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NEWSLETTER issue no.25
Photo by John R Jones
Issue 3 - 2017
www.rheidolrailway.co.uk
Telephone us: 01970 625 819 - Park Avenue, Aberystwyth SY23 1PG Regular steam train services running throughout the year
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Upcoming Events Summer Evening Excursion ‘Driver for a Fiver’
On our green timetable days during May, July & August we will be running summer evening excursion trains to Devil’s Bridge, where you can combine your visit with a fish & chip supper
Between 29 May & 1 June and from 17 July to 31 August we will be offering ‘Driver for a Fiver’ at our Devil’s Bridge Station during yellow and green timetable days
Vale of Rheidol Newsletter Covering news and events from March & April
Contents: Page 3 - Vale of Rheidol News Page 6 - Volunteers Update Page 7 - The Mines of the Rheidol Valley
Editorial For the first time during the Easter fortnight we have operated our yellow timetable which has been well supported.
Locomotive No.8 has been welcomed back to traffic, after its 10 yearly overhaul. The engine has been modified to hide the air Page 11 - A Day in the Life Of The Permanent pump, which has been well received with Way Dog lots of positive comments. Page 9 - Things to do
Page 12 - A Day in the Life Of The Permanent Several members of our staff have attended Way Team customer service training with World Host. Additionally Will Smith and the Editor Page 13 - Workshop Updates have attended a customer service course run by the Great Little Trains of Wales, this Page 15 - Pictures from the Month will allow us to train new staff in house to ensure our customer service standards are Page 18 - Trees of the Vale maintained. Page 19 - A Photo from the Archives Page 20 - Permanent Way Update Page 21 - The Aberayron Extension Page 23 - Shop Products of the Month Page 24 - Garden Railway Products of the Month Page 25 - About Our Staff Page 26 - Things to do Page 27 - Readers’ Mail & Classifieds
If you have any feedback on our newsletter, then please let us know by sending an email to the following address: newsletter@ rheidolrailway.co.uk Thanks for taking the time to read our newsletter and for giving valuable feedback on your opinions, our readers’ input is an integral part of improving our newsletter. We all look forward to seeing those of you who visit us throughout the coming year and hope you enjoy reading this edition of our newsletter. Gareth Jones Newsletter Editor
Page 28 - Upcoming Events Page 29 - Timetable Page 30 - Ever Wanted to Charter a Train?
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Vale of Rheidol Railway News THE GREAT LITTLE TRAINS OF WALES OFFER EXCELLENT CUSTOMER SERVICE
their imagination. Collaborating in this way is going to help each railway share ideas on how to deliver these levels of excellent service and sustain them for people to visit and enjoy in the future.”
Eleven Welsh Narrow Gauge railways have shown a commitment to excellence in customer service, by launching a training programme for their staff and volunteers. Grant funding from the UK Government Department for Transport’s Heritage and Community Rail Tourism Innovation Competition has enabled the Great Little Trains of Wales to develop the “Service with Spirit” programme. The programme was designed by the railways, in collaboration with, and led by the professional customer service training coach Amy Kirkland of Kirkland Training. This bespoke course has been specifically tailored to the needs of the heritage railway industry. Representatives from the Great Little Trains attended a one day workshop, which covered a wide range of aspects. This included championing passengers, providing good first impressions and making a lasting impression on visitors. After the training, representatives each received a toolkit. This will enable them to deliver the same type of training to fellow staff and volunteers within their own individual railway. “We believe this is the first time that a group of railways has worked together on a project like this”, said Will Smith of the Vale of Rheidol Railway. “We know that Wales attracts visitors from all over the world to experience the Great Little Trains, and it is important to ensure that they receive a warm and friendly welcome from the staff and volunteers.” Stephen Greig, customer service manager for the Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland Railways, added: “It is essential that we are always improving our standards, to provide an experience for our visitors that exceeds their expectations and captures
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Amy Kirkland, of Kirkland Training, said: “The training will help ensure consistency in levels of service across the 11 railways by reinforcing the Great Little Trains of Wales standards. The aim is not to make each railway uniform, but to encourage them to celebrate and share their individual history, and heritage whilst ensuring that visitor expectations are exceeded.” Welsh Government Economy Secretary Ken Skates said: “Frontline staff are the first impression that visitors get of an attraction, and the welcome and service they receive leaves a lasting impression of Wales as a destination. Great Little Trains are to be congratulated for this initiative, which will ensure that visitors to our narrow gauge railways will gain a greater understanding behind the epic story of our railways, during Wales’ Year of Legends this year.” In 2016, the Great Little Trains of Wales secured a £67,000 grant from the UK Government Department for Transport’s Heritage and Community Rail Tourism Innovation Competition. The grant enabled the group to publish a new guidebook called “Big Train meets Little Train” and accompanying website www. bigtrainlittletrain.com encouraging visitors to visit the “Great Little Trains of Wales” and many other Welsh attractions by public transport, as well as enabling the development of the Service with Spirit programme. Rail Minister Paul Maynard said: “It doesn’t matter whether a railway service is a heritage line popular with tourists, or a mainline route used by commuters, the Government expects customer service to be a high priority. “I am delighted to see the Great Little Trains of Wales have used the grant they received from the UK government, to really take this message to heart.”
