Exhibition, Evening Entertainment and all Special Train Tickets are now SOLD OUT – but don’t let that put you off from visiting and having a great event. Our regular train services still have tickets available and there is plenty to do on the day such as shuttle rides with Fred and the Exhibition at Abergynolwyn!
The Awdry Extravaganza celebrates the life and work of Rev. Wilbert Awdry, creator of Thomas the Tank Engine. Running over the weekend of July 20th-21st, this popular event promises to be full of fun for fans of all ages. With special trains, talks, exhibitions and livestreams, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. Full details below.
FRIDAY
To build up to the excitement of the Awdry Extravaganza, Fred’s Special Train will be departing Tywyn Wharf at 3:30pm.
This trip will provide the chance for some unique photo opportunities and a special surprise on your return!
Concludes at roughly 8:00pm.
£50
SATURDAY
On Saturday morning, Sir Handel and Sir Haydn meet for the very first time.
Come and see the Official Handover by Veronica Chambers, daughter of the Reverend Wilbert Awdry, at Wharf at 9:50am.
Sir Handel and Sir Haydn will double-head a recreation of the Mid-Sodor’s famed train ‘The Picnic’ which travels to Abergynolwyn and includes a packed lunch.
Departing Tywyn Wharf at 10:40am and returning for 1:11pm. £50
Departing Tywyn Wharf at 3:15pm, a twist on one of the Skarloey Chapel Trains with Sir Handel and Sir Haydn top-and-tailing!
This offers a quick trip halfway up the line to Brynglas and back, roughly lasting 50 minutes.
Please note you will not be able to alight from the train at Brynglas.
Adult – £18.10 | Child – £9.05
Sir Handel takes sole command of a Boat Express, like those he would have pulled on the Mid-Sodor.
This non-stop run departs Tywyn Wharf at 4:30pm and returns at around 6:40pm, just in time for our evening event! £50
Our popular evening event will take place at the Magic Lantern Cinema.
We’re excited to share a lecture never heard before at an Awdry Extravaganza, as well as to uncover some of the more colourful details from the archive about the development of the Railway Series. Doors open at 7pm for a 7:30pm start.
This event will also be livestreamed
Adult – £25 | Child – £17 | Livestream – £5
SUNDAY
Sir Handel and Sir Haydn unite to take a mixed train up the valley and back, departing Tywyn Wharf at 9:30am – returning for 12:01pm £50
Sir Handel hauls a recreation of the Mid-Sodor’s famed train ‘The Picnic’ which travels to Abergynolwyn and includes a packed lunch.
Departing Tywyn Wharf at 1:30pm and returning for 4:06pm.
£50
Wrap up the weekend’s celebrations with our photo charter, stopping for pictures in some of the iconic places that inspired the Railway Series.
Leaving at 5pm sharp, this is surely an opportunity not to be missed. £50
ALL WEEKEND
On both Saturday and Sunday, Fred will be shuttling back and forth around Abergynolwyn.
Why not join him and his engineering train for a short jaunt either to Nant Gwernol or Quarry Siding?
£5 – Pay on the day, first come first served
All of this activity means it’s the perfect opportunity to take advantage of our Talyllyn Explorer tickets, which will give you freedom of the line on our intensive timetable of service trains.
An uninterrupted round trip takes roughly 2hr 30mins Pre-booked – £26 | On the day – £28 Members travel for free
It’s been 65 years since Rusty was first introduced into the Railway Series, and we’re delighted that the little diesel will be on static display at Wharf over the weekend to celebrate this anniversary.
The Exhibition at Wharf will be a showcase of models, paperwork and artifacts from the Awdry Study, the Awdry Family and Mattel’s own archives.
Viewing slots begin at 9am, and are limited to 25 minutes, with 10 people in each slot. These tickets must be prebooked.
Adult – £12 | Child – £9
We also have a display at Abergynolwyn, focused around Ffarquhar Branch. The Reverend’s own model railway will be on show along with material drawn, again, from both the Awdry Study and the Mattel Archives.
Tickets will be available on the door. £5 – Pay on the day, first come first served
‘JUST LIKE AWDRY‘ DIORAMA CHALLENGE
It’s time to get creative and be #JustLikeAwdry with the return of our popular Diorama Challenge!
1. Your entry MUST be a physical diorama measuring roughly 30x30x30 cm or 12x12x12 inches – we are not accepting digital entries this year. Make sure to include a picture of your diorama with a ruler (or similar measuring device) of appropriate length beside it!
2. Your entry MUST be a recreation of a scene from one of the 42 Railway Series books.
3. Entries MUST be submitted before 11:59pm BST 30th June. You can only submit one, so make sure it’s as good as it can be before submission!
4. All entries will be featured during the Event’s Saturday livestream on the Talyllyn Railway’s YouTube channel. By submitting your entry, you give your permission for your diorama to be shown during the livestream.
You can ENTER the challenge here: https://forms.gle/D9fwvJUBSRYQUeER7 Don’t forget to share your entries on social media too, with the hashtag #JustLikeAwdry!
