at Oswestry and Llynclys

2009 saw us stage our second set of Santa Specials, and this year turned out to be as successful as the first. Here we see ‘Isabel’ pulling into Llynclys South Station at the start of the third day - 20th. December.

In-between the children seeing Santa and a magic show (below), steam rides were provided by ‘Isabel’, here we see the train returning from Pen-Y-Garreg Lane.

Part of the days events included a magic show provided by our commercial manager Andy Vance. Here we see him performing with help of a ‘volunteer’ between the other events.

This years theme was the Edwardian Era, and refreshments were provided by our very own scullery maid (sorry Joan !!)

The popularity of this event is shown here with the crowds on the platform having just returned from a steam journey up the line.

Santa had his own ’office’ this year which remained in the station during all the other activities. He we see the children queuing to visit him in his grotto.

A joint meeting of Trust and Society members met in the Old Station Building in Oswestry to decide on the future of the two groups. Over 130 members met, and decided in favour of moves to bring the two organisations together under an umbrella body - The Cambrian Heritage Railways Ltd.

Much still needs to be done before assets can be transferred to the one company in the form of a merger, but this move will help improve our standing in the local and railway communities. It will also help in the application for any funding we apply for.

A decision on a merger will be subject to a vote at a future AGM/EGM. A report on the meeting can be found at the society website here and in an independent report found here, with pictures.

Work on our proposed shed at Llynclys came to a halt earlier this year when it was discovered that the site was within the specified limit of a Great Crested Newt siting. The site was therefore surrounded by an exclusion fence for 3/4 months and checked at regular intervals for any sight of the newts. Luckily none were found, so we were able to continue clearance and preparation work as these group of photographs show.

Since acquisition of the line, volunteers have been busy clearing many years of plant growth along the trackbed. Here we see the effects of this hard work along the line from Llynclys Junction towards Porth-y-Waen.

Following a successful AGM (see report below) it has been decided to further the continued co-operation between the Trust and the Society by transferring the assets of the two bodies to one combined company. As mentioned below a new company - ‘The Cambrian Heritage Railways Ltd.’ - has been registered. Obviously, anything as radical as this cannot be passed ‘on the nod’, so to discuss and vote on this proposition an EGM has been called on Friday 20th. November. This will take place in Oswestry Station Building, starting at 7.00 pm, and will follow the attached agenda. The Society is due to hold an EGM at the same meeting to discuss the same proposals.

Please read the combined letter from the Chairman of the Trust setting out the reasons behind the proposals.

Combined EGM Agenda and letter from Chairman.

To further show our intent of linking our current operations with Oswestry (and further !), Diesel hauled Guards Van rides will take place on Sundays from May to August at Oswestry Station. Joint Ticketing with our operations at Llynclys will be available. Prices will be:

• Adults    -  £1.00
• 5-15’s    -  £0.50
• Under 5’s  -  Free

More details will be added when the 2010 timetable is issued.

While there you will be able to have refreshments at the newly opened Buffers Restaurant, and also visit the Cambrian Railways Societies musuem.

The Trust have objected to plans for the development on the Richard Burbidge site off Whittington and Gobowen Road. Plans include the location of walkways and cycleways along the existing railway line and between the two platforms at Oswestry Station. It also includes plans to demolish parts of the existing Cambrian Railways Works and also what is left of Oswestry running shed. A fuller document setting out our objections can be found here.

This Trust have been following these plans since they first appeared earlier this year, as shown by these two letters originally sent to Oswestry Borough Council. The applications are now being followed up by Shropshire Council.

• Original comments - Jan 2009.
• Comments following examination of Richard Burbidge site - Mar 2009.

The second report includes pictures taken during the site visit, including pictures of the now hidden former loco shed.

The 10th. Annual General Meeting of the Trust was held at the Guildhall, Oswestry on Saturday 26th. September.

A well attended meeting began by holding a minutes silence in respect for Trust/Society stalwart Alun Evans, who tragically passed away a few weeks prior to the AGM (see below).

