Council Report - 3 September & 22 October 2005

There are a few changes to the list of Council appointments made at the October meeting. Following completion of the traditional three years in office, Don Newing has retired as Chairman of Council and been replaced by the Vice-Chairman for the last three years, Gareth Jones. Lis Mann is the new Vice Chairman. We have not lost Dons services though, for he has agreed to become Society Publicity Officer, an important post which has remained vacant for too long. Winston McCanna has retired from the Press Officer team and been replaced by our Shop Manager, Cherryl Statham, acting in a voluntary capacity. Following the election of Garry Mumford as Honorary Treasurer at the AGM, Colin Roobottom has been appointed as Assistant Honorary Treasurer and he will be completing the 2005 accounts. There is a new post, the "Custodian of Society Model Railway Layouts", the Society now possessing two layouts, the Rev Wilbert Awdry's "Ffarquhar" and a layout of the TR at Dolgoch Falls. Finally, and following a ballot, Peter Austin has replaced Phil Guest as a Director of Talyllyn Holdings and The Talyllyn Railway Company. Our thanks go to the retiring office holders and our best wishes (and commiserations!) to those newly appointed.

Catering was discussed at both Council meetings and Council agreed in principle that volunteer prices for most items would be set at 60% of public prices, exceptions being "specials" and certain low margin pre-packaged items. Also presented to Council were the thoughts of new catering staff on future improvements at both Wharf and Abergynolwyn. There could be quite a lot happening over the next couple of years and not just the introduction of chips on certain menus.

The AGM having delegated decisions on locomotive liveries to Council, we had to approve the new non-standard livery on locomotive No 10 Bryn Eglwys (though it is not easy to spot where it is non-standard). Also the AGM requested the preparation of a five year business plan - a working group has been set up to progress this and you should be able to read more in the December News. Another working group has been set up to plan for the Society's Diamond Jubilee in 2010/11. And, following a successful collection at the AGM, improvements are being planned to the Abergynolwyn playground.

Council business for the last few years has been dominated by Wharf redevelopment and we were pleased to hear that this saga is almost at an end, with only a few rectification works to do, and that we could remove it as a standing item from our agenda.

Council agreed in September, with one vote against and one abstention, that all trains should be made non-smoking from a date to be decided by Management, probably the start of the 2006 season, following consultation with staff and volunteers. In doing so we will be following a precedent set by other heritage railways, and it should both reduce the fire risk to our historic rolling stock and make for more pleasant travelling conditions for the majority of our passengers, who either do not smoke or only do so on station platforms.

Amongst items of other business discussed was a letter we had received about certain items being stored in the paint shop, which were getting in the way of the "bodgers" and the "Wednesday Club", As a result, two gas lamp columns should be appearing in the entrance to Wharf station and a signal (ex Machynlleth) will be offered for sale. We were also reminded that the 140th anniversary of the delivery of locomotive No 2 "Dolgoch" fell next year and it was suggested that this anniversary might be incorporated into the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Narrow Gauge Railway Museum, which is also next year.

Philip Sayers
25 October 2005