© Geoff’s Rail Diaries 2011
This was a short "overnight" - two days out, with a very
pleasant stay at St. Davids - just about as far west as one can
get in Wales.
The line from Carmarthen to Aberystwyth closed 40 years ago -
however, a branch to Newcastle Emlyn remained open for milk
trains, along with the southern section of the through route.
When that closed, the scene was set for two preservation
schemes.
We visited the 2' gauge Teifi Valley Railway first, taking a light
lunch before joining the train. It was to be headed by an "old
friend" - "Sgt. Murphy", a rather nice Kerr Stuart 0-6-2T (built as
an 0-6-0, no. 3117 of 1918), which I had last seen thirty years
previously, as a rusting hulk off the track at Teddy Boston's
Cadeby Light Railway. And now here he was again, resplendent in
lined black livery.
We rode the couple of miles or so up the line from Henllan to
Llandyfriog, the present terminus, then back down to the
intermediate station at Pontprenshitw (which apparently means
"shaky wooden bridge"). Here, it's "all out" to have a look at the
waterfalls beneath the (no longer shaky, wooden or sh@$%y)
bridge, and perhaps more interesting, the remains of an iron age
leet - a channel constructed to feed water to a settlement
below.
Most passengers rejoined the train - we decided to walk back to
Henllan, along the very pleasant path beneath the trees, which
coincidentally (!) gave the opportunity for an action shot of the
train. Finally, a quick look in the shed - where Hunslet "Alan
George" (606 of 1894) was being worked on, another Kerr Stuart
("Joffre", 2442 of 1915) was in the preliminary stages of
restoration, and visiting loco "Taffy" (he certainly gets around...)
stood ready for action over the bank holiday weekend.
Link:
The Teifi Valley Railway
This standard gauge line is just a couple of
miles north of Carmarthen, running up the
very pleasant wooded valley of the river
Gwili (oddly enough). The train runs via
the intermediate station of Llwyfan
Cerrig, then on a little further to
Danycoed, a halt and run round loop
opened just two years ago. Although the railway owns the
trackbed beyond for several more miles, a weak bridge
precludes the extension of services until funds can be found for
restoration. The railway also has plans to extend southwards, to
a terminus near the Carmarthen bypass, which now severs the
trackbed back to the main line.
Like many other "lesser" standard gauge lines, motive power is
provided by a fleet of ex-industrial locomotives, such as "Welsh
Guardsman", the loco for our trip, a 1944-built "Austerity" 0-6-
0ST (RSHN 7170), ideally suited for work such as this. Once
again, a smart black livery was carried, this time unlined. I have
to admit it didn't seem to run quite as well as it looked - were
the valves a little out? The exhaust was somewhat syncopated at
low speed, though it sounded better as we got going.
After running round at Danycoed, the train returns to Llwyfan
Cerrig and pauses for 15 minutes or so. There is a little more to
look at here - the fine station building in particular, reassembled
here from its former location at Felin Fach, on the Aberaeron
branch.
And that was it - two very enjoyable little trips on two very
pleasant little railways. Both have given some thought to the
overall visitor experience - both have miniature railways for the
very small (and not so small...), both have established woodland
walks and trails beside the line, with picnic places too. A very
informative leaflet provided by the Gwili is especially worth
mentioning. Both railways have plans to extend - both are just a
bit off the beaten track, although the area seems to be popular
with holidaymakers, and there seemed to be no shortage of
custom. If you're in the area, pay them a visit - help them to
thrive and expand.
Link:
The Gwili Railway
This standard gauge line is just a couple of
miles north of Carmarthen, running up the
very pleasant wooded valley of the river
Gwili (oddly enough). The train runs via
the intermediate station of Llwyfan
Cerrig, then on a little further to
Danycoed, a halt and run round loop
opened just two years ago. Although the railway owns the
trackbed beyond for several more miles, a weak bridge
precludes the extension of services until funds can be found for
restoration. The railway also has plans to extend southwards, to
a terminus near the Carmarthen bypass, which now severs the
trackbed back to the main line.
Like many other "lesser" standard gauge lines, motive power is
provided by a fleet of ex-industrial locomotives, such as "Welsh
Guardsman", the loco for our trip, a 1944-built "Austerity" 0-6-
0ST (RSHN 7170), ideally suited for work such as this. Once
again, a smart black livery was carried, this time unlined. I have
to admit it didn't seem to run quite as well as it looked - were
the valves a little out? The exhaust was somewhat syncopated at
low speed, though it sounded better as we got going.
After running round at Danycoed, the train returns to Llwyfan
Cerrig and pauses for 15 minutes or so. There is a little more to
look at here - the fine station building in particular, reassembled
here from its former location at Felin Fach, on the Aberaeron
branch.
And that was it - two very enjoyable little trips on two very
pleasant little railways. Both have given some thought to the
overall visitor experience - both have miniature railways for the
very small (and not so small...), both have established woodland
walks and trails beside the line, with picnic places too. A very
informative leaflet provided by the Gwili is especially worth
mentioning. Both railways have plans to extend - both are just a
bit off the beaten track, although the area seems to be popular
with holidaymakers, and there seemed to be no shortage of
custom. If you're in the area, pay them a visit - help them to
thrive and expand.
Link:
The Gwili Railway