Following review and acceptance of the minutes of the 9th. AGM, Henry Thomas presented his report outlining progress since May 2009 which was accepted unanimously. The The following are highlights from that report:

• Possession of the line has enabled much clearance to be undertaken and some extremely good work has been done by many volunteers.
• As a result of the clearance work we have been able to have HMRI inspect the track from Llynclys to Weston. This resulted in some very valuable and encouraging advice.
• We have a formal Management Structure defined and are now developing Job Descriptions to support this.
• Alongside this we are developing Health & Safety systems in line with HRA guidelines.
• We are pleased that the Trust and the Society are now working well as partners.
• A limited company - Cambrian Heritage Railways - has been set up under Cross-Border Tourism Development Group, which will help make grant applications so much more credible.
• We are examining schemes to enable us to buy the trackbed through the old Llynclys Station.
• The ecological features of our line are beginning to to perceived much more as an asset and we are working on this with other organisations such as the Shropshire Wildlife Trust.
• We are still searching for Great Crested Newts !!
• Much legal work has been done on the Transport and Works Act Order (TWAO) and we are now moving on to the consultation work.
• Over winter we will be completing a platform at Pen-Y-Garreg lane. Passengers will be able to alight there for a walk along the canal. This will make our rides so much more attractive.

Following review of the accounts Brian Rowe and David Karran were re-elected as Trustees and Richard Jones, Rowland Mainwaring and Mike Rowe were confirmed as Trustees having been appointed since the previous AGM.

Having agreed to appoint the auditors (Messrs Turner Peachey) for the next year, the official part of the meeting was closed and a question and answer session was started where Trustees answered general queries regarding the current state of play:

Q: Middleton Road Bridge - state of footbridge, is anything being done ? A: This will be brought to the attention of Shropshire Council Engineers.

Q: Gasworks Bridge, what is happening ? A: The design is in Shropshire Councils year 2011/12 programme.

Q: What other options are there for the trackbed through Llynclys Station ? A: A number of schemes are being considered. A national appeal is a possibility.

Q: Could the Job Centre supply volunteers ? A: Can be considered, but experience has shown there to be difficulties.

Q: Should we be running more steam ? A: Under review for the 2010 season but it does need significant financial support. We will be lookiing at broadening the appeal for support in the review.

Q: Why are not both DMUs serviceable ? A: Various small jobs and some major engine compatibility problems have caused the delay this year. Should be ready for the new season.

• AGM Minutes
• Chairmans Report 

Gareth has also posted this in the Cambrian Heritage Railways Forum:

“We as a family have been deeply touched by all the tributes and messages of condolence – it means an awful lot in what seems like a living nightmare. Alun really did touch the hearts of so many - far more so than I believe he ever imagined..! Driving past Blodwel, Porthywaen, Llynclys, over the A483 crossing and even at Gobowen in recent days have been particularly poignant for me - the dead vegetation is all part of his handiwork. At no time was it harder for me than on that fateful Monday, while driving 'back home' to my family from Peterborough”

This years AGM has been announced as being on Saturday 26th. September 2009 at 14:00 in the Guildhall, Oswestry. The Agenda can be downloaded from here, whilst a summary of the accounts can be downloaded from here.

On Sunday August 16th. a Teddy Bears Picnic was staged at Llynclys Station. Many humans were also invited and all enjoyed a successful event.

‘Holy War’ (a replica of the loco now running on the Bala Lake Railway) ran children’s specials along the platform at Llynclys South Station. Provided by Oswestry Model Engineering Society, it was transported to Llynclys in a trailer attached to this Austin 7.

Here we see ‘Holy War’, fully loaded, running past ‘Isabel’ in-between its runs along the main line.

One of Mr. Bear’s party enjoys a footplate experience on ‘Holy War’. Humans can enjoy a similar experience on ‘Isabel’ or a DMU set. Details of this can be found here.

The Easter Bunny welcomes DMU Driver Richard Boughton, on Easter Monday, before handing out chocolate Easter eggs to all the the visiting children.

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On the 19th. March The Cambrian Railways Trust and the Cambrian Railways Society signed lease agreements with Shropshire County Council for the eight miles of line between Gobowen and Blodwel. Now that we have possession of the line we can now start work on reinstating the line through to Gobowen via Oswestry.

The official news release can be viewed on here.

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© Alun Evans

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The Cambrian Railways Trust and the Cambrian Railways Society have signed an agreement setting out how the two bodies will co-operate with each other on the heritage railway. Although the two bodies will remain separate, it is hoped that this agreement will finally put an end to any talk of the problems we may have had in the past, and also encourage Shropshire County Council to finally hand over the leases to us, enabling us to continue with the project.

At the end of 2008, Shropshire County Council agreed in principle to purchase the land next to Gobowen railway station, for future rail use. This would hopefully include the use of the coal yard platform by the Trust to bring our line into the station. The rest of the yard would provide extra parking for the station, needed following the extra usage of the station created by a new direct to London service. Negotiations with British Rail Residual are ongoing.

(above) Looking towards Wrexham, the land can be seen to the left of this picture.

(right) Looking towards Shrewsbury, the land is on the right. The branch to Oswestry is in the middle distance to the right of the main line.

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