1999 News

For the Enthusiast

News Update, 13th December 1999.

Thanks to Chris Price for the information contained in this report.

Loco No. 7 "Tom Rolt" passed its ten year boiler exam, while No. 3 "Sir Haydn" and No. 6 "Douglas" have passed their annual boiler exams. Two air pumps are being prepared for export to Argentina. Flail mower has its new cab and is now painted bright yellow.

News Update, 29th November 1999.

Thanks to John Robinson for the information contained in this report.

Loco No. 7 "Tom Rolt" has had its tubes removed, in preparation for inspection and replacement.

News Update, 5th November 1999.

Thanks to Lawrence Garvey and John Robinson for the information contained in this report.

Talyllyn Tracksiders worked on 29th and 30th October. Work carried out included:-

Planting of the Garden area in front of the Toilets at Dolgoch, including building a slate retaining wall and general tidying up.
Installing fencing to the viewpoint created earlier in the year, also at Dolgoch.
Digging a trench for the electric supply to the lighting column on the car park steps at Abergynolwyn. This was backfilled in typical Tywyn rain, which dried up as soon as the job was complete.
Helping the Young Members' Group to build the bonfire for the Saturday Night bonfire and firework extravaganza.

Council has been considering the planned redevelopment of the railway's facilities in the Tywyn area, and has resolved that priority should be given to progressing redevelopment at Wharf station, whilst maintaining a holding interest in the Ty Mawr site.

News Update, 1st November 1999.

Thanks to Don Newing for the information contained in this report.

The main 1999 running season has now finished; the next scheduled trains are the Santa Specials, Carol Train and Christmas Services.

No. 2 "Dolgoch" made a successful trial run in fine sunny weather from Wharf to Brynglas today with 4 bogie coaches with the air brake fully operational. The line was closed above Brynglas for track work. No. 2 is now passed fit for service, and will hopefully work the Christmas services.

News Update, 25th October 1999.

Thanks to Don Newing for the information contained in this report.

No. 2 "Dolgoch" has now had all its air braking equipment fitted, and was tested in steam yesterday (Sunday 24th October). A few adjustments still need to be made.

News Update, 22nd October 1999.

Thanks to Chris Price for the information contained in this report.

No. 2 "Dolgoch" is all but air braked with just the equalising reservoir remaining to be plumbed up, while the flail mower is just about to have its cab fitted. Locos No. 3 "Sir Haydn" and No. 6 "Douglas" have been striped ready for the boiler inspector, while No. 7 "Tom Rolt" and No. 4 "Peter Sam" are running the last week of the train service.

News Update, 19th October 1999.

Our apologies for the lack of news updates recently. The Webmaster has recently moved from Aberystwyth to Birmingham, and his normal sources of information dried up! It is hoped that future updates will be more frequent. Thanks to Mark Stevenson for the information contained in this report.

Loco No. 2 "Dolgoch" was in service at the railway's AGM weekend, double-heading with No. 2 "Talyllyn" on the Saturday and working a freight train on the Sunday. On Saturday afternoon, after the AGM, all six steam locomotives were lined up in steam, in numerical order, for the first time. Work on fitting air braking equipment to "Dolgoch" is now progressing, so that it can work passenger trains on its own next year. The air reservoirs have been fitted, as has the pump, which is in front of the driver's side (right hand side) bunker. In the workshops, the cab for the flail mower is progressing.

In the paint shop, carriage No. 20 (bogie wheelchair saloon) has had its west end panelling removed for replacement, and the outward-opening half of the double doors removed for attention. More drastic attention is being given to No. 14 (ex-Glyn Valley Tramway), which is suffering from rot and woodworm. The west end has been completely stripped, with the entire framework of the end laid out flat on the paint shop floor. It is likely that new corner posts, a new headstock and a new arch piece will be required. The roof canvas has also been removed.

