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R heidol R ev iew Newsletter
Special Covid Edition
Amazing Auction Launch See page 3 for details...
Photo by Alistair Greave
Is sue 2 - 2020 www.rheidolrailway.co.uk
Telephone us: 01970 625 819 - Park Avenue, Aberystwyth SY23 1PG
The iron road that weaves through the Valley, Nestled in the side of the hill, For now in slumber, Hopefully soon to wake, Bringing joy to our visitors once again. Photo Courtesy Jac Smith
Welcome W
Light at the end of the tunnel...
elcome to the second newsletter of 2020. I think it is fair to say that so far this year is not being kind to the people of our world. We’ve seen storm after storm, the Covid-19 or Corona virus global pandemic, just to name a few of the things. It does feel rather strange to be writing this sat by my computer at home rather than at my desk in the marketing office. It’s fair to say, and I’m sure many of you feel the same, that I’m missing the bustle of the railway and the magnificent sight of our engines doing what they do best. Due to the current ongoing situation a difficult but sensible decision has been made by our management to suspend the running of our trains until further notice. We currently plan on being back in action during March 2021. As with other railways it is a difficult time with all heritage railways suffering with similar problems. We have launched a fundraising auction to help raise funds to support the railway. See page 3 for more details on the amazing prizes. We hope that our readers and supporters are keeping safe and well, while we look forward to once again throwing open our doors and welcoming people to experience our wonderful journey once more. One other downside of the railway being
C O N T E N T S
closed is that No.1213/9 missed its final days in traffic with the engine now withdrawn from service pending a 10 yearly overhaul. Though I’m sure this will begin in earnest next year to get us back to three Rheidol Tanks available for traffic. I’ve very carefully said three Rheidol Tanks, as by the time No.1213’s overhaul is complete we will have four engines available for service trains, three Rheidol Tanks and Garratt NGG13 No.60. It is only the second time in the Railway’s history that it has been in that situation. The first time being between 1924 1932 when one of the original D&M engines No.1212 (Originally No.1) was retained as a spare engine on the line. Exciting times lie ahead. I’m afraid some of our usual features are missing from this edition but they’ll be back soon I promise. As always we like to hear of any suggestions for articles or improvements to our newsletter. Send your ideas to; newsletter@ rheidolrailway.co.uk
Gareth D Jones Editor
Page 3 Fundraising Auction
Page 15 Picture Gallery
Page 5 News
Page 21 VoR Collection Engines
Page 7 Volunteers
Page 23 Rheidol Blues
Page 9 Six Years & Growing Well
Page 25 Devil’s Bridge Junction
Page 11 Mines of the Rheidol Valley
Page 27 Mainline Steam at Aberystwyth
Page 14 Looking Back
Page 29 Timetable Page 2
VofR Fundraising Auction With fantastic, never before offered, chance of a lifetime experiences and prizes up for grabs, your bid helps us stay alive. We are a registered charity (No. 1076037) your support will help secure the future of our railway. If you want to help without placing a bid, there is a donation option on the auction webpage. Unique Experiences include; 2x Guided tour of Collection X with VoR Chairman & CEO Robert Gambrill at our Surrey Site for two including lunch. The guided tour of our Surrey site is the first time such an experience has been offered with a unique opportunity to view the collection of locomotives and carriages that are in storage there pending overhaul and display in our forthcoming museum, guided by VoR Chairman and CEO, Rob Gambrill, who has a vast knowledge of the engines within the collection. 2x Behind the scenes experience day including tours of Aberystwyth and Capel Bangor Sheds with VoR Manager and CME Llyr Ap Iolo for two including lunch. The behind the scenes experience day at our Aberystwyth site includes tours of the workshop, new shed in Aberystwyth and a unique chance to visit the two sheds in Capel Bangor to view the stored engines and rolling stock accompanied by VoR Manager and Chief Mechanical Engineer, Llyr Ap Iolo, who has a wealth of knowledge about our line, our workshop activities and the engines in Capel Bangor shed. 2x Rheidol Tank Footplate Ride Along Day for one. The chance to climb aboard the footplate of one of our ‘Rheidol Tanks’ for a day is a great opportunity to feel the power of the engine and experience the teamwork of our footplate crews as well as taking part in the preparation and disposal of the engine. 2x One Way Full Line Journeys on our Quarry Hunslet ‘Margaret’ (1 person per journey, in May & September, each on a set date). Another unique experience is the opportunity to travel the length of our line on the footplate of our Quarry Hunslet ‘Margaret’ during the engine’s positioning move to Devil’s Bridge in May and to Aberystwyth in September. Page 3
