The Gwili Railway thread

I believe the loop is a constraint. I am sure someone will clarify?

The thing is if you never try and grow you end up standing still and I think, sustainable growth is the bedrock of the preservation movement.

Obviously there are lines that are too long etc.... but I remember once someone telling me - when we go to abergwili we will need 2 locos in steam and 2 diesels, we will need a car park, and how will we maintain all the extra track and we wont get anymore visitors. Looking back now thank god the railway did extend! Its a balancing act - but would I love the railway to go to conwil... yes I would. Do I think on balance it would be a good thing...
Yes I do.

Extensions tend to benefit from grant funding which wouldn't be available other wise so as long as it doesn't put too much of a strain on the other parts of the railway happy days.

 

[citation needed]!!

Yes railways need to be developing and moving forward otherwise they turn stagnant, but there's loads of things you cna do that don't include increasing the length of your running line.

Sent from my PGT-N19 using Tapatalk

 

There was one 'proposal' to get the railway across the river from Carmarthen and then turn sharp left into a tunnel about 6 miles long which would replace about 13 miles of winding track and leave the Gwili where it is, that lasted all of five minutes due to cost. At least that proposal lasted longer than one hairbrained scheme to build the new line on stilts above the existing line. Where do they get them from?
There was serious thought of having to tunnel at the Aberystwyth end due to housing all over the track bed with a big hill in the way of an alternative route (and the VoR now using the old Carmarthen platform). Like the whole proposal everything went quiet once the costs were published.
I've seen questions on here about the benefit of the link. For those who weren't here at the time of the feasibility study the cost was estimated to be £750 million, The benefit to the communities on route and in general … only £450 million. Quite a large cost/benefit gap .

 

First news update of 2026 with the concrete pour for the path in the Dan Do shed.

 

Some more views of the carriage shed and TVR coach 112 arrives.

 

TSO 4420 looking resplendent at Cranmore with huge thanks to the team there for another quality job. Due home soon.

 

MAGNIFICENT

 

We are pleased to confirm that following a tender process we have been successful in our submission for for Taff Vale Coach number 51 which is being de-accessorised from the National Museum of Wales collection.


This coach was built 1883 and is very similar to coaches already on site and in use as our cafe at Abergwili. The coach will also join locomotive Taff Vale 28 and our very own TVR carriage number 220 to form the most comprehensive collection of Taff Vale Railway items in South Wales.

We are delighted that number 51 is being located to the railway and will form part of the static display centrepiece in our Dan Do shed at Abergwili Junction. This is due to open at Easter along with other Victorian carriages such as Barry 163 and GWR 216.


Information on coach 51

Taff Vale Railway composite carriage no.51 (renumbered 6413 by Great Western Railway 1922), built 1883 by Brown Marshalls & Co, Birmingham. Obtained 1977 from Hayling Island, Hampshire. Mounted on ex-MOD bogie underframe. Restored 1980 excluding upholstery by Museum.

 

GREAT news, an excellent addition to the fleet. Well done to everyone who worked up the bid.

 

L150/5521 is now without the air pump for the first time in preservation.

 

Every time I see l150 I pinch myself that there is actually a gwr 4mt owned by the railway. It looks great, will it be going back on? Nice to see it looking a little more authentic. Seems all go at the railway. Welld done all.

 

Just the colour and the cab height to sort out now!

 

Taff Vale 51 touches down

 

Abergwili in the sunshine.

not long now till the season starts, L150 will be out for March dates subject to the usual caveats.

Matt

 

Is it hoped to turn the Taff Vale coach into a operational vehicle at some point?

 

At the moment there are three vintage carriages being worked on which are GWR 216, Taff Vale 220 and Barry 163. They are all at various stages with a lot of work completed over many years but with more to do.

The aim would be to get these carriages into operational status before any further work is undertaken on other carriages.

Taff 51 looks complete but it is likely a new underframe would be required as the present one would not be suitable for passenger operation.

regards

Matt

 

I've asked before about access from the lane that runs along the back of the main platform. This photo seems to show that lane and that there's a gate separating it from the platform. Do you know whether this gate is open to allow access when the railway is operating, please? Thanks.

 

We did respoond to you. The public access is open on all operating days and many none operating days for access to the cafe.

 

Ah, thanks; that's fine.