One of the sets of ex-Ministry of Defence points purchased some time ago has been laid out at Abergynolwyn, in preparation for its replacing the existing siding points. The siding itself will also be relaid.

News Update, 23rd August 1999.

Thanks to Jon Richmond and Mark Stevenson for the information contained in this report.

The extension to the Abergynolwyn cafe opened on Tuesday 3rd August, to coincide with the first of the two Victorian Week Craft Fairs to be held at the station.

Passenger figures for Victorian Week showed a slight increase on Victorian Week 1998 and were significantly higher than both the preceding and following weeks. The numbers of members of the public arriving on the railway in Victorian costume was also noticeably up.

Victorian Week 2000 will be from 30th July to 5th August 2000.

The Narrow Gauge Railway Museum's Great Western Railway slate wagon, on display outside the museum building, has had its axleboxes refitted.

News Update, 12th August 1999.

Thanks to Mark Stevenson for the information contained in this report.

A photographic special train ran today hauled by loco No. 2 "Dolgoch", and comprised of two slate wagons, one original TR carriage and original brake van No. 5. No. 2 is currently still without its cab, following its overhaul, and the train therefore recreated something of the atmosphere of the railway's early years, before cabs were fitted to the locomotives.

News Update, 2nd August 1999.

Thanks to Martin Fuller for the information contained in this report.

Loco No. 2 "Dolgoch" passed its steam test to the satisfaction of the boiler inspector on Monday 26th July. On the same day the locomotive double headed the 16:10 departure with No. 4 "Peter Sam", for testing purposes. The safety values have since been removed allowing the fitting of cladding around the firebox. The drivers side injector has been returned to No. 6 "Douglas" for use next week. It is hoped that bunkers and cab will be fitted shortly.

Carriage No. 4 has been succesfully air braked after some initial problems with the triple value.

News Update, 20th July 1999.

Thanks to Mark Stevenson for the information contained in this report.

The telephone and signalling cables between Wharf and Pendre stations were accidentally cut yesterday by the flail mower, which was working around the west end of the West Carriage Shed at Pendre. Full communication was restored by mid-afternoon.

The peak summer timetable is now underway.

News Update, 12th July 1999.

Thanks to Chris Price for the information contained in this report.

Loco No. 2 "Dolgoch" was steamed and tested yesterday (Sunday 11th July) without a cab. The loco made several return trips between Wharf and Pendre followed by a trouble free trip to Brynglas.

News Update, 9th July 1999.

Thanks to Mark Stevenson for the information contained in this report.

The extension to Abergynolwyn station building is progressing well, with the walls erected and being painted.

Back at Pendre, carriage No. 4 (Lancaster Wagon Co., nicknamed "Lulu") is in the workshop where work on fitting air brakes continues.

News Update, 4th July 1999.

Diesel No. 10 "Bryn Eglwys" is still very much out of service at Pendre. Work on the transmission has continued, but a decision is awaited on repairs to the engine.

Carriage 18 has had its north site door treadplates removed, repainted and replaced. The framing for the new walkway over the point rodding outside Pendre block post is now in situ.

It is hoped in the near future to have a section of this web site listing and illustrating items available from the railway shop, together with details of how to purchase them.

News Update, 19th June 1999.

Diesel No. 10 "Bryn Eglwys" suffered a serious oil leak and has had its engine removed for remedial work. High-pressure washing of the engine block was underway this afternoon.

Carriage No. 4 (Lancaster) is in the works, where air brakes are being fitted. In the paint shop, the framework for the new walkway in front of Pendre Block Post has received another coat of paint. The S&T department were at work between Abergynolwyn and Nant Gwernol, and have reinstated the telephone wires damaged by the flail mower.

Service trains today were worked by No. 1 "Talyllyn" (on the 10.30 and 1.25 departures from Tywyn with a Victorian Train comprising carriages 1, 2, 3 and 18, and van 5), and No. 4 "Peter Sam" (on the 11.40 and 2.30 departures).

