News

New First Class Carriage Launched

Friday 20th May 2022 saw the official launch into service of our new first class carriage.

The carriage has cost £120,000 to rebuild. The work has included the manufacture of custom designed and produced seating with a moquette chosen by our late chairman Mr. Peter Rampton. The woodwork in the carriage has all been completed by our small team of highly talented carpenters. It has lots of unique features for instance the majority of the screws holding the interior together are hidden from view to give the carriage its clean appearance. The roof panel has been painted by renowned wildlife artist Terence Lambert, the artwork has the theme of the River Rheidol and features wildlife native to the valley. The entrances to the carriage feature custom mosaics, with this carriage featuring two types of bird that can be found in the valley, with a different bird featured on each of the two entrances. Work to rebuild our second first class carriage has now begun, for more on this see page 9 of this edition.

Garratt’s First Public Trains Announced

The first official train to be hauled by our NG/G13 Garratt will be the 10:30 departure on Tuesday 19th July 2022.

Our Garratt engine No. 60 carries the name Drakensberg. It was given this name during its time in Switzerland at the Schinznacher Baumschulbahn, where it was operating prior to the engine’s sale and transport to our line. The Garratt has received an overhaul and modifications since joining our fleet. It has been altered from vacuum to air braking to match our rolling stock, and has received modifications to the ash pan as well as other improvements. No. 60 is planned to operate the 10:30 & 14:00 trains every Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday between 19th July & 1st September this year. It is also the only engine that will routinely haul an 8 carriage train, the longest our line can currently accommodate. Book your tickets to avoid disappointment by visiting: https://ticketisland.co.uk/ticketi_slevent_cal3Full?bi=valeofr

VoR’s New Fencing

During the winter closed period a major project has begun to renew our lineside fencing.

This work was subcontracted as our permanent way team was very busy renewing track and altering the track layout at Devil’s Bridge.

The renewed fencing adds to the lovely clean look of our lineside and not only improves the visual appearance but also removes the possibility of livestock accessing our line where they are not supposed to be.

The renewal of lineside fencing is planned to continue during this winter with the aim to renew a large amount of our lineside over the next couple of years.

Our thanks to Terry and the team from Ystwyth Groundworks Ltd for their excellent workmanship.

Queens Jubilee Baton Visit

Thursday 30th June saw the Queens Jubilee Baton Relay visit Aberystwyth and we had the honour of carrying it for part of it’s journey.

Our nominated baton carrier was Hawys Richards, daughter of one of our engineers. She was selected for her achievements in the sport of cycling, finishing 2nd in her group at Aberystwyth’s Cycle Fest only 12 months after major transplant surgery. This feat is testimony to her character and will power i’m sure you would agree. The baton was carried on the train between Aberystwyth and Capel Bangor before continuing its journey to Llangrannog the next stop on its tour of Mid-Wales. Catrin M.S. Davies, Ceredigion County Council’s Cabinet Member for Culture, Leisure and Customer Services, said: “It’s great to see so many residents of the county being part of welcoming the baton to Ceredigion. Each is a great ambassador, whether it is a champion in sport, athletics or cycling; or has shown courage in receiving medical treatment. They are an inspiration to us all.” For more see: https://www.facebook.com/teamwales.cymru/

New Lighting at Capel Bangor & Aberffrwd

Both Capel Bangor and Aberffrwd stations now boast full length platform lighting after extra lamp posts have been installed this year.

The lamp posts used originally stood on our old platform at Aberystwyth, as our new Aberystwyth platform received a different type of lantern top, which are replicas of GWR lanterns.

They are wired into a sensor and timer system so that they come on automatically when trains approach and go off shortly after the train has departed.

The extra lighting looks the part giving the stations a lovely glow in the evenings adding to the ambience.

Project Phase 3 - Multi Function Display Space

Phase 3 of our Wales to the World project has begun. It is the overhaul of the former standard gauge engine shed to turn it into a display space suitable for display of engines from our collection.

After emptying the building and removing the track, the interior was sandblasted to clean it and remove the years of dirt and soot from the walls and metalwork. The steelwork was then painted to protect it from the elements.

Both gable ends have had the brickwork removed to assess the condition of the steelwork after aroud 90 years of exposure to the coastal elements. In addition to the gable ends four bays of bricks have been removed for further works.

The top of the ridge has been removed ready for glass windows to be installed, restoring them to their original purpose allowing natural light into the building.

The windows in the walls have all been removed ready for new ones to be installed. Once all the windows have been installed the building will once again be water tight.

Vale of Rheidol Railway News Project Phase 4 - New Booking Office

Phase 4 of our project, the building of a brand new booking office, has also started simultaneously as phase 3.

The overall look of the building is designed to match the style of our workshop built in 2012 with various features from our history as well as that of the Great Western Railway, including original cast iron brackets from Gloucester railway station.

Once the footings were excavated a steel reinforcement was installed prior to the pouring of the concrete to form the foundations.

Following the curing of the concrete, Steel posts have been installed to support the cast iron entrance awnings. The construction of the blockwork walls has begun and the building has started to take shape.

For more on our Wales to the World project see; https://www.facebook.com/ VoRWalestotheWorld