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The Gwili Railway thread

Discussion in 'Heritage Railways & Centres in the UK' started by Matt78, Jan 28, 2012.

  1. Ploughman

    Ploughman Part of the furniture

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    Most machines have a greater lift capacity over end, but are still capable of some lift over the side.
    You need to refer to the machine specific "Duty Chart" to determine what is allowable.
     
  2. Matt78

    Matt78 Well-Known Member

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    Update

    Gradient posts now installed on the lineside in GWR style

    Regards

    Matt
     

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  3. Matt78

    Matt78 Well-Known Member

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    Update

    Progress on the extension continues to be steady, as well as the gradient boards going in the final jobs on the south points at Abergwili Jtn are being done with the insertion of the final bolts into the timbers. Some rather fetching "bridge strike" signs have also now been fitted to the road bridge (Bridge 5 as we call it).

    The crossing gate repairs should be complete this week as surprise surprise more work was required than first envisaged. With the gates now to be used 6 times a day per operating day on the extension, they need to be looking their GWR best!

    The Ballast Regulator and fencing contractor have been booked for next month to get those final jobs done.

    And the all important item - the headboard for the opening train- is also under production. Absolutely no clues at this stage....

    Shed news is that we should see more to report next week.

    Things are certainly hotting up in west Wales (he says cautiously...)

    Regards

    Matt
     
    Last edited: Feb 11, 2017
  4. Matt78

    Matt78 Well-Known Member

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    SHED NEWS

    Work has commenced! The first stage saw the concrete pour for the baseplates for the uprights today. The next step will see the uprights delivered to site and fitted.

    Regards

    Matt
     
  5. Matt78

    Matt78 Well-Known Member

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    Update

    Lots of jobs going in the extension, tree clearance ahead of the final fencing jobs, telephone fitted to the down home (the signal in the distance in the photo), construction of staff walkways being undertaken. At Bronwydd Arms we are tidying the entrance with new fencing and some GW style gates ready for when trains start running south, and this week saw completion of the repairs to the crossing gates. The final painting will have to be done in warmer weather...

    Jobs plannned include changing two rails on the loop at Abergwili, complete occupation crosings and erecting the final signs and posts (about 5 posts and several signs, both authentic and more "modern".

    All the stops are being pulled out and your scribe is hoping that we can name a date in the not too distant future....

    Meanwhile the shed is also progressing as the contractor is manufacturing the uprights ahead of installation in the next couple of weeks. We are also hoping to install a pit in the new shed (oh, what luxury!)

    Oh yes and we are open this weekend and next week for half term. DMU on the weekend and steam Monday to Friday.

    Regards

    Matt
     

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  6. Felix Holt

    Felix Holt Guest

  7. Matt78

    Matt78 Well-Known Member

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    Update

    Work at Abergwili Jtn to create a walkway around the point rodding to the ground frame. One of the mundane but essential jobs...

    Regards

    Matt
     

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  8. Matt78

    Matt78 Well-Known Member

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    Update

    The next few weeks should see a lot of activity as we move towards completion of the two major projects, the shed and the extension.

    Next week the final holes should be dug for the signage and we have some posts to erect. Some more signs are on order and we can then look at the final fixing.

    The fencing contractor is also due to start at the beginning of March with several jobs to compete the final fencing on the extension.

    In two weeks time the ballast regulator arrives and will work for 2-3 days for the final finish to the track.

    At the same time we plan to progress other jobs such as the walkways and change a couple of
    rails on the loop.

    Meanwhile the shed uprights have now been manufactured and are being galvanised prior to erection on site which again should take place during March.

    Will keep you all posted.....

    Regards

    Matt
     
  9. Matt78

    Matt78 Well-Known Member

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    Progress, progress....

    On the extension after some digging, cutting and drilling the first mile post is now in place with others to follow. The heads will be erected once all 8 posts are installed.

    The fencing contractor has started by inserting personnel gates for walkways at points along the line and has been undertaking some ditching work as well.

    The regulator arrives on Monday and will start work on Tuesday. In the meantime more work this weekend to get the walkways ready for the ballast deposits to make these up

    On the shed front the roof sheets have arrived and the steel uprights should also be with us next week, we can then start going upwards...

    Regards

    Matt
     
  10. D1004

    D1004 New Member

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    Getting close to booking a hotel to head to the Gwili and enjoy the new extension to Abergwili Junction - the GR Facebook site now predicts a Spring opening - just need the dates now. Great effort by an obviously dedicated and purposeful team.

    D1004
     
    nick813 and Matt78 like this.
  11. Matt78

    Matt78 Well-Known Member

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    Here's a bit of WIBN for a Sunday....

    A few of us today walked the trackbed in Gwili ownership from just south of the old Llanpumsaint station to Conwil (3 miles). We have a LRO to just short of Llanpumsaint itself.

    This part of the line has some great scenery with no sign of civilisation, just the old railway, which hugs and crosses the river Gwili three times during the route. Not a house in sight until the last quarter of a mile before Llanpumsaint.