Vale of Rheidol Railway News VoR Contracted to Restore Iconic WW1 Trench Engine
The Vale of Rheidol Railway is to complete the restoration of Baldwin Locomotive ‘794’ on behalf of the Welsh Highland Heritage Railway and Imperial War Museum, bringing back a class of engine not seen in Wales for 75 years. The engine is to be restored as ‘590’ to bring back the past of the old Welsh Highland Railway, and once completed will run on the Welsh Highland Heritage Railway between Porthmadog and Pen-Y-Mount. Built in January 1917, at The Baldwin Locomotive Works in Philadelphia, USA, as works number 44699, the engine is a 4-6-0T of the Baldwin class 10-12-D. Given the number 794, like many of its class the engine was shipped to Europe for use with the Railway Operating Division, in support of the ever changing front lines. In total 495 locomotives in this class were ordered from Baldwin and delivered to Europe, of which nine engines were lost in transhipment. The engines were rugged and generally reliable in service, designed to operate on temporary tracks to the rear of allied forces. The uneven tracks used by the War Department Light Railways led to occasional derailments when the engines were running in reverse; this was believed to be as the engines had no trailing truck under the footplate. The engines were also known to derail themselves when left for any period on the uneven tracks of the western front; this was due to the water transferring via the balance pipe from the higher side tank to the lower one, which caused the engines to fall over sideways.
After service on the Western Front during 1917-18 (exact whereabouts unknown) ‘794’ was one of a group of 50 similar locomotives sent to India by the government for service in the North West Frontier area, in modernday Pakistan. It subsequently found its way to the Daurala Light Railway, about 50 miles north west of Delhi, and hence to the nearby Khatauli Sugar Plantation, where it became their no 1 and received the name ‘Tiger’. Repatriated to the UK in about 1985, the Locomotive is owned by The Imperial War Museum. In June 2004, ‘794’ arrived on the Welsh Highland Heritage Railway, Porthmadog, where restoration began. The restoration of the engine will be taken to completion within our workshop at Aberystwyth, this being conducted in cooperation with the Imperial War Museum (engine owner) and The Welsh Highland Heritage Railway (engine custodian). Working on this engine will add the VoR to the long history of this engine as it enters its 100th anniversary year, a history the VoR is proud to now be a part of. VoR General Manager & Chief Engineer, Llyr Ap Iolo said ‘I am very pleased that the VoR has been awarded this prestigious contract and our engineering team are looking forward to restoring this historic engine’. Once complete the engine will become the second example of the class in steam in the UK, the other being ‘778’ on the Leighton Buzzard Railway. Two other examples of the class reside within the UK at the Statfold Barn Railway, these are currently awaiting restoration.
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Vale of Rheidol Railway News No.8’s New, Old Look very reliable during the 25 years of their employment.
A number of changes are being made to the Vale of Rheidol’s three tank engines, with the aim of returning the fleet of 2-6-2 tanks close to their as built appearance. This involves moving the air pump used for braking to a position within a modified side tank. Other alterations have seen the buffer beam infills replaced, the chimney caps returned to their correct proportions, the cab handrails moved to their original position within the cab doorway, and the rain strip returned to its original profile. The Rheidol Tanks were built as vacuum braked engines. In the latter days of British Railways (BR) the vacuum brakes were in a poor state of repair and considered to be life expired. When the railway was bought from BR in 1989 by the Brecon Mountain Railway (BMR), a cost versus benefit decision was made, resulting in the choice to convert the engines and stock to air braking, using many readily available components. The choice was simplified by the BMR utilising air braking on their rolling stock so it was a system familiar to the railway’s then new owners. The conversion of the VoR engines and stock to air braking took place over a period of two years, the conversion being made easier as all the carriage bogies are identical. The air brake system offers a 30% fuel saving over the vacuum system, which has led to a significant financial saving over the 25 years the system has been in use. The system offers additional savings, as the components are available off the shelf. The Polish pumps in service have proved to be Page 5
The modifications to the VoR engine fleet have all been designed in house by our engineering team. Initially designed as part of No.7’s restoration, the opportunity was taken whilst No.8 was undergoing its ten yearly overhaul to apply the modifications to the engine. This means that the modifications can be tested on No.8 prior to the completion of No.7’s restoration and subsequently entering into service. The way in which we have concealed the air pump is by designing a new water tank, which encompasses a compartment for concealing the air pump. A hinged door is built in to the front of the tank allowing access for lubrication and maintenance. The water capacity lost to provide this modification is insignificant, so the tanks still have ample capacity to meet demand. The overhaul of No.8, including modification to the side tanks and full repaint, was completed in 5 months, a testament to the hard work and dedication of the VoR engineering team. It is planned that No. 1213 will also receive the modification during the engine’s ten yearly overhaul due at the end of 2019.
Vale of Rheidol Volunteers By Clive Higgs, Railway Volunteer After our volunteers finished painting the inspection pit in the old locomotive shed, the weather has been much kinder. Everyone has enjoyed working outside, with very few showers sweeping up the valley as it gets greener day by day. The mud has disappeared and preparations for summer are in full swing.