Full Line Return in our Permaquip Vehicle for two people. Reservation of a private carriage (seats up to 35) for a full line round trip including a personalised headboard to be carried on the train. 2x Guard’s experience day for one person. The guard’s experience day will provide the opportunity to find out what our guards get up to when you accompany one of our guarding team from the morning preparation to putting the carriages to bed at the end of the day. 2x Exclusive guided photography opportunities on a two train timetable day, providing access to line-side locations normally only accessible during photo charters for two people as part of a track walk. The guided photography day will be a day walking sections of the track and getting set up in line-side locations for photographic angles only usually accessible during photo charters, accompanied by a member of our operations team who has great knowledge of the history of our line and the best photo spots too. Up to 5 Seats for a guided journey on our line incorporating talks on the history of the line and the Valley’s rich mining heritage with author and Director of the Welsh Mines Preservation Trust, Ioan Lord. The guided journey of our line with Ioan Lord will be a fantastic opportunity to learn more of the area’s industrial heritage with a local expert and published author who is well versed in the history of our line too. 2x Personalised signed copies of ‘Rich Mountains of Lead’ by Ioan Lord 2x Personalised signed copies of the forthcoming book on our line due for release in November 2020. This brand new book has taken 4 years to write and features over 450 pages of never before published photos and the most comprehensive history of our line to date. Place your bid or donation by going to; https://www.32auctions.com/rheidolrailway Page 4
Vale of Rheidol Railway News RAILWAY DONATION HELPS CARE HOME RESIDENTS CELEBRATE V.E. DAY
Dorothy Vaughan & Helen Cope
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donation of surplus food from Aberystwyth’s Vale of Rheidol Railway helped Hafan y Waun care home to host a VE Day celebration party for staff and residents. Hafan y Waun is home to up to 90 residents and specialises in dementia care. The railway’s Gift Shop was fully stocked with drinks and ice creams ready for the tourist season when the Covid 19 restrictions were enforced. This is the first time since the Second World War that the train service has been suspended. Railway spokesman Will Smith said: “We wanted to ensure that the products would go to a good home in the local community. It is great that the staff were able to use them as part of their VE Day celebration.” Hafan y Waun said “Our residents had a lovely day celebrating V.E. Day at Hafan, thank you very much for your kind donation, we all enjoyed afternoon tea with the ice cream cart making a surprise appearance on a lovely sunny afternoon.”
Will Smith VoR Page 5
Iona Williams Hafan Resident
Laura Perkins Hafan Catering Manager
Vale of Rheidol Railway News PROTECTING OUR STOCK FOR THE FUTURE
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ur Museum Collection and Heritage Rolling Stock Protection Shed has seen some progress during the more recent part of the lockdown period. With the contractors on the site strictly adhering to the social distancing rules, they have made progress and the building is now fully enclosed. Prior to lockdown, the side walling, concrete floor and a dividing wall had all been completed. Since their return to work the fabricated front doors have been installed and all emergency exit doors have been fitted. The electricians are now hard at work setting out the lighting and various systems and connecting up the new solar panelling that has been installed on the roof of the building.
