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The new station name-board, ready for installation.
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20th. June 2010
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June 20th 2010 dawned another sunny day with clear blue skies. Perfect for the planned day ahead. It was Fathers Day, and for the first time Cambrian Heritage Railways were holding a special Fathers Day event at Llynclys where Dads (and Granddads) were booked to drive the DMU. The event had been advertised on the website a few week previously, and along with some local advertising had turned out to be a popular idea which quickly became fully booked.
The idea was to give the Dads a ‘mini driving experience’ and allow them to drive the DMU for one return trip along the line having first watched one of our own drivers taking a service train to see how it was done.
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By 11 o’clock all was ready and the first Dad of the day was taken for a demonstration drive on the service train by Andy. Approaching Pen-Y-Garreg Lane it was noticed that overnight someone had pulled up the 10mph sign and thrown it to the ground. Fortunately it was not damaged and on the next trip it was hammered back into place.
The day continued with all booked driver Dads turning up and enjoying their experience, and some very positive comments and compliments being made.
Several new ideas were put into action for this event, a barbecue was on the platform outside the RMB and was expertly run by Glyn who produced Burgers and chips throughout the day. A static model display was on show in the Mark 1 carriage which included some 0 gauge models and the Aberaeron Bog Railway!
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We were also loaned a Willys Jeep Ambulance for the day which was on display on the platform and attracted a lot of interest.
Over the course of the day inevitably the trains became delayed, and the last train was brought into Llynclys by a very happy Dad at about 18:30, but even though we were running about 45 minutes late by the end of the day, nobody seemed to mind.
The outcome of the day was a great success both in visitor numbers and financially. A huge Thankyou goes to all the volunteers who gave their time on the day and helped to make it such a great success. Also, of course, we must thank the customers who came along to support us.
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The event has proved to be so popular that on the 20th. we could not accommodate all the demand, so we extended the driving experience part and we are also fully booked all day on Sunday 27th. June, and have a few more on July 3rd. !
From a few comments received on the day, it seems that Mums would like the chance to have a drive too, so we are seriously considering offering a similar event for Mothers Day next year!
So once again, Thankyou to all involved on the day, your hard work made it a great success.
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© Daniel Kirkman
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Part of the plan to rebuild the platform at Oswestry Station is to face the breeze-blocks with traditional bricks, as defined by the Grade-II listing of the site. As seen in the panoramic view above, taken by Daniel Kirkman, this will require many bricks. To help us complete this task as quickly as possible, a sponsorship scheme has been opened where you can purchase as many bricks as you can afford for only £5 per brick. See here for further details.
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5th. June 2010
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xxxxXXXXxxxx
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The January 2010 issue of “Cambrian Lines” - the magazine of the Cambrian Heritage Railways - has been uploaded to the website for general viewing. If you wish to get a hardcopy of this in the future, in advance of its general release, why not join us ? See here to read the magazine.
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6th. May 2010
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As part of the long term plan to merge the Cambrian Railways Trust and the Cambrian Railways Society into a single entity - Cambrian Heritage Railways - a press release has been released regarding the first joint management meeting between the two organisations.
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24th. April 2010
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10th. April 2010
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Efforts by a team of dedicated CHR volunteers led by Richard Boughton, CHR chief mechanical engineer, have now resulted in class 101 power-twin DMBS 51187 and DMC 51512 being operational on all four engines. It is this set which is currently in use on passenger trains oat Llynclys.
Meanwhile, progress continues to be made on the other class 101 DMU, comprising vehicles DMBS 51205 and DTSL 54055. Volunteers are currently working through the electrical system and it is hoped that by the summer, a pair of operational units will be the result - giving greater flexibility and perhaps it could be said, added interest.
As described in the latest issue of the CHR magazine ‘Cambrian Lines’, the sets have been re-formed in order to use what were previously considered to be the two best vehicles. However, it has now been decided to return them to their original configuration, as a compatible pair.
