5526 - Gwili Railway Gala - October 9th 2021

Hi all,

The Gwili Steam Railway will be holding an End of Season Gala on Saturday 9th October 2021. Locomotives in use will be:

- '4575' Small Prairie No.5526 (visiting until January)
- RSH No.7849 'Moorbarrow' (recently overhauled)
- Class 03 D2178

The gala will have a busy timetable, featuring double-heading, banking, a demonstration goods train and more. It is planned that the goods will get both a morning and an afternoon trip up the line.

The first train is at 1015 from Bronwydd Arms, preceded by a demonstration goods train at 0945. Trains then depart regularly throughout the day. There will also be an evening train with the prairie too (departing at 6pm, back by 8pm), for which normal tickets will be valid.

As part of the event, we will also be doing a small celebration to mark 25 years since the Caerphilly Railway Society brought their rolling stock and collection to the Gwili; they have been an important part of the railway ever since.

There's also a loose 'Cardi Bach' theme to the event. Although it's not an accurate representation, there will be parts of the day that echo the spirit of the Whitland to Cardigan line in it's last days (with a '4575' prairie and three coaches).

The focus of the event will be at Bronwydd Arms. Alongside the shunting/train movements etc, there will be railway society stalls/displays in the carpark (weather permitting). Currently booked are:

- Garw Valley Railway
- Llanelli & Mynydd Mawr Railway
- South Wales Railcar Project
- Llanelli & District Model Engineers
- Gwili Railway Preservation Society

The Llanelli & District Model Engineers are bringing a number of 4" traction engines, which will be in steam around the carpark. There are also one or two other trade stands still to be confirmed. If you've got a society trade or display stand that you'd like to bring along, do get in touch.

The gala will also feature the newly opened "Book Shed" at Bronwydd Arms (constructed by the Gwili Railway Preservation Society), which will have a large collection of second-hand railway books available for sale.

A (free) online gala programme will be available to download in advance of the event. The working and public timetables will also be available for free, prior to the day.

Tickets will be valid on all trains (ie a rover), but at normal fares. These can be pre-booked in advance, although it will not be possible to book a compartment; ie all seats are unreserved. Bookings are not open yet, but will open soon. If you've got any questions, do get in touch.

Hope to see you there.

Diolch,

Phil.

 

Hi all,

Some quick updates....

- TVR No.28 will be on static display at Bronwydd Arms during the gala; thanks to the TVR No.28 Group/Welsh Train Project for facilitating this. It will be an unusual opportunity to photograph the loco outside of it's usual home at Llwyfan Cerrig yard; the last time it visited Bronwydd Arms was at the 2016 gala.

It is intended to arrange a photo line up with 5526 and TVR 28 during the mid afternoon. The locos will be facing in different directions, but we will line them up alongside each other, or bunker-to-bunker/smokebox to smokebox.

- "The Book Shed" will be formally opened by railway author MRC Price (who wrote the Oakwood Press book on the Whitland & Cardigan Railway, among others). The opening ceremony will be in the mid-afternoon; further details to follow.

The timetable for the gala should be out over the next few days. Tickets will also be available online soon too, although it is possible to pay on the day as well. Normal fares apply.

If anyone has any questions or suggestions, do get in touch.

Diolch,

Phil.

 

Seems a good event being planned, excited for this!

 

Hi all,

Here's a copy of the poster for the event. Not long to go now - hope to see some of you there!

Drop us a line if you have any questions.

Diolch,

Phil.

 

In the more immediate future Phil is Moorbarrow working the service next Tuesday 14th September and what will the load be?
Thanks

 

Evening Respite

Yes Moorbarrow should be out next Tuesday, usual caveats permitting.

Current carriage set is 3 x MK1’s plus DMU centre car.

Regards

Matt

 

Thank you Matt

 

Hi all,

A quick reminder that the Gwili Railway is holding it's End of Season Gala this weekend. Locos in action will be 5526, Moorbarrow and D2178.

Public timetable: https://bit.ly/3oqXCW1
Working timetable: https://bit.ly/3FdYxyX
Gala programme: https://bit.ly/3l6ldJj

A copy of the Gala Guide (which will be given out with each ticket) is also attached.

Highlights include:

12.35 at Bronwydd Arms: short informal ceremony to mark 25 years since the Caerphilly Railway Society brought their collection to the Gwili Railway. The ceremony will be held alongside TVR No.28.

14.30 at Bronwydd Arms: Official opening of ‘The Bookshed’ (by noted railway author MRC Price).

15.05 at Bronwydd Arms: photo line-up with 5526 and TVR No.28 (until 15.35).

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There will also be an intensive timetable all day, including evening trains with 5526. There will also be a morning and afternoon goods train (9.45am with Moorbarrow, 2pm with 5526), as well as shunting at Bronwydd Arms between trains. D2178 will also be giving footplate rides at Bronwydd Arms between 1pm and 2.30pm.

The 4pm off Bronwydd Arms will be the 'Carmarthen Express' (carrying a replica of the headboard used on mainline steam in West Wales in the 1980s). This will be a 'backwards' round trip of the railway; ie to Abergwili Junction first, then a double-headed non-stop run in the 'down' (uphill) direction over the full length of the line (5526 leading, Moorbarrow inside). The train returns to Bronwydd Arms at 5.15pm.

Trade/display stands booked to be with us are;

- Llanelli & Myndd Mawr Railway
- South Wales Railcar Group
- Garw Valley Railway
- Gwili Railway Preservation Society
- Welsh Railway Trust (TVR No.28)
- Dean Forest Railway
- Llanelli & District Model Engineers (live steam traction engines etc)
- Gloucester Carriage & Wagon Museum
- RCTS South Wales Group
- West Wales Modellers (16mm live steam)
- Login Station Heritage Display (‘Cardi Bach’ line)

These will all be based at Bronwydd Arms station.

Event parking will be at Bronwydd Arms Village Hall (SA33 6BE): continue over the level crossing on the B4310, and in the village. Bronwydd Arms station carpark will be for blue badge disabled, exhibitor and volunteer parking only. A frequent bus shuttle (Ffoshelig Coaches) will run between the Village Hall and the station between 9.30am and 5.30pm. The last bus will connect with the last ‘up’ arrival at 5.10pm at Bronwydd Arms; if that train is running late, the bus will wait.

If you are intending to travel on the evening trains (6pm or 7.30pm ex Bronwydd Arms), parking will be available in the station carpark from around 5.15pm onwards as exhibitors leave.

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If you've got any questions, please do ask. Looking forward to seeing some of you there.

Diolch,

Phil.

 

Hi all,

A quick reminder of the Gwili gala this weekend, featuring visiting 5526 alongside residents 'Moorbarrow' and D2178.

There will be plenty going on, including an afternoon photo lineup between 5526 and TVR No.28. It will be the last opportunity to see TVR No.28 complete before it's overhaul begins.

Book your tickets here: https://bit.ly/3A6JCCO
Public timetable: https://bit.ly/3oqXCW1
Working timetable: https://bit.ly/3FdYxyX
Gala programme: https://bit.ly/3l6ldJj

If you've got any questions, do get in touch. Hope to see some of you there.

Diolch,

Phil.

 

A selection of photos from today.

regards

Matt