The daffodils have been dead-headed except up at Devil’s Bridge, where the winterplanted bulbs near the entrance are still in flower. All the station gardens have been weeded and bedding plants have been laid at Aberystwyth, Capel Bangor and Devil’s Bridge. With the tulips still in full colour in the troughs, the stations look very cheerful. Apart from the western barrel at Aberffrwd Station where a jay and possibly a grey squirrel have removed every bulb. So far they have rejected the holly shrub in the centre of the barrel. The 560 geranium plants arrived from Jersey and have been potted in a heated greenhouse. The nights are still frosty here and geraniums die in frost. The plants are growing too big for a single greenhouse, so they will be dispersed among the volunteers to larger pots indoors, until the nights get warmer. The volunteers took a return train ride to Rhiwfron Halt to clear the brambles and scrub above the line. Having an inaccessible station has its advantages! The fencing around the shafts of the Gothic Mine has progressed slowly. All the posts were knocked into ground which is just rocky spoil from the mine. When the fences are pulled tight, they pull the end posts up out of
the ground, unless the posts are braced. We needed many short lengths of fencing over the steeply undulating ground. The open shaft is now doubly fenced off, by both a new fence and the repaired old fence. The pace of work has increased to two sessions a week to try to finish the fencing around the two blocked shafts before the brambles re-grow. There are only two, relatively easy long stretches of fence to lay now. Once all the fences are stapled to every post and the barbed wire is stapled to the top of the posts, the work will be finished. Some volunteers have been racing swallows inside the waiting room at Nantyronen, trying to erect shelves before the swallows arrive. Last year they built their mud nests on treated wood, so when the nests became heavy with young birds, the nests fell to the ground. The shelves are just below the nest sites so hopefully if the nests fall this year, the young birds will not be killed. Two swallows were seen flying around Nantyronen Halt the day after the shelves were up. Everyone just escaped any mud or muck falling from above, just in time.
The car park at Aberystwyth was tidied as usual and its gardens have been weeded. We are now ready for a very busy time in May, planting the geraniums when the frosts end and making an intensive effort at Devil’s Bridge, hopeful;ly between the two May bank holidays. We want to paint and stain the station, toilets, lamps, lamp-posts, fences and the entrance gates as fast as possible in a dry spell, before passengers meet too much of our wet paint.
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Mines of the Rheidol Valley: The Erwtomau Mill By Ioan R Lord
N.B. This mine is on Private property and entry is forbidden unless by prior arrangement. Mines in the Valley are very dangerous owing to the vertical shafts and the potential for them to be hidden within woodland. Exploration should only be undertaken by experienced persons!
Reconstruction of the Erwtomau Mill, April 2017.
Erwtomau Mine was a modern rebirth of the ancient mine of Rhiwrugos, which is located in the ravine of Cwm yr Ogof, near the Horseshoe Bend above Rheidol Falls Halt. The opening of the Vale of Rheidol Railway in 1902 led to one of the nine adits of Rhiwrugos Mine, which has perhaps been in existence since prehistoric times, to be reopened under the title of ‘Erwtomau’. The adit chosen was No. 2 Adit, which lay just above the level of the new railway. Operations as Erwtomau Mine commenced in 1909 under the Rheidol Valley Mining Company, and a modern dressing mill was constructed in 1911 between No. 2 Adit and the VoR trackbed. The workings were reopened because of the growing demand for ‘Black Jack’ or zinc ore, which had been left in the mine by the nineteenth-century miners Page 7
who were chiefly raising lead. To dress the Black Jack and form zinc concentrate, the mill housed a hand-picking table, an Acme stonebreaker, rock crusher, four trommels and four jiggers. There was one Wilfley and one locally-made Green’s Ore Table, and one flat buddle. These represent the various stages of reducing the size and sorting the ore that came out of the mine, so that the washing and cleaning processes could be carried out. The machinery in the mill was powered by a suction gas plant, driven by a Fielding & Platt gas engine of 68bhp. It had a 22” × 16½” stroke and cylinder, with a gas generator, wet and dry scrubbers, air cylinder and self-starter. A 3” centrifugal pump was also included to increase the pressure of water being poured onto the ore tables from a wooden channel, which was fed by Nant Rhiwrugos.
An Ingersoll Rand Air Compressor, for powering underground pneumatic drills, was installed in the Erwtomau mill in January 1918, when the mine was reopened for the first time since 1916. It had contributed 383 tons of zinc to the war effort, with all of its output exported via the Vale of Rheidol Railway. From the lower end of the mill, the 1’6� gauge exit tramway split into two branches; one branch was for loading ore, and the other for collecting materials transported to the mine by the VoR. The loading branch ran on to a wooden stage that projected from the edge of the tips, from which end-tipping wagons emptied ore into trucks on the railway below. A siding was never laid here: goods trains could pause only briefly, to avoid disrupting the railway’s timetable. The other branch from the tramway ended at the tips, a few feet south of the loading branch. From here, a short incline worked by a hand-operated winch drew up small wagons from the offloading area. The railway supplied the mine with its machinery, ironwork, cement and timber, which were transferred from the dropside wagons on the VoR to the small wagons on the incline.
Workings on the zinc lode in No. 2 Adit: note the timber working platforms high above.
Erwtomau or Rhiwrugos finally closed in 1930, and the mill was probably demolished shortly thereafter. Present-day remains include the concrete foundations of the building, including the mounting blocks for the centrifugal pump. Behind the mill, No. 2 Adit remains open, and leads to extensive and dangerous workings on the lode. The main underground stope is 400 feet deep, making a connection from the ancient workings above the railway to the river level.
1907 Fielding & Platt Gas Engine, similar to that installed at Erwtomau.
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TWO HOOTS TEA ROOM
A family run Tea Room, set in Devil’s Bridge near Aberystwyth, with indoor and covered outdoor seating areas, good food and friendly staff. A 5 minute walk from the mythical set of the story with the devil, with waterfalls nearby. Part of a good day out on the Vale of Rheidol Railway. Tel: 07779 450 735 Email: shanjinks52@hotmail.com
Rheidol Visitor Centre Set in idyllic surroundings with beautiful walks and stunning views, come and see our exciting exhibition, interactive displays about Rheidol Hydro power station and other renewable energies. Visit the café for something nice to eat and drink. Open 10:30 – 4:15 daily, Easter Bank holiday weekend and then May 1st until 30th September. Group tours of the Hydro power station are available all year round by prior appointment only.
