross

    ross Well-Known Member

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    Not sure what the state of play really is on the BMR. The website said they were hoping to open on July 19th. Then that changed around the 10thJuly to "opening 1st August". Went to the site to see if it is possible to book for sunday, it now says "hoping to open on 10th August". This will only leave about 3 weeks of the school holidays to catch up a lot of lost revenue.
    I wish them well, and I hope they can navigate successfully through whatever they are facing.
     
  2. 30854

    30854 Resident of Nat Pres

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    It does seem odd to pass up on half the peak season, especially after the damned lurgi all but totalled last year too. In the specific case of the BMR though, I can't help but wonder whether workshop and/or pw activities might be taking precedence? They do have a bit of form for springing surprises on us.
     
  3. jamesd

    jamesd Member

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    10th August is after the date that restrictions (should) be lifted in Wales so presumably the BMR have decided that it isn't worth operating before that date.
     
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  4. 30854

    30854 Resident of Nat Pres

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    With their proximity to the valleys towns (where I recall stubborn clusters of the dreaded lurgi on the Beeb's covid map, first time around), perhaps so.

    S'pose it could be that their balcony stock has a particularly tricky layout to adapt to conditions? As pretty much all else has managed some sort of services, including the Corris with it's longtitudinal seated stock and the VoR with the unique layout of theirs, it still seems a particularly cautious approach.

    In honesty, I'm just relieved not to be burdened with such decisions myself, under these circumstances.
     
  5. ross

    ross Well-Known Member

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    Well, on a much more positive note, the bookings system is up and operating. Operating tuesday to saturdays inclusive from 10th.
    It lists number of bubbles available -I think 28 bubbles on a train, but I can't quite work out how they've done that. It appears that the minimum price of a return bubble is £50, which is about the same as two adults, two halves and most of a dog. More travellers and the price goes up, which is fair.
    Now I just have to get my son to commit to a particular date. I think we'll avoid the saturday
     
  6. Adam Tandy

    Adam Tandy Member

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    My footage of the BMR's Baldwin 4-6-2 No. 2 slogging past Pontsticill Reservoir bound for Torpantau earlier today, filmed in conjunction with travelling on the line. A spectacular experience!

     
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  7. Taliesin

    Taliesin New Member

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    Announced in the last 15 minutes, the Vale of Rheidol is set to acquire the Brecon Mountain Railway, with them taking over operations from Spring 2024.
     
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  8. Maldwyn

    Maldwyn New Member

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  9. malc

    malc Part of the furniture

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    So..
    • BMR bought VoR from BR in 1988.
    • Unified management until 1996, then split into separate entities.
    • Now VoR buys BMR and re-merge.
    Confusing!
     
  10. johnofwessex

    johnofwessex Resident of Nat Pres

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    Given that the lines were bought initially by two men with rather different interests the split made some sense, in the same way that bringing them back together now also seems sensible
     
  11. lynbarn

    lynbarn Well-Known Member

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    This could work since a shared engineering base can be a good thing and it may speed up the construction of the two sandy river locos as well. plus if will give a place to run some of the Indian stuff once it has been restored. a great move by all concerned.
     
  12. Dead Sheep

    Dead Sheep Member

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    Wow that is going to be a major project to join up the two. Which route do you think they will be taking?
     
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  13. 35B

    35B Nat Pres stalwart

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    Manchester & Milford, I'd suggest;)
     
  14. Dunfanaghy Road

    Dunfanaghy Road Well-Known Member

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    I thought that that route was earmarked for the crayonistas magnum opus, going to Caernarfon. Dual gauge, anyone?
    Pat
     
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  15. Steve B

    Steve B Well-Known Member

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    Given that the beginning and end sections are already 2ft gauge, just make it narrow gauge all the way to Caernarfon? Branches off to Blaenau Ffestiniog and Devil's Bridge...:)

    Steve B
     
  16. Mrcow

    Mrcow Member

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    Crayonistas :Smuggrin::Smuggrin::Smuggrin::Smuggrin::Smuggrin:
     

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