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Vale of Rheidol Volunteers By Clive Higgs, Railway Volunteer
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he volunteers stopped working in March, at the lockdown. Most are “clinically vulnerable” or “extremely clinically vulnerable” due to age or health conditions. Also, in Wales, at one time it was not permitted to drive to exercise and being unpaid we weren’t sure about our official “work” status. Before the lockdown, we were busy between the rainfalls, preparing the stations. The leaf-drifts over Aberffrwd Station platforms and garden were blown, bagged and budged beyond the platform “before the trains start running”. Capel Bangor, Nantyronen and Aberffrwd waiting rooms were washed and wiped at that time. Later we cleaned and weeded the Rheidol Falls and Rhiwfron halts when the first train ran, on Monday 17th February. (After the weekend gales delayed the first run). We started creosoting the platform lattice fences at Devil’s Bridge and Nantyronen but ran out of time to finish this. The gardening work included weeding at Aberystwyth, Capel Bangor, Nantyronen, Aberffrwd and Devil’s Bridge. Philip caused surprise when he said that he’d bought 100 violas for the stations. There were visions of sculptures of large violins piled on gardens and troughs in the rain. But the violas were colourful flowers and were happily planted at Devil’s Bridge and Aberffrwd. They looked very happy themselves. A 1-ton bag of compost was delivered to Devil’s Bridge and compost was layered on top of the garden
beside the platform. The remaining compost was moved to Capel Bangor, Nantyronen and Aberffrwd. into bags. Then lockdown. It seemed strange to stop when the Spring flowers were brightening the stations. Since then, some vols living locally individually walked to the stations at Aberystwyth, Capel Bangor, Nantyronen Halt and Aberffrwd to weed, water and dig in the compost from the bags there. Maureen has maintained the gardens at Aberffrwd with husband John watering the platform plants. After the frosts ended, Philip took outside all the boxes of geraniums, in the Capel Bangor carriage shed. They hadn’t been watered after being put there at the beginning of the winter. Outside, the geraniums revived and thrived under the sun, rain and watering can. They are basking outside the shed, waiting to see whether they can go onto the platform to greet visitors or will rest until going back indoors after autumn. Thankfully all volunteers are still well and we are reaching a time of restriction changes. We’re looking forward to getting back, socially distanced, to creosoting, painting, gardening, tea-drinking and lively, good-natured chatting. Either in groups or in pairs. When the restrictions allow! I hope the volunteers keep well and can get busy soon. It’s such a friendly group and we work in beautiful surroundings. Best wishes to all at the railway and to the readers.
Our volunteers meet once a week, and through their efforts our stations always look at their best no matter what the weather. If you wish to join our amazing band of volunteers helping to maintain our stations then please get in touch via email: info@rheidolrailway.co.uk Page 7
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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Philip Ellis and the Chilean Flame tree at Capel Bangor
Six Years On and Growing Well by Philip Ellis
Once the halts and stations were restored in 2014 we tried to complement the new buildings with some showy flower beds and tubs. It was hard to resist planting some more permanent trees and shrubs such as the Chilean Flame trees, Embothrium coccineum. It is also known as the Chilean Fire bush, either way its name and its bright red flowers complement the flames in the firebox. This species is quite difficult to establish as it will not tolerate phosphates and many are killed by the inadvertent use of fertiliser or manure. West Wales with poor acid soils suits it both in open ground or half shade such as at Aberffrwd. They are also flowering well in full sun at Capel Bangor and Devil’s Bridge. Staying with the combustion theme, Page 9
the smoke bushes, Cotinus coggygria, at Aberystwyth produce their smoke like flower heads later in the year. Some of the other original planting that has done well includes the Ceanothus at Nantyronen, Clematis montana at the upper halts and Devil’s Bridge and more ambitiously, Rhododendron augustini at Rhwifron halt. This in common with most species of rhododendron are not invasive like Rhododendron ponticum at Devil’s Bridge and the surrounding countryside. The latter may be unpopular with foresters but make a fine show with their large mauve flower heads in May. Our established trees and shrubs should now get better year on year and make a serious side show for our passengers.