News Update, 14th June 1999.

Thanks to Mark Stevenson for the information contained in this report.

Following repairs, No. 4 "Peter Sam" had a test run yesterday (Sunday) on the 2.30pm "Quarryman" service, which it double-headed with No. 3 "Sir Haydn" from Wharf to Nant Gwernol and back to Abergynolwyn. At Abergynolwyn it was detached and returned to Tywyn ahead of the scheduled train.

News Update, 11th June 1999.

Thanks to Mark Stevenson for the information contained in this report.

No. 4 "Peter Sam" is currently out of service with leaking tubes; repairs are underway at Pendre. No. 3 "Sir Haydn", currently running as "Sir Handel", is deputising on No. 4's scheduled trains.

The annual weedkilling train is reported to be out and about today.

News Update, 8th June 1999.

Thanks to Pete Mintoft for the information contained in this report.

The bonnet panels for diesel No. 8 "Merseysider", which have been generously provided by a member, arrived in Tywyn on Sunday, and have been taken to the paint shop for priming. They now require fiting to the framing already in place.

News Update, 7th June 1999.

Managing Director

On June 5th, Council endorsed a recommendation from the Board that David Mitchell be appointed to succeed Maurice Wilson as Managing Director, with effect from a date between October 31st and December 4th to be mutually agreed.

Formal confirmation of David's appointment is subject to him being re-elected
(a) to Council at the A.G.M. on September 25th, and
(b) as a Director by Council on October 23rd.

R.M. Whitehouse
Vice-Chairman

Other news

The museum's Talyllyn Railway covered van is continuing to make good progress in the North Carriage Shed; planking of the south side and both ends is now underway.

Nos. 1 "Talyllyn" and 4 "Peter Sam" were in action yesterday, the former sporting its new paintwork. No. 3 "Sir Haydn" was in the South Carriage Shed, having temporarily become "Sir Handel". Work on No. 2 "Dolgoch" was also in progress in the workshops. In the paint shop, a pattern for casting new "Limit of Shunt" boards is nearing completion.

The pink timetable is now in operation until June 20th, followed by the green timetable from June 21st until July 18th. The Victorian Train operates on Saturdays and Sundays until July 11th.

News Update, 1st June 1999.

Thanks to Martin Fuller for the information contained in this report.

Loco No. 3 "Sir Haydn" suffered a minor incident with a tree branch on 29th May after a night of storms, braking off part of the whistle fittings above the valve, denting the cab roof and smashing the fireman's side spectacle glass. Fortunately the crew were unharmed and No. 3 finished the trip; loco No. 7 "Tom Rolt" was lit up and took the next train. The damage was quickly repaired allowing No. 3 to run the next day.

The new smokebox for loco No. 2 "Dolgoch" has been riveted to the boiler flange and fake rivets are being fitted at the front. A new smokebox door has arrived and is awaiting turning while the hinges, center piece and baffle plate have been removed from the old door.

No. 1 "Talyllyn" made its first outing in its very smart new livery last Saturday (29th May) and ran the barbeque train that evening.

The light blue timetable (8 trains a day) is now in operation daily until Friday for the holiday week. Trains on Spring Bank Holiday Sunday (30th May) were very well loaded.

News Update, 25th May 1999.

Thanks to Mark Stevenson for the information contained in this report.

Steam loco No. 1 "Talyllyn" is nearly ready to leave the paint shop, requiring only a second coat of varnish on the front of the cab, and very minor tittivating round the edges. Carriage No. 3 (Brown Marshalls 4-wheeler) is complete, as is No. 9 (short bogie 3rd).

Loco No. 2 "Dolgoch" has had its boiler cladding replaced, except over the firebox, with new lagging. The new smoke box is to a "riveted" design, not seen on No. 2 since the 1950s.

An extra carriage had to be added to the first up train today (Tuesday) owing to the number of passengers!

