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On Saturday 26th October by Mike German, Rural Development Minister in the Welsh Assembly, visited the Talyllyn Railway. The visit was arranged in conjunction with Forest Enterprise and the Woodland Trust.
Bob Farmer, Director for Forest Enterprise-Wales, has been the driving force behind the opening up of the walks around Bryneglwys Quarry and the exposing of the remaining relics there so that visitors can understand the activities at the quarry, and the way it led to the construction of the Talyllyn Railway. The co-operation of Forest Enterprise, who own the quarry site and the west side of the Gwernol Ravine including the tracked of the former horse tramway between Alltwyllt and Cantrybedd inclines, The Woodland Trust, who own the east side of the Ravine and the Talyllyn Railway is a very good example of how different organisations working together can develop an area for the benefit of visitors and the local community.
Bob Farmer was keen to show the fruits of this co-operation to the Minister. The visit began at Wharf Station with the party travelling on the 10.30 train, Mike German riding on the engine. At Nant Gwernol the Minister unveiled a seat commemorating the visit and the co-operation and congratulated the various organisations on the project. Crossing the bridge over the Gwernol to Woodland Trust territory, Rory Francis of the Trust explained about the work being done in the woods, which includes the removal of conifers and the planting of native tree species and the opening up of further walks.
The party walked up the 'shanghai path' to the second bridge at the foot of Cantrybedd incline and crossed onto Forest Enterprise land where FE personnel explained their plans for regenerating the natural woodland. The party returned via the horse tramway track and the Alltwyllt incline catch the 12.45 train back to Tywyn, with a lunch stop at Abergynolwyn. At Wharf the Minister looked round the Museum before departing. The weather behaved for the visit with pleasant autumn sunshine, a great contrast to the gales that followed that night.