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9th. April 2010
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A further milestone has been reached towards the merger of the CRT & CRS - following the publication of the all-new ‘Cambrian Lines’ magazine. The publication, which serves as the newsletter for the CHR project, has been printed and distributed to members and stakeholders. It will be available on-line here on the CHR website to download as a PDF in the coming weeks. To receive it before it becomes widely available online, why not join us and be guaranteed a copy before anyone else !
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5th. April 2010
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It is understood that CHR member Ken Ryder has sold all his rolling stock that was advertised for sale earlier this year. While several items are destined for other heritage railways, the vast majority of Mr Ryder’s collection has been secured for use on the CHR - both by the railway itself and its members.
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Following its sale to the 6880 Betton Grange Group, Cogan Hall waits on the departure sidings, ready for removal to Llangollen later this week. It’s planned to use parts off Cogan Hall to speed up the building of the ‘new’ Grange before attention turns to restoring the Hall.
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Five wagons, comprising the ‘Starfish’ open wagon, the pair of China clay wagons and a ‘Mink C’ and ‘Mink D’ respectively have departed for pastures new in recent weeks.
Meanwhile, the tamper and Hawthorn Leslie 0-6-0ST ‘Isabel’ (3437 of 1919) are expected to move to their new homes by late spring.
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4th. April 2010
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This Easter saw joint services starting in Oswestry as well as the ‘Easter Bunny’ event at Llynclys, any one visiting one of the services had the opportunity to purchase a discounted ticket for the other event.
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For the princely sum of £1, visitors could enjoy a ride from the Cambrian Railways Museum platform on Oswald Road, across Coney Green crossing and on to Middleton Road Bridge.
Trains were worked by 0-4-0 diesel locomotive ‘Telemon’ (Vulcan D295 of 1955), while passengers were carried in restored 1948-built LMS gurads’ van (M723435), complete with its end verandas.
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Excellent weather sees the train passing the restored Oswestry South Signal Box on its return to the platform, next to the station building in the distance.
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While the Cambrian Railways Society has previously run trains along this stretch of track, under powers covered by the Oswestry Light Railway Order, this weekend’s operation forms part of the new Cambrian Heritage Railways (CHR) Project to see trains return to Oswestry. As previously reported, the CHR is the umbrella body created last year to deliver a heritage railway for the Oswestry area - and which has seen the Cambrian Railways Society and Cambrian Railways Trust join forces.
“we’ve received extremely favourable comments about the return of trains to Oswestry after an absence of four years,” said CHR press officer Gareth Evans. “this marks the latest step in the development of the Cambrian Heritage Railways Project in Oswestry. It is hoped that by mid-summer we will be able to extend operations to run in front of the restored iconic station building, one of the town’s landmarks.”
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Running the trains in Oswestry required no fewer than five volunteers. Seen here are Ken Owen, Matthew Higgins, Chris Miller and Dave Morris (rear) and Rob Williams kneeling at the front.
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Meanwhile, bumper passenger figures were reported on Sunday’s Easter Bunny trains at the Cambrian Heritage Railways’ Llynclys site. “We were up over 100 percent on the same day last year,” continued Gareth. “Served in the warmth of the buffet car, toasted hot cross buns proved to be particularly popular over the weekend. Such was demand that extra supplies had to be bought from a local shop on the Sunday morning.”
In addition to enjoying a train ride in a 1950’s diesel railcar (class 101 DMU) from Llynclys to Pant, ‘The Easter Bunny’ distributed chocolate eggs - much to the delight of younger visitors.
Other attractions on site included face painting, a football competition and an Easter egg hunt. Back by popular demand from the railway’s successful Santa Specials, a magic show was also on offer.
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23rd. March 2010
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The Shrewsbury Railway Heritage Trust is mounting a 50th Anniversary Exhibition to commemorate the closure of the Shropshire & Montgomery Railway in March 1960. The Railway was originally called The Potteries, Shrewsbury and North Wales Railway, but was fondly called ‘The Potts’ by locals. Some of the enthusiasts who were on board the last train to run on the line in March 1960 are now Directors of the Heritage Trust and will be helping with the forthcoming exhibition.
