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Royal Opening of the Talyllyn Railway's New Wharf Station Building
Their Royal Highnesses the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall visited the Talyllyn Railway on Wednesday 13th July 2005 to open its new Tywyn Wharf Station and Narrow Gauge Railway Museum building.
The station development comprises a new narrow gauge railway museum, kitchen and refreshment room, educational resource room, improved railway shop, stores, Guards' room, toilets and much-needed office accommodation. It has been made possible by an award of £682,500 from the Heritage Lottery Fund and additional funding from The Wales Tourist Board, the Welsh Development Agency, the Welsh Assembly Government, Gwynedd County Council, the Council for Museums in Wales (CyMal) and donations totalling over £550,000 from members and friends.
Their Royal Highnesses arrived in the Royal train at Machynlleth station and were conveyed by road to the Talyllyn station at Brynglas. There, they were greeted by Mr. Alun Evans, Vice Lord Lieutenant of Gwynedd who presented Mrs. Janet Evans; Mrs. Jessamy Alexander, High Sheriff of Gwynedd and Commodore Alexander; Councillor Arwel Jones, Chairman of Gwynedd Council and Mrs. Elisabeth Jones; Mr. Alan Huw Jones, Chair of Bryncrug Community Council and Mrs. Adele Jones; Lord Elis-Thomas AM and Lady Elis-Thomas; Mr. Clive Wolfendale, Deputy Chief Constable North Wales Police; Mr. David Mitchell, Managing Director of the Talyllyn Railway Co.; Mr. John Smallwood, Project Co-ordinator for the Talyllyn Railway Co.; Mrs. Lis Mann, Guard of the Royal Train and Mr. Paul Cottrell, Assistant Guard of the Royal Train.
Having been welcomed to the Talyllyn, members of the Royal party were given commemorative train tickets and they then boarded the Talyllyn Royal train. Hauled by No. 7 "Tom Rolt", the Royal Train departed towards Tywyn. At the Talyllyn's Pendre station, the train halted briefly and Prince Charles was invited to join the footplate. Having been introduced to Driver, Mr. Phillip Guest and Fireman, Mr. Dave Scotson, the Royal train continued on its journey to Tywyn Wharf. In true Victorian tradition, the Royal train had been preceded by a Royal pilot engine from Brynglas to Wharf. This light engine had checked the Royal route prior to the departure of the Royal train.
On arrival at Wharf station, the Vice Lord Lieutenant presented to Their Royal Highnesses Mr. Ivor Moody, Mayor of Tywyn; Mr. Don Newing, Chairman of Council of the Talyllyn Railway Preservation Society; Mr. Keith Theobald, Chairman of the Talyllyn Railway Co.; Mrs. Diana Awdry, Wife of TRPS President Christopher Awdry; Mr. Peter Austin, Project Manager for the Wharf Station Redevelopment and Mrs. Margaret Austin.
Their Royal Highnesses were escorted through the new museum by Mr. Austin and Mrs. Awdry where they viewed the displays and were introduced to representatives of all those associated with the redevelopment project. They then passed through into the new refreshment room where a group of Talyllyn Railway staff was assembled.
On rejoining the platform, Prince Charles was invited by Keith Theobald to unveil a special plaque, commemorating the opening of the new building.
Before Their Royal Highnesses finally departed, presentations were made to them by Miss Ruth Evans, Miss Zoe Morland & Miss Harriette Pink, three members of the Talyllyn Tracksiders, the Talyllyn Junior Volunteer project. They were then driven by car to Cae Rhianfa where they boarded a helicopter that took them to Newtown, their next venue in this, their "Wales Week" visit programme.
Jennifer Stewart, Manager of Heritage Lottery Fund for Wales said: "Tourism plays a major role in the North Wales economy and the redevelopment of the station and museum at Tywyn Wharf will not only ensure the future of the railway's valuable collection and make it more accessible to visitors, it will secure jobs for the people who live and work around the railway who depend on tourism for their livelihoods.
Rail travel has played a crucial part in Wales' rich industrial heritage and, without heritage lottery funding and the enthusiasm of the project managers and local community, these important sites would disappear completely. In maintaining Tywyn Wharf, many more generations will be able to learn about their local heritage first hand."