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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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    Another reminder of the funding appeal that is ongoing in relation to the Carmarthen Extension
    There is also a news item in the latest Steam Railway magazine (p10)

    Online donations can be made here
    https://www.gwili-shop.co.uk/index.php?catidtree=1992

    The appeal leaflet is here
    http://www.gwili-railway.co.uk/en/carmarthen-north/news.aspx

    We are close to raising the required total, but need one final push so any contributions gratefully received!

    In other news the DMU centre car has now been outshopped in green, while our MK1 BSK has been moved into the shed for some repairs and a repaint.

    Extension work is due to start again very soon, more info as and when.

    Regards

    Matt
     
  2. svr-rodgers

    svr-rodgers Member

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    The Gwili 2012 Thread

    Any more updates on Welsh Guardsman Matt?
     
  3. Matt78

    Matt78 Well-Known Member

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    New steel inner firebox has been fitted, stays now being fitted. I believe the cylinder block was due back to Llangollen at the start of this month.
     
  4. Matt78

    Matt78 Well-Known Member

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    Update

    Work has restarted on the extension today. The first job tacked was an adjustment to the repair done to the former bridge 6, which was replaced with plain embankment and a drainage pipe earlier this year.A longer pipe was deemed necessary after observation and this has now been installed.

    The intention is now to have a continuous programme of works whick will culminate in the laying of the remainder of the track. Starting tomorrow drains and ditches will be cleared and the trackbed scarified, before tracklaying commences in earnest.

    A new planning application has been submitted to the county council for a platform at Carmarthen, link here

    http://online.carmarthenshire.gov.uk/eaccessv2/pa-applicationsummary.aspx?applicationnumber=W/27383

    This article appeared in the localpaper this week with Matt78 in a prominent role!

    Railway plans for new platform on outskirts | This is South Wales

    A mega shunt this week has cleared the extension of rolling stock to allow works trains to access the railhead.

    In other news the brake coach (BSK) has now left the shed after repairs and a repaint and the vintage carriages have returned undercover for further work over the winter.

    Regards

    Matt
     
  5. Phil_Guard

    Phil_Guard Member

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  6. Bulleid Pacific

    Bulleid Pacific Part of the furniture

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    The locking room floor inside the signal box at Bronwydd has been renewed in preparation for accepting the new linkages associated with the extension. A tidy job indeed!

    For the family-orientated amongst you, our Santa season starts on December 1, and will run every weekend until December 23. There will be a discounted fare on the first weekend. Space is limited, so advance booking is essential.
     
  7. Matt78

    Matt78 Well-Known Member

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    update
    3 photos in sequence on the extension, looking north, towards Bronwydd. Levelling of the trackbed is underway and further work is planned next week to grade embankments, clear ditches etc ahead of the start of tracklaying. The photos do illustrate just how close the railway will be to the river, enjoying unhindered views from the train.

    more news as it happens

    regards

    Matt
     

    Attached Files:

  8. dampflok

    dampflok Member

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    Keep up the good work .
     
  9. Phil_Guard

    Phil_Guard Member

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    For those who are interested, this Thursday (13th December) Iain McCall will be giving a talk to the Bath Railway Society about the Gwili Railway. The meeting will be held in the booking hall of the former Bath Green Park station - doors open at 1900, and the meeting starts at 1930. Non-members are particularly welcome, at a cost of £2 on the door. Further details are available at Home. Iain is a past financial director of the railway, and should be a very interesting talk.

    Meanwhile, the 2012 "Santa's Magical Steamings" programme is in full swing - D2178 and Haulwen are the rostered locos.

    Don't forget that the railway is also open after Christmas, for two 'normal' running days on 29th/30th December. For these two days only, trains will be running between Bronwydd Arms and Llwyfan Cerrig only - this is due to rolling stock (normally parked on the Southern extension) being temporarily stored in the platform road and loop at Danycoed. This 'juggling of toys in the cupboard' is however allowing plenty of progress on the Southern extension this Winter (see Matt's pictures). Haulwen is the rostered loco for the post-Christmas services.

    Cheers,

    Phil.
     
  10. Matt78

    Matt78 Well-Known Member

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  11. Matt78

    Matt78 Well-Known Member

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    brief update-

    drainage work on the extension is now completed. Scarifying(preparing) the trackbed starts tomorrow followed by placement of sleepers for tracklaying.....

    03 failed last weekend so santa trains were topped and tailed with Haulwen and Jennifer, bookings continue to be healthy.

    Regards

    Matt
     
  12. Matt78

    Matt78 Well-Known Member

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    (another!) update

    The Planning Application for our new platform at Carmarthen has now been awarded...

    eAccess - Public Access

    Picture attached of the platform site (to the left, photo looking back towards Bronwydd)

    Regards

    Matt
     

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  13. dampflok

    dampflok Member

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    A pleasent location especially with the trees in the background.
     
  14. gwilialan

    gwilialan Well-Known Member

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    A couple more photo's of progress and to show one of the sights on the extension. Both were taken from the same spot. The tree stumps on the river side of the trackbed are actually growing out of a 3 metre high embankment wall. By leaving the stumps we minimised the risk of damaging the wall when felling the trees. Now we can remove what is left with much less risk to the wall.


    PC180090.JPG PC180091.JPG
     
  15. nanstallon

    nanstallon Part of the furniture

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    It looks as if things are happening big time. A pretty run already, but plenty more to look forward to. Shall have to wait till spring before I can make another visit. Hoping that the 03 diesel will soon be back in good health.
     
  16. HowardGWR

    HowardGWR New Member

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    Those GWR (one bolt) chairs look valuable. Does the Gwili try to emulate GWR track or do you use modern?
     
  17. Matt78

    Matt78 Well-Known Member

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    The available track materials we have were recovered from the Swansea Vale Railway in 2010 so it is more a case of what is to hand rather than a deliberate policy to be authentic/modern. All track is 95lb/yard bullhead rail on concrete sleepers.

    Indeed, things are happening on the extension at last, all the news will continue to be posted as it happens so watch this space....

    Regards

    Matt
     
  18. Steve

    Steve Resident of Nat Pres Friend

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    I don't think they are ex GWR. Look like CS1 chairs on concrete sleepers to me.
     
  19. JWKB

    JWKB Member

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    I think you are right in saying thats is concret sleeper and standard rail. We do have a mix of original style GWR sleepers where the base and the chair are cast in one. In fact we have a little display at Llwyfan showing the different styles of sleepers (5 at the last count) that have been used on the line. I will get a picture on Sunday if anyone is interested ?
     
  20. Matt78

    Matt78 Well-Known Member

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    Santa Specials concluded today, and this year has broken all records with over 6,000 passengers beating our previous best by some distance. This end to the year takes our figures for the year to over 28,000 (another record, and 2 days to go!)

    So a really good end to the year for the Gwili, and watch out for more good news in the early part of 2013.

    Happy Christmas to all,

    Regards

    Matt
     

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