News Update, 19th May 1999.

Thanks to Chris Price for the information contained in this report.

Loco No. 2 "Dolgoch" is now in the workshop at Pendre, and has a new smoke box.

News Update, 13th May 1999.

Copies of the revised "Instructions to Blockmen" publication (formerly known as the "Signalling Regulations") have been collected from Barmouth Printers, and the revised procedures will come into effect in a few days time.

News Update, 6th May 1999.

Thanks to John Robinson for the information contained in this report.

Abergynolwyn refreshment room extension work is proceeding well and roofing is underway. Concreting should follow in the near future.

Further tamping of the track relaid in the winter at Ceunant Coch has allowed the temporary speed restriction to be lifted. Some attention has been given to dipped joints to the west of the relaid section.

Remedial action has been taken on some minor track buckles induced by the unseasonal warmth over the May 1-3 Bank Holiday weekend.

At Pendre, work is progressing on the rebuild of loco 8 and on tidying the yard.

Loco 1 is scheduled to make an appearance in steam on Friday, 7th. May for photographic purposes. Varnishing has still to follow before the engine returns to regular traffic.

The flail-mower has had its "teeth" removed for sharpening.

News Update, 26th April 1999.

Thanks to John Robinson and Mark Stevenson for the information contained in this report.

Loco No. 4 "Peter Sam" is reported to be back in one piece with the boiler inspector's blessing, following its recent boiler problem.

A new lathe has been installed in Pendre workshops.

News Update, 12th April 1999.

Thanks to John Robinson and Mark Stevenson for the information contained in this report.

Work has commenced on extending the refreshment room at Abergynolwyn Station. The Railway has fabricated and erected new steel columns, which closely resemble the ex-Towyn-BR cast-iron columns used under the older part of the canopy, and the steelwork which spans between these. Most of the remainder of the work will be undertaken by contractors who will commence with the roof and then construct the concrete floor slab and wooden walls beneath it.

The Vodafone mast has now been installed at the east end of the Abergynolwyn convenience block. This location was chosen because it is visually unobtrusive for the majority of passengers.

A weep appeared from the boiler of locomotive 4 towards the front of the barrel. A test hole found that the plate was still virtually at its 1964 construction thickness and it is expected that a minor welding operation will cure the problem.

The Railway's Postmaster and her assistants again operated a Travelling Post Office in carriage 7 over the Easter weekend.

The 0955 train from Abergynolwyn on Easter Monday, providing a service for those wishing to attend Tywyn's Easter Fair without experiencing the difficulty of parking in the town on that day, was well patronized.

Recent efforts by permanent way gangs have removed the temporary speed restriction at Hendy bridge and reduced the length of that at Ceunant Coch.

Another party from Onley Young Offenders' Institution has undertaken outdoor work on the Railway. These working parties accomplish much useful work and are also highly valued by the participants.

Additional outdoor seating has been provided at Wharf station, primarily for refreshment customers.

Work is progressing on building the replica (incorporating a few minor items of original metalwork) of the goods van whose body mouldered for many years at Rhydyronen.

A group of young members was working at Easter at the site of the village incline winding house; this will lead to a clearer display of the remaining artefacts. The base of the old wagon turntable formerly situated behind the winding house has been installed in a hole dug on the north side of the line.

In the museum, a small new display has been created of artifacts from the Schull & Skibbereen Railway, and also a new display on the Cavan & Leitrim Railway. The Isle of Man display has been revamped, and now features replicas of the name, number and works plates of IMR No. 1 "Sutherland".

News Update, 23rd March 1999.

It is with great sadness that we report the death on Sunday 21st March 1999 of Arthur Johnson. Arthur was the Membership Secretary of the Talyllyn Railway Preservation Society from 1985 until last Autumn, and his unfailing good manners and ability to add personal touches to a heavy load of routine correspondence were greatly appreciated. Fellow volunteers and many passengers will remember him on the Railway as "the blockman in the bowler".