Chilean Flame tree at Capel Bangor
Ceanothus at Nantyronen
ge at Devils Brid Flame Trees Azaleas and
Flame trees at Aberffrwd
lls Rheidol fa ontana at Clematis M
Rhododendron August iini at Rhwifron
Cotinus at Aberystwyth
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The Cwm Rheidol Sticking Basket
by Ioan Lord n early March 2020, a possibly by the miners as ‘sticking’, which unique artefact was discovered was a combination of clay and mud whilst exploring one of Cwm collected from the floor and walls Rheidol’s abandoned lead mines, of the mine. It was used from the dating from the nineteenth century. early eighteenth century during the The mine in question, which has process of preparing shot-holes, not been named due to the value of which were hand-bored using long the artefact, had not been entered chisels called borers. Miners would for many years due to its remoteness tamp naked gunpowder to the back and secluded location. The artefact, of the 36-inch-long shot-holes, before found by Ioan Lord, is a small hand- blocking the entrance with ‘sticking’ held basket made out of iron mesh. to keep the powder inside. A needle It measures only 6 inches in width called a pricker was pushed through and 18 inches in length, with a wire the sticking to form a vent hole, so handle. that a fuse could be inserted. The The basket was found to be full of sticking prevented the gunpowder clay. This is the first known artefact from blasting back out of the hole of its kind to have been discovered when it was ignited. in mid-Wales, and this example The Cwm Rheidol ‘sticking basket’ is particularly fine in that it still was used to carry this important contains its final load. This clay is of material to the working face at the a particular type which was known beginning of each shift. It was placed
I
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Well-preserved ‘sticking basket’ underground, dating from before 1880.
on the floor so that miners could collect chunks of sticking as and when it was needed. The basket was discovered on the floor of a level, at the working face, where the miners last used it before the mine was closed. They evidently never returned to collect it. This was possibly due to the fact that many mines were ‘suspended’ rather than simply closed, although almost every ‘Rich Mountains of Lead’ The Metal Mining Industry of Cwm Rheidol and Ystumtuen by Ioan Lord Available for purchase in our shop or online £45 https://shop. rheidolrailway. co.uk/products/ rich-mountainsof-lead-ioan-lord
time, this suspension led to total abandonment. The mine at which the sticking basket was found was last worked in 1880, so the basket is at least 140 years old. The most striking feature of the artefact is that several fingerprints remain in the sticking, which are almost certainly the prints of the last miners to scrape chunks of it into their palms. It survives almost completely intact, still in situ, a possibly unique survivor of what was once a common piece of nineteenth-century mining equipment.
A pile of bridge-rail abandoned underground.
Ioan offers underground tours to the general public with his business, Mid Wales Mine Adventures, find out more here; https://www.midwalesminetours.com/ Tapered slots in the sleepers of the 2-foot gauge tramway
N.B. These mines are 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!