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Rheidol Visitor Centre, Cwm Rheidol, Aberystwyth, SY23 3NF
Tel: 01970 880667
To visit the 300ft Waterfalls, Punchbowl and 3 Bridges built one on top of the other, turn left from the train station and walk down the hill past the Hafod hotel (approx 5 minutes). The Nature Trail circular walk includes views of the waterfalls, 3 Bridges, Robbers Cave and Jacobs Ladder (A steep flight of 100 continuous steps). It takes roughly 45 minutes and is a challenging walk with 675 steep steps. It is not suitable for pushchairs and those with walking difficulties. Adult £3.75 Child £2.00 20% discount
on Nature trail walk by showing this advert to the attendant.
Not enough time for the long walk? Too many steps? To view just the 3 Bridges and the Devil’s Punchbowl enter through the coin operated turnstile. Only £1.00 per person Recommended time 10 minutes.
CARAVAN PARK 01970 890233
Looking for somewhere to stay near the train station at Devil’s Bridge? Call our friendly staff and enquire about our 2 bedroom self catering bungalow or Gypsy Pod. Alternatively pitch a tent or bring your touring van or motor home. We are situated just 10 minutes walk from the train station and 5 minutes walk from the waterfalls and Hafod Hotel & Brasserie. enquiries@woodlandsdevilsbridge.co.uk
www.woodlandsdevilsbridge.co.uk
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A Day in the Life Of: The Permanent Way Dog by Rolo
you don’t want holes weakening the ground underneath. I find the easiest deterrent is for me to pee on their trail. They smell it next time around and my doggy scent makes them steer clear of the area. They too have long memories of hunting times and don’t want the hassle. My full name is ‘Oicomeherenow’, but my friends call me Rolo. I’m the P-Way dog and I am an important member of the team. I’m the kind of dog called a Weimaraner and back in the day, my grand-sires were involved in hunting big game in Europe. I don’t do that sort of thing, they don’t need me to. Wild boar hasn’t been seen around here for at least 400 years.
I also smell other visitors. Rats don’t show themselves in the day. Neither do the long bodied pine martens. There are a few cats along the line, but we don’t have much to do with each other. Same with the horses, cows and sheep, we just get on with our lives. There are other animals further down the valley, Llamas and beavers apparently. I don’t see them at all.
My main role is one of patrol. From arrival from my reserved seat in the Gaffer’s estate hatch, I’m straight out on the case checking the ground. The rest of the team don’t have my keen sense of smell, so I am the one who needs to go around checking to see if anyone has been or things have changed.
There are some birds in the sky. The pesky seagulls in the town are annoying, but stay away from me. I like the kites hovering above us. Whistling their mournful cry as they circle, looking for field mice. It’s only humans that want to talk to me though, so I am quite quiet in response.
We are in early, about 7am, I like the new morning, not so keen at night, when I can’t see as well. I have a quick look around in Aberystwyth, making sure none of the iron beasts are moving on the track when I cross, before I board our special vehicle. It’s yellow and warm and cosy in the winter. I like to sit on the seats, as they are comfy.
I am also the team counsellor. The gang like to talk and when they do, sometimes they look at me. I give them a look back that makes them want to reach forward and stroke my head. That makes them smile and they feel better. I didn’t have much training for that, I suppose I am just naturally gifted.
When we travel up the valley, my job is to act like a second man. I do this best by standing on the window sill and sticking my head out of the side window as we travel. I can both watch the journey and sample the smells in the air.
Once the work has been completed, the boys put their tools back in the truck and we head off. Their day can be varied, working on the track or the track-bed, cutting back vegetation, or fences. They are always working safe in the knowledge that I am looking over things, checking out new smells.
We can be working anywhere along the line, but what we have to be sure is our yellow vehicle is in what the Gaffer calls a loop for when the passenger train comes through. I check around the area for new smells and sample the land to see who has been visiting. Most animals are fine, foxes and rabbits I tend to try and steer off the railway. They can burrow into the side of the trackbed or embankment and that could weaken it. When you have a heavy train running past,
When we get back to Aberystwyth, they jack up the vehicle and spin it round to face the other way. I think they like doing that a lot. Then I hop back into the back of the estate and it’s home for some food and sleep in a nice warm house, ready for new smells and a great adventure the day after. I’m getting a bit older now and me paws aren’t as nimble as they were, but I still thrill to the thought of my day on the railway and working with my friends, including, of course, the Gaffer.
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A Day in the Life Of: The Permanent Way Team by Robert ‘Batty’ Williams
reattach the trailer and we’re ready to head back down the line. When trains are running we stop at Aberffrwd or Capel Bangor to pass the passenger train. As there are no trains today, we stop at Aberffrwd to dig out the flangeways on the road crossing and blow the dead leaves from the track and points at the station, this helps the sleepers last longer. When we finish this, we put the tools back in the trailer and it’s on to the next job which is at Nantyronen.
I am a guard, but when the trains are not running we have to attend to track maintenance, better known as permanent way. I start work about 7am and help my co-workers to get the p-way vehicle out of the shed. This is a very special vehicle. It was built especially for the Vale of Rheidol Railway and is the only one to run on 2 foot gauge in Britain. We go up the track to check the line for fallen trees and the line is clear up to Devils Bridge. On the way we find a cross drain which is blocked. So it is out with the waders and the drain rods. Whilst I’m rodding the drain one of my colleagues is on the other side digging out the stones that have accumulated to make it easier to rod. Once that is cleared we move on to find that a tree has blown down over night. On board we have all manner of tools including chainsaws. While cutting it up into manageable sections, Rolo, the permanent way mascot looks on with interest. By this time it is time for a tea break, so it is on with the kettle made possible by a gas ring in the permaquip and as usual Rolo is there to hoover up any left overs when we have a quick bite to eat with our cuppas. After a quick break, we set off again.