The funeral will be on Monday, 29th March, 1999 at Croydon Crematorium; for further details of the funeral arrangements please contact John S. Robinson, TRPS Secretary.

News Update, 22nd March 1999.

The final set of seminars on the revised Operating Rule Book and the new Incident Control Plan were held at the weekend.

Another photographic charter using No. 3 "Sir Haydn" and Corris Railway stock took place on Saturday. Diesel No. 9 "Alf" was also out and about on Saturday and Sunday with a train for a working party from the British Trust for Conservation Volunteers, who were working on hedge-laying between Cynfal and Rhydyronen.

Daily running starts next Sunday, 28th March, with the yellow timetable (2 trains per day). During the Easter holidays (2nd-9th April) the green timetable (5 trains per day) will operate.

News Update, 16th March 1999.

Thanks to Mark Stevenson for the information contained in this report.

The railway has acquired a considerable quantity of material left over following the re-equipping of Sandilands and Llandre level crossings on the main line (respectively located just north of Tywyn and near Bow Street, between Borth and Aberystwyth). The equipment includes electrical location cases, road signals, Driver's Warning Lights and a collection of various sign boards.

News Update, 15th March 1999.

Thanks to Jon Richmond for the information contained in this report.

Contractors working on behalf of Vodafone have dug a large pit adjacent to the east end of Abergynolwyn toilet block in preparation for the installation of the new mobile phone mast.

Railway staff have removed the west end of Abergynolwyn station's canopy prior to contractors arriving on site Monday 15 March (today) to start work on the extension of the refreshment room. It is planning that this work will be completed by Spring Bank Holiday (1999).

Another seminar has been held over the weekend on the railway's new rule book and Incident Control Plan. Part of the seminar involved a journey up the line on the 11.40am train on Sunday, and when this train ran into a telephone cable over the track at Ty Dwr, midway between Abergynolwyn and Nant Gwernol stations, which had been damaged by the flail mower, there were 35 offers of assistance from off-duty staff on board!

News Update, 11th March 1999.

Thanks to Mark Stevenson for the information contained in this report.

At Abergynolwyn, the station extension is underway. The canopy is down at the moment, and new columns for the extension are being fabricated at Pendre. Vodafone contractors are due on-site at Abergynolwyn today.

An oil leak on diesel No. 10 "Bryn Eglwys" has now been traced; long-distance engineering trains have tended to be worked by No. 5 "Midlander" recently due to No. 9's low maximum speed.

Work on the overhaul of No. 2 "Dolgoch" continues. The front plate for the new smokebox has been cut out, and the lining on the bunkers has been completed.

In the paint shop, carriage No. 9 (short bogie third) still requires some painting at the ends, another layer of fibreglass on the roof, and further varnishing on the north side. The woodwork repairs to the north west corner of carriage No. 3 (Brown Marshalls 4-wheeler) are nearly completed.

News Update, 3rd March 1999.

Thanks to John Robinson for the information contained in this report.

The final figure for passenger journeys for 1998-99 was 91,664, a fall of 8.1% on the previous year. Increased fares and changed travel patterns meant that traffic receipts were only 1.2% down, but Shop and Catering receipts were worse hit. Outside sources tend to suggest that this was better than average performance in a poor year for Welsh tourism.

The Council decided to keep Loco 3 in the red "Corris" livery for the rest of the year. Loco 1 is serviceable but in the paintshop for attention to areas of the green, whilst leaving the lining largely unaffected.

Loco 2's boiler is back on the frames; constructing and fitting the new smokebox is the next job. Loco 4 has had its trailing axlebox brasses remetalled and is receiving minor attention to the valve gear. Loco 6 is working the Sunday service trains.

All diesel locomotives are serviceable, although 8 is not in regular use as rebuilding work is incomplete.

The flail-mower is progressing up the valley and is reported to have already made a substantial improvement to the view of the surrounding countryside from the train.

