Founders’ Day train 2022 – Talyllyn Railway

The annual Talyllyn Railway Founders’ Day train ran on Saturday 14 May.

The Talyllyn Railway was the first preserved railway in the world, and is known affectionately as ‘The Railway with a Heart of Gold’. This name comes from the title of a film released in 1965, much of which was shot in 1953 in the early days of the Preservation Society.

A number of Talyllyn Railway supporters who signed up to make a regular monthly donation to the Society form the membership of our ‘Heart of Gold’ Group. They receive exclusive benefits, such as an invitation to travel on the Founders’ Day train and a special edition of the Talyllyn Railway enamel badge.

The Founders’ Day Train this year ran on Saturday 14 May. David Mitchell, our Society President, sent the train off by cutting a ceremonial tape using the original ribbon first used 71 years ago no less. It’s been carefully re-sewn several times now! The guests enjoyed a double headed train ride up the line, hauled by locos No 4 Edward Thomas and No 3 Sir Haydn. The trip included a pause at Tŷ Dŵr for No.4 to take water.

Three men with a white ribbon standing in front of a steam engine — TRPS President David Mitchell cuts the ribbon to send off the Founders’ Day Train, held by Ian Drummond, Chairman of the Heritage Group and Jonathan Mann, TRPS Chairman, who also drove the leading Loco No. 4. Photo Stuart Williams.

Tŷ Dŵr is the newly reconstructed watering point, located on what was the ‘mineral’ section of the railway beyond the original terminating point for passenger trains at Abergynolwyn. It fell into disrepair and was dismantled in the 1950s, and the faithful restoration of the old Tŷ Dŵr watering point was one of the first objectives of the Talyllyn Railway heritage group in response to the railway becoming a part of the newly conferred UNESCO ‘Llechi Welsh Slate Landscape’ heritage status.

A group of people and a train by a slate water column. — Loco No 4 Edward Thomas takes on water at the newly reconstructed Tŷ Dŵr. Photo Stuart Williams.

Talyllyn Railway Preservation Society Chairman, Jonathan Mann, said:

‘It was wonderful to be able to celebrate our Founders’ Day in a more normal manner this year. A good number of members attended, including one gentleman who had with him a photograph taken when he was a young boy, standing in the Guard’s van on the Railway in 1947. This scene was quickly recreated with him standing once again in the van for a photograph, much to his delight.Another recreated scene – the use of the recreated Tŷ Dŵr watering point – was a particular highlight of the journey, No 4 having been the last locomotive known to have used it before it was taken out of use. I would like to record my thanks to the Heritage Group for their splendid and continuing work in enhancing our Railway.’

Later in the year, the railway will be running a number of special trains available to anyone interested in learning more about the slate heritage of the line. On our Preservation Pioneers train, an experienced guide will travel on the train throughout the journey, pointing out interesting features and answering questions. This journey of discovery offers the chance to learn more about the inspirational story of how a small group of dedicated people discovered a little railway, lost in time, about to be forgotten, and decided it needed to survive. Their ingenuity and determination has made the Talyllyn Railway what it is today.

For further information about this press release please e-mail: [email protected] or phone 01654 710472.