On the way we find that a sheep has broken through a boundary fence, so it’s all hands on deck to round up the sheep. Luckily it goes back through the same hole it came out of. We get the chain puller, which stretches the wire enough, so we can twist the ends together to repair the fence. Once the tools are put away, we head off again before stopping for lunch. After a lunch break, we continue our journey to Nantyronen to clean out the flanges on the road crossing there. This entails getting jack hammers out and plugging them into the generator and digging out the mud and the road debris from the slots in the crossing which are the flangeways. This mud and debris can harden like concrete, this is why we use jack hammers to loosen it up so we can scrape it out with scrapers, then we use shovels to clear the debris off the road and use blowers to finish off. We repeat this process at all crossings except for Llanbadarn, which is a main road where we need special permission. Once in Aberystwyth we repeat the process of turning the permaquip around. Putting it away in the shed, closing the doors behind us and locking up, signalling the end of another busy day.
When we get to Devil’s Bridge it’s everybody out, because it’s time to turn the permaquip around. This is done by a hydraulic ram which lifts the permaquip off the rails, we then turn it around by hand to face the other direction. Once back on the rails, we Page 12
No.7
Locomotive No.7 is undergoing a major overhaul. The locomotive was withdrawn from traffic in 1998 and dismantled. Over recent months, major progress has been made and a return to steam is forecast for 2017.
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Workshop U We are making good progress with the boiler. The new inner firebox, built by Hatch Steam Engineers, Swindon has been lowered into the boiler and is being riveted into place. The fitting of the stays will begin shortly.
p Update
Other workshop projects
Within the workshop, the team work on repairing and maintaining the Vale of Rheidol Railway’s rolling stock as well as taking on other contract work. Paintshop
Talyllyn Railway No.3
The latest member of our fleet to visit the paintshop is carriage No.7 (4149). Built in 1938 it is 79 yrs old. It was last painted 5 yrs ago, it was also the first carriage to enter service with the modified bogies. The carriage has undergone a full repaint into GWR garter livery.
The main focus of the work on this engine is currently centered around the boiler and replacement of sections of the firebox outer wrapper that were worn.
Carriage Bogies Work continues on the project to improve the ride quality for our passengers through the overhaul of carriage bogies and the fitting of a new suspension system which has been designed in house by our engineering team. So far 3 of our fleet have been fitted with modified bogies.
War Department Baldwin (No 794 / 590) The frames of the Baldwin have been set up on stands in the workshop ready for work to begin on getting the frames ready to go back on the wheels. The driving wheels need to have the tyres fitted and be mounted onto the axles prior to this taking place.
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Image courtesy John R Jones
Photo courtesy John RPage Jones 16 Taken February 2017
Pictures from the Month By John R Jones, International Travel Photographer
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Trees of the Vale by Philip Ellis
There are some fine woodlands in the Vale of Rheidol but they also have problems which the company has tried to address.
seedlings such as Western Hemlock and Sitka Spruce.
First the green tunnel. A decade ago most of the upper section of the rail track in summer was through trees overhanging the line giving no real sight of where you where. We have now acquired large sections of forest bordering the line and working with what was then the Countryside Council for Wales, we have been able to open up some fantastic views of the valley. The second big problem which effects most of Europe is the increasing number of tree diseases. Larch is threatened by Phytopthora ramorum and we have felled a large area above the Rheidol Falls halt and replanted with native hardwoods and shrubs. Ash is such an important feature of our hedgerows and the wetter areas of old woodlands but is now threatened by Chalara dieback. Denmark and parts of eastern Europe have already lost almost all their Ash and we can only hope ours will be more resistant. Oak although not too threatened here yet, can suffer from acute oak decline and eventual death caused by bacterial pathogens. We try and keep a good watch.
Scrubland with willow and gorse
An Ash in bud at Nantyronnen
Ivy hanging from an oak at Aberffrwd
The photo from the train of the north side of the valley shows the ‘Stag’, an area of toxic mining spoil but with his legs and antlers getting overgrown. He is surrounded by a history of previous forest mismanagement. The native oaks, the light brown areas, are just coming into leaf.. Around the stag are some dark green conifers which are inaccessible or of low value and many have been ringbarked, the dead trees eventually rotting and falling over.
A fine hedgerow oak coming into leaf
Now starting your journey from Aberystwyth and just after the Glanyrafon industrial estate there is a splendid area of flooded scrubland with Willow, Alder, Silver Birch and Gorse. Up towards Aberffrwd through farmland there are some fine hedgerow Oak and Ash, a Beech wood and the first Sessile Oak woods. Nearer to Devil’s Bridge, some areas of Oak wood are protected as SSSIs, Sites of Special Scientific Interest, and on the steeper slopes are known as hanging oak woods. After some felling or where light can get in, first to recolonise are Silver Birch, Mountain Ash and non native conifer
The Stag, see text above
A straight young larch with oak forest below
The owners current policy is to re-establish native oak woodland. The bright green are larch just coming into leaf. Overall the Vale still has a huge area of plantations and native woodland and provides a home for the recently reintroduced Pine Marten, the re-established Red Kite which almost always prefers to nest in the top of Oak trees and migrant forest bird species such as the Pied Flycatcher and Wood Warbler.