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Looking Back By Gareth D Jones
Photo courtesy David Mitchell
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Llanbadarn Exchange Siding
n the above image No.7 can be seen collecting coal to take to the engine sheds, a familiar duty until this siding closed in 1968. This siding was actually the third exchange siding on that location, the first was the Manchester & Milford Siding which was slightly closer to Aberystwyth than the one pictured, it was in use from 1903 to 1910 when it was lifted by Cambrian Railways upon taking ownership of the Vale of Rheidol. The second siding was, according to C.C. Green’s Vale of Rheidol Book published in 1986, laid erratically using the poorest of Pethick material on the Rheidol side and old worn rails etc on the Cambrian side. This siding survived in use until 1925 when the GWR double tracked the mainline between Aberystwyth and Llanbadarn. The siding pictured was built in 1925. Goods traffic on the Rheidol ceased in 1927, however the siding survived in use as a coal transfer point and for the transfer of engines heading off for or returning from an overhaul. The siding was lifted in 1968 when the Rheidol was realigned and moved into the ex-GWR shed, with a new transfer siding being installed to the East of the shed. If you have any archive images in your collection you would be willing to share with us, we always enjoy seeing new photos, especially if there is a story to go with them. We could even feature your story and image on this page. Send your photos and stories to newsletter@rheidolrailway.co.uk Page 14
Photo: Geoff Griffiths
Picture
Photo: Jack Evans
Photo: Jac Smith
Gallery
Photo: Steve Sedgwick
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Photo: David Fowler
Picture
Photo: Simon Fozard
Gallery
16mm and 4mm to the foot scales meet on Simon’s VoR Layout Photo: SimonPage Reeves 18
Engines from our Collection Compiled by Gareth D Jones
No.765 in 1981 © Wilson Lythgoe
No.762 in 1975 © Rob Dickinson
Bagnall 4-6-2+Tender No.38 765 2457/1932 & No.41 762 2460/1932
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oth of the ‘Gwalior’ pacifics in the VoR Collection spent their working lives on the two lines heading out from Gwalior, in Central India. The first part of these lines opened in 1899, it was 2 foot gauge and generally used some large locomotives. In 1942 it was renamed Scindia State Railway. It is believed that one part of the route was still operating during 2009 as part of the Indian Railways service. Two sections of the line were converted to Indian Broad Gauge (5ft 6in) during the 2010s. The majority of journeys on the routes these engines ran were long trips, so they were usually overnight turns for the engine’s crew of 3. As a result of this each engine was fitted with a box on the running board to hold clean clothes for the crew. On 765 (Top image) it can be seen in front of the smokebox door. The two engines that were purchased for the VoR Collection currently reside in under cover storage protecting them from the elements, and at some point (hopefully in the not too distant future) will feature in our new museum for our readers and visitors to come and see these magnificent engines for yourselves.
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Engines from our Collection Compiled by Gareth D Jones
No. 18-BG Š S. Owens
Bagnall 0-4-4T No.18BG 2228/1924
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his engine is one of a pair that originally ran on the Sha Tau Kok Railway, a 2 ft narrow gauge railway operated by the Kowloon-Canton Railway Corporation until closure in 1928. Two W. G. Bagnall Limited locomotives were purchased in December 1923 and used on the railway from mid 1924 until the line closed. They were sold by the Hong Kong Government to the North Negros Sugar Company of Iloilo in the Philippines. There they were in use until 1990. They were first used to transport cut sugar cane to nearby sugar mills, and later for track maintenance and shunting work. In 1995 they were purchased back by the Kowloon-Canton Railway Corporation and brought back to Hong Kong, where one, 2227/1924, after cosmetic restoration, is now on display in the Hong Kong Railway Museum. In 2007 the second Bagnall locomotive, 2228/1924, was donated by the Corporation to the Phyllis Rampton Narrow Gauge Railway Trust in the UK with the intent that one day in the future it may be restored to working order, the engine now forms part of the VoR collection. I’m sure some of our readers will recall this engine being stored in front of the shed on our Aberystwyth site. Page 22
Rheidol BLUES by Stephen Phillips
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he mid-sixties was a period of enormous technological change. Harold Wilson’s ‘White heat of technology’ speech of 1963 set the scene. The cloth cap would be replaced with white lab coat. Concorde, hovercraft, E-type Jaguars on new high-speed motorways - with modern signage designed in response to these higher speeds by Jock Kinneir and Margaret Calvert in 1964 and still in use today. The dreary old post-war Britain of the 1950s and early 1960s was disappearing. The British Rail (BR) blue ‘doublearrow’ corporate identity - with its new typeface
