« All Events

local_activity
Book Now!

‘Vintage Van-Guard’ – Photo CharTRs

Event Series (See All)

September 6 All day

Flash back to the late 1940s and relive a slice of niche Talyllyn History…

We invite you to join us for a photographic day with No.2 ‘Dolgoch’ at the head of the classic Talyllyn Vintage Train… hang on… Where’s the brake van?!

The day will begin at 7:30am at Tywyn Wharf Station, with the train departing at 8:00am.

A down train with No.2 ‘Dolgoch’ and no van! A slice of what we will be trying to recreate – Talyllyn Collection

The Talyllyn is perhaps somewhat famous for struggling on with the two steam locomotives, four carriages and single brake van that were provided when the line opened in the mid-1860s, without any major additions to the rolling stock fleet in it’s entire pre-preservation history.

For the most part, this never caused much trouble – however, when the brake van needed new wheel tyres in 1946 it left the Railway without a functional van!

Did the Railway get to replacing the tyres as a top priority? What do you mean No?

Ok, did they get a replacement vehicle then? …Also no.

The Talyllyn did what it did best in those pre-preservation years, and just got on with it without much care about who was looking – and passenger trains ran with NO brake van or continuous brake at all until 1949, when the van was finally reunited with it’s wheelsets!

A typical late 1940s train at Dolgoch, formed with Carriage No.3 at the end. It’s single compartment acting as “Guard’s Van” – Talyllyn Collection

This photographic charter will allow the rare chance to see a train as it was during this period, with no brake van – fear not, as we head to our destination we will have a brake van so everything is safe and above board.

The brake van will be detatched and left out of sight during run pasts and staged photographs, getting us as close to the late 1940s as possible.

No.2 ‘Dolgoch’ taking water at Tŷ Dŵr – Talyllyn Collection

There will also be the chance to see No.2 ‘Dolgoch’ take water from the Tŷ Dŵr watering point during this charter.

We will return to Tywyn Wharf by 5pm at the latest.

We hope you can join us for this full day experience!

We recommend that participants are fully ambulant as we will be disembarking trains where there are no platforms or steps. Please wear appropriate sturdy footwear – and bring enough charged camera batteries to last!

Tickets limited to 30 participants | £60

Book before 6th August to ensure this Photo CharTR goes ahead.

BOOK NOW!