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Vale of Rheidol Photo Archive
By Rob Bance,VoR Archivist 1986 saw a visiting locomotive to the line, said the loco performed well, and was the Ffestiniog Railways ex War Department even used on the “Night Rheidol” trains Light Railway American built Alco 2-6-2 of that weekend. In this photo we see Tank Locomotive “Mountaineer”. The Mountaineer heading a five coach train locomotive visited for the weekend of just passed Llanbadarn crossing on the 13th & 14th September 1986. It was 14th September 1986.
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Artwork for adverts is to be provided by For further information or any queries the purchaser. Wording for classifieds is to please contact the above email address or be provided by the purchaser. Adverts can phone us on 01970 625819 option 3. be sent as either PDF or JPEG documents. Please email adverts and wording for Page 19
Permanent Way
The Track Maintenance Team
As can be seen from the above photos during complete the job in the required time. With March, the permanent way team has been the daily service starting early April. busy replacing sleepers at a quarter mile Part of the sleeper replacement work has section of the line, nearly 450 sleepers. involved the improvement to the drainage After renewal of the sleepers the track was of two of the crossings on the line. This ballasted, lined and levelled and finished off involved the stripping back of the old by tamping using our machine aquired by ballast, addition of land drainage pipes and the Vale of Rheidol in the early 1990’s from new ballast and renewal of the anti trespass a South African gold mine. This quarter strips. Nantyronen crossing also recievced mile section was succesfully completed in 4 safety improvements which entailed digging weeks with trains running at weekends. A the formation either side of the crossing to great effort was put in by our pway team to improve sighting for road and rail users.
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The ‘Aberayron’ Extension by Geraint Roberts
The VOR originally obtained a Light Railway Order in August 1897 to run to Devil’s Bridge. Even so, the raising of capital proved so problematic, that construction did not commence until 1901. However, this did not stop the company’s ambitions. They managed to obtain another Light Railway Order as early as August 1898, to build an extension from Aberystwyth to Aberaeron (then anglicised as ‘Aberayron’). Despite Cardiganshire Council’s willingness to grant around 65% of the desired capital, it was never begun for various reasons. No land was purchased and the only artefact that remains of this route, is the original map submitted to parliament by the railway’s engineers, the Szlumper brothers. I spent a very interesting afternoon studying the map at the National Library of Wales. It was discovered in a shed in nearby Llanilar and thankfully donated to the collection. I would like to describe to you a ‘what if’ journey southwards, had the railway been built. Be warned, it’s a roller-coaster ride! Don’t worry if your house is in the way, it was probably built after this plan! Firstly, you have to remember that the original station was next to the Rheidol river by the football ground. The car park and former bus depot form the site of it and the original engine shed. The narrow car park entrance allowed the railway to extend across Park Avenue to curve around the current retail park to what was the GWR station from 1922 until 1969. Page 21
This station was sited where the back of the car park sits, parallel to our current platform. More aged folk like myself still remember the train being flagged over the road before continuing around the football stadium. An Aberayron train would also have left from the original station and around the football ground. The old Rheidol line then curved back through what is now the Police station and was allotments and bottle dumps. The proposed Aberayron line would have branched off after once passing under the Milford railway (Carmarthen line) bridge. It would have bridged the river and begun its climb up a 1 in 50 gradient, below, but parallel to the Penparcau Road. It would be travelling through all the houses that line the road, up to about the site of the current Post Office, where the line would curve across, on a 5 chain radius, towards the old Tollgate pub. The line would then head off down towards the Carmarthen line, again on a 1 in 50 gradient. Another 5 chain curve, saw the line cross the Carmarthen line and the Ystwyth river (It is not documented as to whether it went over or under the railway. It then took on another 1 in 50 climb, ending above the Royal Oak pub (now chip shop) in Llanfarian (A village served by the station of Llanrhystyd Road on the Carmarthen line). The Aberayron line is above and on the other side of the valley to the Carmarthen line now, as the latter heads off to Llanilar.
The ‘Aberayron’ Extension by Geraint Roberts
The line crosses the main road here and follows above and parallel to the Tregaron road, down the Ystwyth valley to Abermad, where there is a road turning to Llangwyryfon. At this point, the land curves away in a river valley and the railway follows this rising on yet another 1 in 50 gradient. The line heads off towards the small village of LLanddeiniol, where for a few miles it achieved almost level running. We then head off towards Llanrhystud on a 1 in 45 descent. From Llanrhystud, passing west of the pub and through the present-day vineyards, the railway has another spell of fairly level ground as it heads for Llanon, passing close by its ancient church (land side). A 1 in 50 climb then takes the railway up to the most spectacular part of the line. It runs along the sea cliffs, with the water far below and the road steeply undulating above. A 1 in 50 descent allows the railway to cross the river Arth seaward of the village of Aberarth. There is then fairly level running, as it heads off through the present day caravan park, ending up in the vicinity of the Aberaeron rugby club, where our terminus would have been. The total run is 16.3 miles. On completion of the line to Devil’s Bridge, the railway started to earn money and by 1910, they felt financially ready to ask for tenders from engineering companies for building the Aberayron extension. The railway’s incumbent contractors were the firm of Pethick’s and they duly tendered for the job – and lost. It would appear that
the railway still harboured memories of the ‘not a penny more’ methods that had seen the Devil’s Bridge line delayed for over 12 months, whilst improvements were carried out to the original line opening. Unfortunately, the railway had paid Pethick’s partly in shares. Pethick’s response was to sell their shareholding to agents for the Cambrian Railways, which were of a significant amount to allow the rival railway to complete a take-over in 1911. The Cambrian was absorbed by the Great Western Railway in 1923, who in turn was nationalised into British Railways in 1948. The rest as they say, is history… How the original engines, three quarters the power of our current Rheidol tanks, would have managed is pure speculation. Where would the traffic have been generated? Would the line have survived long enough to have faced Beeching’s desecration? Or would the running of two small rural branch lines have imploded the company? These are a few of the many questions that remain and will always remain unanswered. But for a moment, it is interesting to reflect on what a journey it would have been.
