The Gwili Railway thread

In the longer term, do you have a signal box for Abergwili?

 

Don't know about NR but haven't the GCR now got a pair of bridge spans free (?) to a good home ? Any use to Gwili ?

 

We do have the top half of the Ffairfach signal box which may become the Abergwili Junction box in the medium/long term.

 

That sounds useful, thanks for the reply.

I had my first visit last September, Mrs. Lock & I really enjoyed the tea and scones on the return journey; top marks to your on-train catering staff.
The Abergwili Jn. site has obvious potential and the progress since then (shown in your photos) is impressive. I was told the plan is to provide booking office, shop, refreshments, etc., using the old carriage bodies you have there, so good luck getting that all organised.

 

Pass I'm afraid. I'm a bit out of touch with the current goings-on.
What I can say is that NR has been good at getting in touch with the railway in the past where bridges were being replaced on main line but were still suitable for 25MPH heritage use. If memory serves me correctly (and if I'm thinking about the correct bridge, bearing in mind this is now 10 years ago!) the biggest problem with getting anything to replace the current structure is that the existing is not a straight bridge with parallel ends, it's on a skew, with the (north side I think) some 2 to 3 feet offset so, in plan view, it's not a 'proper' rectangle. I think the proper name for the shape of it is a rhomboid parallelogram (Google is your friend here ) . So any 'straight' bridges, even if they were the correct span, will not fit on the offset supporting pad stones built into the wing walls. So having to match span and offset is never going to be an easy task.

 

Work continues on GWR 216 and as can be seen the door handles and striker plates are being trial fitted before the waistline beading is attached.

meanwhile MK1 CK 16232 is nearing the end of its rebuild at Cranmore. The main work has been replacement of the corridor ends and we hope the coach will be back with us by the end of June.

The ex Ford Bridgend loco is coming on nicely with gloss now being applied. The engine is out of the loco for a rebuild.

Also nearly complete is the new pedestrian access from Abergwili Jumction although sill some fencing to complete.

regards

Matt

 

Any update on how the 03 is coming on? I see it’s been out and about before painting

 

mechanically much better, it was out on the recent “Bluey” day top and tailing with 6430. Cosmetically still quite a bit to do.

 

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/iRqi5TN-y9A

Interesting!

 

I’ve always had a fond spot for the 03. It was the first diesel loco I saw in person. Think it was a day out with Thomas event probably about 18 years ago?

 

It's been an absolute hero of a loco for decades and has run many passenger services.

 

Well I guess it's better than throwing them in the skip! When the railway used to have Thomas events the license costs and conditions got worse and worse every year until we couldn't physically fit sufficient Pax on the railway to cover the cost and keep the ticket prices at a realistic level. One of the last conditions I remember being imposed was that a face could only be used for 3 years before being replaced. New ones then were £900 each. So those there are old, out of date and, as the copyright holder has specified that they are no longer valid for Thomas events, so I can't see any problem with them "...leaning up against the fence while awaiting disposal gov, honest..."

 

I think Embsay were selling them off online?

 

Work continues on the beading for GWR 216 with the pattern for the door beading being completed

 

Barry 163 has arrived in the rain…

 

Also on the vintage carriage front, the waistline beading templates continue on GWR 216. Of course none of the doors are the same size so multiple templates needed…

 

Fantastic stuff matt! How has the start of the season been? The events look very successful on social media. Abergwili game changer!

 

yes been a very good start to the season so hopefully this will continue.

 

Will the owner/owning group be continuing restoration at the Gwili, or has 163 been donated outright to the railway?

 

163 is still owned by the Barry Carriage Trust and as I understand they plan to continue restoration both offsite and at the Gwili with assistance of course from the GR.

With Taff Vale 220 and GWR 216 also nearing completion (and the carriage shed almost operational) the prospects are therefore reasonably bright for a vintage train of sorts in the medium term.