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designed by Kinneir and Calvert - was unveiled on the BR mainline in 1965. It was designed for the modern image that BR was trying to create (following on from its ‘Modernisation Plan’ of 1955), with diesel and electric traction replacing ‘old fashioned’ steam. Perhaps in this drive for modernity it was
overlooked that there were still three old steam locomotives in Aberystwyth, operated by BR. They were an anachronism and the BR corporate identity manual had never really envisaged the livery being applied to steam traction. The BR rail blue livery on the Vale of Rheidol (VoR) - viewed with disdain
Image: David Mitchell
by some and fondness by others - made its first appearance on our engines and carriages over fifty years ago in April 1968, and coincided with another major chapter in the history of the VoR. The newly-painted blue engines worked briefly from the old GWR (VoR) 1925 terminus during Easter 1968, crossing Park Avenue for the last time on 6th April. From the 20th May 1968, the VoR began operating from the old Carmarthen bay platform, part of the BR mainline station still in use today. This move provided the VoR with its third
incarnation of a terminus in Aberystwyth. It also provided the VoR with its present day locomotive and carriage shed. Here passengers would board the train from ground level between the tracks. In more recent times the VoR constructed our own platform to make it easier to step aboard our carriages. So that is how we
Image: Simon Fozard
ended up with blue steam locos. History can be very interesting, and fact stranger than fiction - the VoR in blue is a fascinating historical case study, even if not to everyone’s taste. The BR blue colours and VoR crossed paths again on 5th May 1986, when 37426 was named Y Lein Fach / Vale of Rheidol. The name was carried by the engine until 30th April 1991.
Image: Denis Bates
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Devil’s Bridge – The junction that never was
L
by Geraint Roberts
ooking at the map in modern times, it is curious as to how such a small village ended up with its own railway line. All for the bridge and the falls, with a journey up the valley? Whilst today’s traffic is based on those wishing to experience the scenery or the heritage steam-hauled train (or both!), this was not the reason for its existence. In the late 19th Century, the hills of North Ceredigion and West Montgomeryshire were teeming with small mines. It is a common misconception that they were slate, due to the preponderance of the mines and quarries to the north. However, the geological history of the land meant that slate was not found south of the Dyfi in the area. The mines instead were of predominantly lead and zinc, with some copper also included around Talybont. Silver was found within the lead ore and was a useful by-product. There are over 200 known mines of varying success, some of which were of national renown, others were complete scams. The mines had one major set back, in that they were many miles from any of the larger towns and the transportation
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opportunities. Railways were used to get the milled ore to smelters, but the mines needed to hire farm carts to get the ore to the nearest station goods yard. Frongoch near Pontrhydygroes, was reputed to send a land train of two dozen farm carts to harbour for shipping out. The industry was thus deemed an invaluable asset by prospective railway companies. The mines themselves were spread all across the region, but some of the larger ones were within easy distance of Devil’s Bridge. Frongoch lay to the south west and hired 500 men, Cwmystwyth to the east, supporting a village of 1000 souls. The main problem was the tortuous terrain that they were sited in. The plans for railways in the area looked at places which could be used as freight hubs, close enough to railways and then looked for investors to finance them. The bigger the catchment, the more attractive the investment. The East & West Railway for example in 1899, projected a line to run down from Trawscoed past Frongoch and Pontrhydygroes. In its journey onwards towards Radnor. What would have been