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The Vale of Rheidol’s Railway Shop featured products: Ag Cain Prints Available instore as posters for £15 and cards for £2.50, these original designs have been created by a local artist. There is a large collection from this artist available in both formats. If you would like to see more, please check out our railway shop instore or online.
The late Tom Williams is best known for his extensive black-and-white photographic work which was donated to the National Railway Museum by his family after his untimely death at the age of forty nine in 1980. This collection comprising almost 12,000 medium format and 35mm negatives has seen publication in countless books Page 23
and magazines across the world over the intervening decades. Full Colour 124 Pages Priced £24.95
Call our shop on 01970 625819 www.ebay.co.uk/usr/rheidolrailway
Bowande Engines
Garden Railway Shop
New to our Garden Railway Shop, are these two engines.
Porter - £500
Technical Parameters: Scale: 1/20.3 scale Rail Gauge: 45mm Dimensions: L210 x W90 x H137mm Weight: 1.63KGS Wheel Configuration: 0-4-0 Fuel: Butane gas Minimum radius: 600mm Power mode:live steam
Falk - £800
Technical parameters: Scale: 1:/20.3 Rail Gauge: 45mm Dimensions: L222.5 x W109.6 x H151.7mm Weight: 2.23 KG Wheel configuration: 0-4-0 Fuel: Butane gas Minmum Radius: 550 mm Power Mode: Live Steam
IP Engineering Kits We have aquired the last stock of the following discontinued kits from IP Engineering: Dottie - £40 A free lance design inspired by the Baguley Handyside loco a powerful, but compact loco with good detailing. This loco has been developed using very modern cad cam and cnc processes the kits are complete with all that you need to complete including motor chassis battery box etc. Lucy - £50 The kit is made from cnc machined styrene and heavy metal castings to give good traction. The kit is easy to assemble with MEK adhesive and normal hand tools. The model is of freelance design for operators who don’t like to get wet in the rain and is typical of a shunting loco. There is plenty of room to fit a speed controller or radio control. The loco comes as standard with brass handrail knobs steel wheels. Punch - £40 The kit is made from cnc machined styrene and heavy metal castings to give good traction. The kit is easy to assemble with MEK adhesive and normal hand tools. The model is of freelance design and is typical of a shunting loco there is plenty of room to fit a speed controller or radio control. The loco comes as standard with brass handrail knobs steel wheels.
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About Our Staff years he oversaw the railway’s publicity and marketing. He now focusses on the day to day running of the railway and company health and safety, training, competence management, customer service and maintenance of computer systems. He is often rostered as “Duty Officer” – responsible for train movements up and down the line and from time to time makes trips up and down the line on the shovel or as guard. Will Smith has been a member of Vale of Rheidol staff since 2009. Originally hailing from Norfolk he came to Aberystwyth to study International Politics at Aberystwyth University, working on the railway in between lectures, initially as a seasonal fireman and guard. Like many students, Will got the ‘Aberystwyth bug’ and decided to stay on after graduation, joining the full time staff in 2010. Will is a bit of a jack of all trades, for several
Jessica Eades is one of our booking office clerks who works throughout the summer months while she’s home from University. She is currently studying Events Management in Liverpool and hopes to one day work in tourism marketing. Since joining last year, Jessica has learnt a lot about the railway. Every day, Jessica welcomes new customers to the railway and greets customers from all over the world. She thoroughly enjoys her job at the railway, with her favourite part of the day wishing customers well on their journey to Devil’s Bridge. Jessica is looking forward to help organise some of our special events at the railway, of which all will be announced very soon!
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A lifelong railway enthusiast, his involvement in the Welsh narrow gauge stretches back over 15 years having been involved with the Fairbourne Railway from an early age, he continues to drive trains as a volunteer. He is also involved in the Talyllyn Railway as a volunteer fireman and guard. Will said “over the last few years I have seen a monumental change in the Vale of Rheidol, we have a great team of people working here and every day is different. I look forward to the next challenge!”
Where history, myth & legend collide... Tours & Experiences A choice of tours and actor-led experiences. A Miner’s Life This guided tour immerses you in the original and rare setting of a historic silver-lead mine, both above and below ground and helps you to discover the fascinating facts of mining life in bygone times as it would have been seen through the eyes of a miner. The Black Chasm Orcs, Goblins, Wraiths & other Myths. Wales’ scariest underground adventure. This experience is not for the faint hearted! Not recommended for under 10’s. A Dragon’s Tale Why risk the nightmare of The Black Chasm when you can join the search for Grotty, Silver Mountain’s mystical, secretive and shy dragon. Our actorled adventure for families. Suitable for children from the age of 4yrs.
Plus many more features to keep the whole family entertained:
Coffee Shop – Our cosy coffee shop offers fresh from-the-bean coffees, teas, delicious hot chocolate, cold drinks and ices, hot soup, paninis, toasties, sandwiches, cold snacks and tempting cakes & muffins. Gift Shop – Provides the chance to browse a fascinating and colourful display of gemstone & mineral gifts plus plenty of fun items for the kids to choose from too.