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The Exhibition will display photographs, film and memorabilia and is to be held at the English Bridge Workshop, Abbey Foregate, Shrewsbury from Friday March 26th - Saturday April 10th 2010, opening at 10:30 - 4:30 daily.
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The Chairman of the Shrewsbury Railway Heritage Trust, Cllr Mansel Williams says “The Exhibition will be of great interest to all families who had members who worked on the railways, enthusiasts and to historians of this international railway line. We are intending to display historic photographs and interesting memorabilia as well as presenting the fascinating story of this historic railway. With the agreement of Shropshire Council it might be possible to enter the site of the Shrewsbury terminus of the line at the old Abbey Station, close by. If you or your family wish to display at the exhibition any photographs, memorabilia or items of interest relating to the Potts Line please contact me on the number below.”
For further information please phone Cllr Mansel Williams at the English Bridge Workshop on 01743 243283 and leave a message/contact number or email mansel.williams@shropshire.gov.uk
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18th. March 2010
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As reported in October, the CHR have objected to the redevelopment of the Richard Burbidge factory site, a development that would include the destruction of the remains of the original engine shed and other historical buildings on the site of the ex-Cambrian Railways works. In their place would be a supermarket, cinema and parking, and also proposes the building of a footpath along the current main line! Prior to a public meeting with Shropshire Council, Henry Thomas and David Greig were interviewed, on behalf of the CHR, by Radio Shropshire. Their interview can be heard here.
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21st. February 2010
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Passenger trains may not be running but the wheels of other projects have certainly not come to a halt at the CHR’s Llynclys South site. Tony Warren and his team in the carriage & wagon department continue to make excellent progress on the restoration of two former main line railway carriages - in the shape of a brake coach (BSK) and a tourist coach with open-plan seating (TSO)
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Any member interested in joining the carriage & wagon team should visit Llynclys on a Sunday.
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17th. February 2010
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Work to return Trust-owned class 08 shunter is well in hand, following problems with its electrical systems, requiring rewiring and new batteries supplying. Despite all the work being done outdoors it is hoped to restore the ‘beast’ back to working order in the next couple of months.
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14th. February 2010
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On Sunday 14th February CHR volunteers turned out to work on the Oswestry Station area, to start preparations for the upcoming services this Summer.
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Unlike the former 'up' platform in front of the old station building, the former 'down' platform at Oswestry has survived substantially complete. Due mainly to the ‘up’ platform being destroyed by British Rail when a large class 47 locomotive was substituted in place of the usual smaller class 20, 24 , 25 and 31 diesel locomotives on the freight working to Blodwel quarry. Note the surviving part of the old railway works in the background, together with the old footbridge. This photo (above) shows some of the damage that would need to be repaired before the platform could be reused.
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If you would like to help prepare Oswestry Station to run trains in a few months, please turn up from 10:00 onwards on a Sunday and speak to Ken Owen (CHR Volunteer Co-ordinator) and he will let you know what needs doing. Please note that for insurance purposes you must be a current member of either the Trust or the Society to work on site.
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10th. February 2010
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The programme ‘You and Yours’ on BBC Radio 4 has just had a report about the current trend of claiming open spaces as a Village Green. This has recently affected us when the 5-acre site in Oswestry, next to the station, was designated a Village Green following a public enquiry. David Greig, on behalf of the CHR, was interviewed for the programme. Click here to listen to the report.
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23rd. January 2010
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The new year and the final disappearance of the snows gave us the opportunity to make a start on our new Halt up at the end of the line at Pen-y-Garreg Lane. Here we see members of the Trust and the Society working on the clearance of the site and preparation work for the relevant trackwork. Further work is due most weekends, contact Brian Rowe for details.
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21st. January 2010
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As the more eagle-eyed viewers out there may have noticed, we have now changed to a new website address - www.cambrianrailways.com. This shows the increased ties between the Trust and Society and the setting up of the The Cambrian Heritage Railways Ltd. It is recommended that if you have a favorites/bookmark set up for us, then this needs to be changed to point at this new address. For the next few months anyone using the old address will automatically be forwarded to our new location, but this will eventually stop.
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