Outdoor week is going well despite the inclement weather; support included five volunteers from the Netherlands. The work undertaken includes:

Relaying some lengths at the top of Hendy bank and evening the gradient through this and some lengths relayed previously.
Further ballasting and other work at Ceunant Coch; the quarry at Tonfanau closed in the Autumn and stocks are now exhausted so ballast is being bought from farther afield.
Moving "Talyllyn mudstone" from Quarry Siding to Nant Gwernol to improve the state of the footpath from the station to the bridge over the ravine.
Hedgelaying near Rhydyronen.

Training seminars on the revised Operating Rule Book and new Incident Control Plan are now underway. Work on the revised Train Signalling Regulations is hopefully nearing completion.

News Update, 21st February 1999.

The new Operating Rule Book (the fourth in preservation) is now in force.

No. 3 "Sir Haydn" has emerged from the paint shop resplendent in Corris Railway livery. It has been in use yesterday and today on a photographic charter, accompanied by carriage 17, various ex-Corris wagons, and brake van 6.

In the workshops, diesel No. 9 "Alf" was receiving head gasket attention on Saturday morning, before a lunch-time trip down to Wharf. A carrige bogie was also being worked on, while in the loco shed No. 4 "Peter Sam" is up in the air on blocks.

The PW gang were out and about with diesel No. 5 "Midlander" in the Hendy area and managed to exhaust the railway's supply of 'C' and 'T' boards for notifying temporary speed restrictions! An additional sign was hastily constructed at Pendre.

The S&T department has rewired another token instrument, this time that at Pendre for the section to Brynglas. Four instruments now remain to be done.

News Update, 8th February 1999.

The railway's new Operating Rule Book has finally gone to press and the first copies should be ready within a couple of weeks.

The joint membership secretaries report that the "Annual Count" of TRPS membership at 31st January stood at 3746, which is 1.5% up on last year and only 5 short of the record.

News Update, 25th January 1999.

Diesel loco No. 8 "Merseysider" has acquired two very loud air horns, from a class 47 main-line diesel, and has had its cab roof fitted.

The flail-mower continues its trials, with Wharf cutting having recently been attended to with excellent results.

At Pendre, the slotter has moved to the North Carriage Shed and the Bridgeport mill been installed in the works. The lorry is in the North Carriage Shed for pre-MoT checks

Loco No. 3 "Sir Haydn" is in the paint shop, accompanied by carriages Nos. 3 and 9 and van 6. No. 9 has had its roof fibre-glassed, and requires only fairly minor work (mainly on the droplights) before re-entering service. The underframe repairs to van 6 (ex-Corris) have been completed and it is being completely repainted.

The underframe for the Museum's ex-Talyllyn covered van (now under restoration after approximately 60 years grounded behind Rhydyronen bridge) is complete though the brake gear has been removed for painting.

News Update, 21st January 1999.

Loco No. 3 "Sir Haydn" has passed its steam test following replacement of its main steam pipe. Nos. 1 "Talyllyn" and 6 "Douglas" also passed their tests.

The Corris brake van, No. 6, is undergoing repairs to the underframe and has had its roof re-painted; the bodywork will also be repainted before it re-enters traffic. This has inevitably delayed the bodywork repairs to carriage No. 3.

Wheelchair van No. 7 has had its paintwork touched up at the west end and re-varnished.

News Update, 15th January 1999.

Ex-Corris Railway loco No. 3 "Sir Haydn" requires a new steam pipe, which will be fitted shortly. Another item of Corris Railway stock, brake van No. 6, is suffering from rot. It is hoped that temporary repairs can be effected but major work will be required next winter.

The electrical department are busily installing an updated version of the train alarm system, renamed the "train communication system". The brass plungers (really designed for use in signalboxes) used with the old system have been found to be quite worn out in most cases, but it is hoped to resurrect one of them to serve in brake van No. 5.