Annual Report 2000

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Registered Office: Wharf Station TYWYN Gwynedd LL36 9EY

Annual Report
and Accounts
for 2001

The principal object of the Trust is the collection, conservation and display of narrow gauge railway relics and material for the education of the public in an enjoyable way in accordance with the Trust Deed dated 11 July 1994

Trustees appointed by the Talyllyn Railway Preservation Society

Michael Howard MCIPS - Treasurer
Donald H Newing BSc, CEng, MIEE, MIRSE
C Keith Theobald - Chairman
A Christopher White MA - Secretary
Anthony J Coulls , BA, MSocSc (Ind Arch) - Conservation Adviser

Co-opted Trustee - Winston McCanna

... ... ...

Education Advisers
Elizabeth J Mann, PGCE
Jonathan M Mann, PGCE

Narrow Gauge Adviser - James IC Boyd

Legal Adviser - Charles EE Fleming

Curatorial Adviser - Gareth Haulfryn Williams, MA

Language Consultants - Beryl Griffiths, Renaud Olgiati, Gerhard Urban
Roeloff van de Molen

... ... ...

Website: http://www.talyllyn.co.uk/ngrm/

Report of the Trustees for 2001

Introduction

This report covers the period from 1 February 2001 to 31 January 2002. In spite of a very slow start to the season because of the disruption caused by the outbreak of Foot and Mouth disease, things improved steadily throughout the year and the recorded attendance was 11,419 a slight increase on the previous year. We thank our voluntary attendants and the staff and volunteers of the Talyllyn Railway for all their help.

People

The trustees and officers named on the front served throughout the year.

Finance

The Trust ended the year with a balance of £216,673.29, of which £149,924.31 was held in the Talyllyn Heritage Fund started in 1999 and £20,000 as a contingency reserve. The trustees consider that the fi-nancial position is satisfactory but that further funds will be needed to redevelop the Museum. £1,868.35 was spent on the collection for conservation and temporary exhibitions. £32,000 in the CAF Balanced Growth Fund reduced in value to £30,067.11 during the year like such funds in general.

Grants

A grant of £709.36 was received from the Council of Museums in Wales for a slide scanner and this has been installed at the home of one of the trustees. No grants from our funds were made in view of the need to raise funds for the redevelopment.

Locomotives stored away from Tywyn

Cambrai remains at Irchester in a very satisfactory state of conservation.
Penelope is at North Ings Farm Museum in working order. It was used during Railway Experience Days for younger volunteers in May and October.
Nutty is at Peterborough undergoing restoration.

Baguley 774

No progress was possible during the year although plans are being made for cosmetic restoration to the condition in which it was exhibited at the Empire Exhibition at Wembley in 1924/5. A detailed condition report needs to be prepared with a schedule of work required so that quotations and grant aid may be sought for this work.

Wagon restoration

Restoration work on the Rhydyronen Van was completed in time for it to be operated on the TRPS Annual Meeting week-end in September. A further slate wagon was reconstructed with new timbers and existing metal work and exhibited at the Warley Model Railway Exhibition in the form of a kit which could be rapidly assem-bled. It is being completed with operating brake gear.

Publicity

The Talyllyn Jubilee Exhibition was retained and improved for a second season. A new general publicity leaflet in five languages was produced, published and distributed and generated some donations. The content of the web site was increased and updated on a regular basis. The documentation of the collec-tion was improved by the use of a new computerised system to standards approved in the museum sector.

Wharf Station

It was reported last year that agreement had been reached between the Trust, the Talyllyn Railway Co and the local planning authority for the development of a two storey building to replace the existing mu-seum building. An application to the Heritage Lottery Fund resulted in a stage one grant of £456,000. Much work is now needed to develop the application to the stage when a final decision will be made by the Fund. This entails the preparation of Interpretation and Conservation Plans for the whole railway as well as the Museum, consultation with interested parties and their adoption by the Railway and the Trust. A design brief for the Museum displays will then be prepared based upon these plans. This will be the blueprint for a design consultant who will see the project through from dismantling the present dis-plays to the preparation of the new displays in the new building. The Trustees will be involved at all stages of this work and are looking forward eagerly to seeing the results.

Financial Statement

Notes

1. The Trustees have resolved to maintain a Contingency Reserve of £20,000 which is included in the general funds of the Trust.

2. The receipt in the year ending 31 January 2001 was a legacy from the estate of Harold Bowtell, a former trustee.

3. £32,000 in the CAF Balanced Growth Fund was valued at £30,067.11 on 31 January 2002 (compared to £34,705.64 on 31 January 2001) based on the mid price of the units. Any gain or loss will appear in the accounts for the year in which the units are sold.

4. The Trustees have resolved to make no more grants for the time being in view of the need to build up funds for the redevelopment of the Wharf site.

5. A designated fund kept separate from the general funds of the Trust - the primary purpose of the fund is to secure the protection and conserva-tion of the Talyllyn heritage including the items in the Museum collection.

Agreed by the Trustees at their meeting on 30 March 2002
Signed

CK Theobald, Chairman AC White, Secretary