60th Anniversary Celebrations start in style!

Events so far...

On 6 October, we ran a train to commemorate the last train of the Hadyn Jones era, using the original TR carriages and Loco No 1 Talyllyn.  No 2 Dolgoch was the original engine used but she's currently unavailable due to her overhaul.  On the original 'last train' the brake van was marshelled to the back of the train to allow Mr H J Stretton-Ward to film the railway from the van. We like to keep up with tradition so the brake van was moved to the back of the train at Abergynolwyn for the journey down.

The next outing was to the Severn Valley Railway on Sunday 10 October. Many TR volunteers went along for a special lunch in the SVR dining car. The engine carried a TR headboard and a good time was had by all, with several people commenting on the quality and quantity of food!

Our actual 60th anniversary was on October 11th. Back in Tywyn this time, the celebrations started with opening the 60th Anniversary Exhibition at the Narrow Gauge Railway Museum. Following this we ran a special train up the line with invited guests from the early preservation societies and TR volunteers. No 1 Talyllyn, the TR coaches and Van 5 were pressed into service once more for this train.

Thank you to the Birmingham Post who published an excellent article about the TR on 15 October. You can read it online (and see some pictures) by visiting their website - Birmingham Post 'How the Post inspired the world's first preservation society'

The next major events start in May 2011 when we'll be celebrating 60 years of running the first trains in railway preservation. No 2 Dolgoch will be the 'star guest' back in service after her overhaul. There will be plenty of special trains, a beer festival and an all night steam to look forward to next year  - keep an eye out on our website for further details.

Thanks to B Fuller, G Jones and M Smith for the pictures.

Hadyn Jones train at Pendre

Haydn Jones train with the brake van at the 'wrong' end of the train

Severn Valley Railway train with headboard

The SVR loco with our headboard