A long standing project has finally been completed by the Talyllyn Railway, with the help of Network Rail.
On Friday 8th November 2024 a standard gauge LMS 5-Plank wagon, dressed up in the livery of the local Cambrian Railways, was lifted into place atop a short track panel adjacent to the Cambrian Coast Line alongside Tywyn Wharf edge.
The project originally started some years back as part of enhancing how the Talyllyn Railway conveys its slate history story to visitors, spurred on by becoming a component part of the UNESCO Slate Landscape of Northwest Wales World Heritage Site in 2021.
Tywyn Wharf was an inter-rail transhipment yard, with the slate carried down from Bryneglwys Quarry in narrow gauge wagons being emptied into their standard gauge counterparts to be taken to port at Aberdyfi for export, or carried further by rail around the UK. The last slate export from Tywyn Wharf was in the early 1950s, but various goods such as Coal were still delivered by rail and unloaded onto the Wharf. In the early 1980s the line adjacent to the Wharf was lifted, leaving this important part of the TR’s slate story unrepresented.
The wagon itself was provided to the Talyllyn Railway by the Bristol Harbour Railway, of whom we are very thankful, and was collected in December 2021 – being taken to Stanegate Restorations for a cosmetic overhaul into Cambrian Railways livery. While not authentic for the wagon, it will become a talking point about a very important, yet often overlooked, Welsh Railway Company that served our local area. The restored wagon arrived at Tywyn Wharf in December 2023.
We would like to thank Network Rail for their help throughout this project, for it would not be possible without their assistance. The track panel was a remnant from recent relaying works on the Cambrian Coast Line and was donated to the TR, this was put into situ on the 23rd September 2024 with Network Rail closing a portion of the mainline during the works being carried out. This was repeated on the 8th November for the wagon lift. We are so grateful that Network Rail have been willing to host this display on their land and help further tell the story of slate and how it was carried in the local area.
It is the intention to display the standard gauge wagon alongside TR Slate Waggons on the Wharf Edge, with the side door open onto the Wharf to convey the idea of transhipment. With the wagon now in place the surrounding area will be tidied, suitable interpretation is being worked on and will be displayed when ready – but for now, we are very happy to welcome back a lost bit of TR and Cambrian Line history!
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