Indoor / Undercover Time Lab live show Mining Exhibition Drawing Den Fossil Dig Gem / ”gold” Panning Outdoor Miners Trail Woo Hoo Wood Tangle-foot Maze Den-building Wobbly Log & Giant’s Pan Pipes Silver River Water Play Shroomy Games Giant’s Button Puzzle Shroomy Circle Quiz Trails Miners Trail Quiz Kindling’s Quest Nature Trail Events Events throughout the season. Check out our website for details
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Readers’ Mail This section of our newsletter gives you our readers the chance to offer feedback on both the railway in general and our newsletter. A Prize of a Family ticket for two Adults and two Children will be offered each edition to the best letter or email we receive. You can write us a letter and post it to the address on this card. Or alternatively write us an email newsletter@rheidolrailway.co.uk please put Newsletter Editor in the subject line.
Newsletter Editor Vale of Rheidol Railway Park Avenue Aberystwyth Ceredigion SY23 1PG
Classifieds
Your Ad Here Email marketing@rheidolrailway.co.uk for details MAESGLAS UCHAF Bed & Breakfast. YSBYTY YSTWYTH, YSTRAD MEURIG, CEREDIGION. SY25 6DD 01974 282 571 www.maesglasbandb.co.uk info@maesglasbandb.co.uk Find us on TripAdvisor: Maesglas Uchaf B&B We are just 10 minutes from Devils Bridge. Page 27
Your Ad Here Email marketing@rheidolrailway.co.uk for details
Upcoming Events
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2017 Timetable 1. Pick your day of travel from the calendar. 2. Match the colour to the relevant timetable below. Please note there are no services on white days. M 1 8 15 22 29
T 2 9 16 23 30
MAY 2017 W T F 3 4 5 10 11 12 17 18 19 24 25 26 31
S 6 13 20 27
S 7 14 21 28
SEPTEMBER 2017 M T W T F S S 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30
JUNE 2017 M T W T F S 1 2 3 5 6 7 8 9 10 12 13 14 15 16 17 19 20 21 22 23 24 26 27 28 29 30
S 4 11 18 25
JULY 2017 M T W T F S 1 3 4 5 6 7 8 10 11 12 13 14 15 17 18 19 20 21 22 24 25 26 27 28 29 31
OCTOBER 2017 M T W T F S
NOVEMBER 2017 M T W T F S 1 2 3 4 6 7 8 9 10 11 13 14 15 16 17 18 20 21 22 23 24 25
23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31
27 28 29 30
S 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22
Aberystwyth Capel Bangor Aberffrwd Devil’s Bridge Devil’s Bridge Aberffrwd Capel Bangor Aberystwyth
dep: dep: dep: arr: dep: dep: dep: arr:
ORANGE 10:30 2:00 10:50 2:20 11:10 2:40 11:30 3:00 12:30 4:15 12:50 4:35 1:10 4:55 1:30 5:15
Aberystwyth Capel Bangor Aberffrwd Devil’s Bridge Devil’s Bridge Aberffrwd Capel Bangor Aberystwyth
dep: dep: dep: arr: dep: dep: dep: arr:
10:30 10:50 11:10 11:30 12:30 12:50 1:10 1:30
Santa Trains
16, 17, 20, 21, 22, 23 December Page 17 1030, 1230 and 1430 from Aberystwyth
12:15 12:35 12:55 1:15 2:15 2:35 2:55 3:15
10:30 10:50 11:10 11:30 12:30 12:50 1:10 1:30 GREEN 2:00 2:20 2:40 3:00 4:00 4:20 4:40 5:00
YELLOW 12:15 2:00 12:35 2:20 12:55 2:40 1:15 3:00 2:15 4:00 2:35 4:20 2:55 4:40 3:15 5:00 3:45 4:05 4:25 4:45 5:45 6:05 6:25 6:45
6:00 6:20 6:40 7:00 8:00 8:20 8:40 9:00
Halloween Ghost Trains 27, 28, 29 October
Depart Aberystwyth 1800
S 2 9 16 23 30
AUGUST 2017 M T W T F S 1 2 3 4 5 7 8 9 10 11 12 14 15 16 17 18 19 21 22 23 24 25 26 28 29 30 31
S 5 12 19 26
DECEMBER 2017 M T W T F S 1 2 4 5 6 7 8 9 11 12 13 14 15 16 18 19 20 21 22 23
S 6 13 20 27
S 3 10 17 24
25 26 27 28 29 30 31
3:45 4:05 4:25 4:45 5:45 6:05 6:25 6:45 GOLD 11:00 11:20 11:40 12:00 2:00 2:20 2:40 3:00
GOLD DAYS Enjoy the stunning Autumn Colours You can combine your visit with a Sunday Lunch at the Hafod Hotel, Devil’s Bridge
Music on the Train 31 May & 8 October
Have you ever considered chartering a private train? Here at the Vale of Rheidol Railway it is possible to hire a train specifically for an event you have coming up. So whether it is a wedding, a work function or you just want to do something different why not get in touch with us and see what we can do. You may even like to consider linking in with one of the venues in Devil’s Bridge like the Hafod Hotel or the Tynrhyd Retreat. The Hafod Hotel shot to fame as a
filming venue for the cult television series ‘Hinterland’. It has recently been taken over by new owners, who are able to provide a venue which can cater for a range of function types. The Tynrhyd Retreat is a popular venue for weddings nestled in the beautiful countryside on the outskirts of the village of Devil’s Bridge. For more information please get in touch with us by email (info@rheidolrailway. co.uk) or by phone (01970 625819) and ask to speak to our marketing team.
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www.rheidolrailway.co.uk
Telephone us: 01970 625 819 - Park Avenue, Aberystwyth SY23 1PG Regular steam train services running throughout the year