    Included are pictures of two of the three bridges. One is a brick arch and the other an iron structure which appears to be WW1 and post dates the line's construction.

    Some of the trackbed at the south end has recently been cleared as part of our ongoing maintenance of this stretch.

    Once we recover from the Abergwili Jtn opening we can start thinking about going north but there are a total of 7 bridges between the present end of the line and Llanpumsaint...

    Regards

    Matt
     

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    Last edited: Mar 5, 2017
  12. flying scotsman123

    flying scotsman123 Resident of Nat Pres

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    Thanks for that Matt, looks like a super extension for the future! What condition are the bridges and embankment in though, we at GWSR know all to well about cost of those!
     
  13. Matt78

    Matt78 Well-Known Member

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    One thing about our line is that it appears to be well constructed with solid and substantial rock embankments, an impressive feat when you consider that would have been done by hand.

    The bridges are a mixed bag. We have 5 stone arch bridges and 3 girder bridges. One of the latter (just north of the present end of line) appears to be original wrought iron from 1860. The other two appear to have been renewed at a later point (around WW1 is the guess). Many of the bridges were strengthened in the 1950's when the Royal Train visited.

    However they all need work to a greater or lesser degree. The costs for the bridges are therefore going to be significant so they may get done one at a time and we extend the line bit by bit. However for now the focus is of course to get the present extension open...

    Regards

    Matt
     
  14. Felix Holt

    Felix Holt Guest

    As raised before on here, the continued slow but steady march of the TRAWS campaign does have potential impact on the Gwili.
    Is there anything substantial yet from the campaign about an alternative route out of Caerfyrddin/Carmarthen?
     
  15. Matt78

    Matt78 Well-Known Member

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    Nothing of substance as far as I know. The full report (350k) is to be produced at some point.

    Regards

    Matt
     
  16. paulhitch

    paulhitch Guest

    Suspect it is probably W.I.B.N.

    PH
     
  17. Felix Holt

    Felix Holt Guest

    People have been saying that on here for many months - I think you may be underestimating the likelihood that this may indeed happen.
    Nevertheless, it would be good to know whether Traws and the Gwili have an understanding about the trackbed that the Gwili currently owns.....
     
  18. Matt78

    Matt78 Well-Known Member

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    The "plan" includes an alternative route around the "dog leg" section between Abergwili and Llanpumsaint that the Gwili occupies. However as this would be a political as opposed to an economically justified opening one can never tell what the final outcome would be. There is now a suggestion in the press at least that it could be a prime candidate for a "light metro" type system.

    Gwili intend to continue with our plans in full and take part in the study putting our view forward.

    EDIT by way of background we made representations to TLC early on in the campaign to ensure the protection of our route. Aside from this we have a couple of other things in our favour ; firstly the Light Railway Order and secondly the planning policy of Carmarthenshire CC prohibits any development which would prejudice the ability of GR to extend north (and south). If CCC were to support TLC using our "bit" then this would involve a change in planning policy. None of this is cast iron of course - see comments above.

    Regards

    Matt
     
    Last edited: Mar 6, 2017
  19. gwilialan

    gwilialan Well-Known Member

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    In reply to @Felix Holt there have been several ideas floated for getting the line out of Carmarthen. Everything from following the old line which runs alongside the north of the A40, crossing the river somewhere south of Abetgwili and then running up the east side of the Gwili valley to digging a tunnel from just after the line has crossed the river leaving Carmarthen station to emerge somewhere around Llanpumsaint! Leaving Carmarthen and entering Aberystwyth seem to be two of the major problems on the route.

    There have also been suggestions that if they do chose to re use our trackbed they would need to double the track, at least in the southern section towards Carmarthen. See attached photo (Taken Dec 2012 while we were clearing all the undergrowth) and wonder just where the second track would fit! The embankment to the right is bedrock and, shall we say, some "significant drainage" would be needed on the left!

    For those that may not know, £300k has just been allocated by Carmarthen CC for a full feasibility study for the reinstatement of the line. I have a feeling this might throw up some surprises for them. e.g. The initial pre-feasibility feasibility study (yes!) has noted that there would be 10 or so culverts along the line to be fully inspected... Considering we have 22 culverts between Abergwili and Dan y Coed I think their estimates might be a little optimistic! (To us a culvert is anything between 450mm and 1800mm diameter. Anything smaller is a drain and bigger is a bridge). I haven't beaten my way through the fence line brambles on the Conwil section to see what is actually there yet but I have found three more on the section just north of Conwil without really looking! As the line is built along the side of quite steep valleys what can you expect?

    My personal opinion is that it is very difficult to see how the reinstatement of this line for practical purposes would be justified. However, as Matt has said above, if it becomes politically driven who knows? Could we see the Gwili TOC running (highly subsidised?) scheduled steam services? or an AberCar tramlink? or...
     

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    Last edited: Mar 5, 2017
  20. SpudUk

    SpudUk Well-Known Member

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    Is there significant demand for a rail route between Carmarthen and Aberystwyth? Just doesn't feel remotely feasible to me
     

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