The Heritage Fund Project

14/01/26 – An important Project Update has been released

The Talyllyn Railway has been awarded a landmark £3.6 MILLION GRANT from The National Lottery Heritage Fund to support the ‘Preserving Our Past, Building Our Future’ Project!

The ‘Preserving our Past, Building Our Future’ Project is made possible with The National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Thanks to National Lottery players, we will be able to meet the challenges of the coming years, by enabling us to engage with new and larger audiences coupled with improved engineering and commercial facilities that will generate income and allow us to train the next generation of experts. There are a number of interlinked elements which form part of the currently approved development plan.

Do you want to help and make all of this possible?

The 75 Appeal was officially launched in March 2024, aiming to raise £750,000 over five years (£150,000 a year) to support this major redevelopment project. You can donate to the project by donating to the 75 Appeal.

New Engineering Works

Replacing the original works where working conditions are inadequate.

Refurbishing the original works

Providing a place to display and focus on the history of railway engineering.

 Engaging with the local community

Engaging the community including schools and particularly seeking to work people with protected characteristics with a focus on becoming an autism-friendly environment.

A Community Engagement/Inclusion Officer

To drive organisational development within the railway, and support outreach and engagement within the local community.

New volunteer accommodation

Providing additional and more diverse facilities, including an accessible suite (housed in a building already purchased).

New heritage display(s)

Displays of the Railway’s original 160-year-old passenger carriages and historic wagon fleet highlighting ties to the local community and Northwest Wales’ Slate Landscape Heritage.

The Project is divided into several areas

Project Updates

We are getting everything lined up ready to begin the project once we receive the permission to start from the funder. We’ll be providing updates here to show off concepts, different options and the progress of the project as we progress down the line.

Heritage Project Managers

Huw Owen

Huw is a Chartered Civil and Structural Engineer with over 45 years experience, working for several major contracting companies during the course of his career. His involvement in construction ranges from large capital projects (highways, coastal defences, river and railway crossings) to the management of several smaller individual framework schemes.  

Relevant to this job include projects at Llanberis Lake Railway, The Isle of Man Steam Railway and several industrial structures. 

“This exciting development, which I’m delighted to be involved in, is going to greatly enhance the facilities for volunteers and the Talyllyn Railway visitor experience” 

Carys Aldous-Hughes

Carys is a Heritage Consultant, having studied a BA in History and MSc in Conservation of Historic Buildings. She has experience working on community centred projects with a heritage focus and has managed a number of heritage lottery funded projects, including overseeing developments at Strata Florida Abbey and Mynachlog Fawr farm in Ceredigion.  

“I am delighted to be involved in this new project with the Talyllyn Railway, and I’m very excited to be helping to ensure the fascinating heritage of this site is protected and accessible to the community”