a spectacular railway never came close to a sufficiently large catchment area to generate investor interest, which was always the problem in this part of Wales. But why a junction? For this part of the story, it is necessary to look at another partially successful enterprise that built a standard gauge railway, albeit that success is a very loose term in this case. The Manchester & Milford Railway is a much derided name amongst railway historians as never having reached either destination. When the original prospectus was issued in 1845, the logic of its proposal and name was clearer. Manchester mill owners felt they were paying exorbitant tariffs for both travel on the Liverpool & Manchester railway and via the Port of Liverpool. A plan was hatched to build a railway to the deep water inlet of Milford in South Wales. This would both be cheaper for investors to use (apparently), but also save two weeks sailing time across the Atlantic Ocean and all the costs and risks therein. The Manchester & Milford also looked to tap into Aberystwyth’s potential – both as a port and a fashionable resort. A branch was therefore proposed to be built in standard gauge, from Devil’s Bridge down the Rheidol Valley, forming a large triangular junction with its main line. The site of a station is not given (possibly as they had yet to purchase land, so were hedging their bets), but the triangle was sited south of the A4120 and below where the current station stands. By then it was 1861. The history of the railway is aptly described in J S Holden’s book published by Oakwood Press. By the time the railway had managed to finance itself, the only part not already built was between a mile south of Llanidloes to a mile north of Pencader. All else would be achieved by utilising the lines of other railways. The section that was never completed was the mountainous region of Myherin, where a tunnel was required to break through from Llangurig to Devil’s Bridge. From there on, a significant viaduct was also required at Pontrhydygroes. Outlay that the railway never came close
to achieving. The consequence of this was that the railway chose a route down the Ystwyth valley to Aberystwyth, which bar a steep bank at Trawscoed, provided an easier ground by the river. This intersected the proposed mountainous route at Strata Florida station. As the mountain route was abandoned, it gave the station a sharp curve, like a slingshot. The Manchester & Milford did not give up, and a branch was authorised from near Trawscoed to run to Llantrisant and up to Devil’s Bridge. This again was never built. The Rheidol valley route was abandoned in 1863, however that was not to be the end of the tale. The surveyor was Sir James Szlumper, a noted surveyor of the day. Knighted for his work in building the London Underground, he was at one time the county surveyor and also Mayor of Richmond. Sir James’ plans were put to good use when in 1895, the Vale of Rheidol Railway was incorporated and his route is in use today by us, although built to 2ft gauge, not 4ft 8 1/2 ins. The change of gauge allowed a cheaper construction, as well as the costs saved by the operation of a light railway. Maps of the proposed routes were deposited with parliament and a copy is also present in the National library of Wales. Images of the relevant sections are also to be found in Peter Johnson’s latest history of the Vale of Rheidol Railway. The mountainous route was abandoned, but there is evidence of it. The embankments from Llanidloes to Llangurig can still be seen, as is the clearing for Llangurig station (Being the station with the lowest number of trains received in Britain; A single stone train, chartered by a rival company to declare the line open, so they could exact rent for Llanidloes station!). Beyond that, the earthworks fade to nothing. However, within Myherin forest, the approaches to the tunnel are still present. The section to the east is 8 metres in length. The section to the west is less pronounced. A testament to broken dreams. Page 26
Photo: Gareth D Jones
Mainline Steam at Aberystwyth in the 00s by Gareth D Jones
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remember as I child growing up in Penparcau on the outskirts of Aberystwyth the excitement of watching trains at Llanbadarn crossing from my parents’ bedroom window, especially the excitement of seeing steam crossing the road, regularly in the form of our very own VoR and every now and then on the big railway. I’ve chosen to focus on the period between 2000 and 2010 here mainly because it is the time-line I most remember and have my own photos of, though I’m not ruling out looking further back in a future article. Mainline steam seemed like a rare treat to myself during the chosen period, when the above photo was taken, on the 21st August 2005, I had not long turned 20 and was days from beginning a nine year long adventure as a Royal Air Force Police Dog Handler with my basic training starting just three days after this photo was taken. Anyway back to the trains. A locomotive that spent a few summers on the Cambrian Page 27
in the period is the one pictured above Standard 4MT mogul No.76079 which was at that time in the ownership of Ian Riley and had the nickname the ‘Pocket Rocket’. Though a variety of engines visited during the period, Black Fives, 8Fs and most exciting of all for me, an engine formerly shedded at Aberystwyth, No.7802 Bradley Manor. Sadly the story of steam on the Cambrian and into Aberystwyth ended in 2010 with the ERTMS signalling system being fully commissioned in Spring 2011. Currently no steam engines have the ERTMS sytem fitted and cost of developing the system for use specifically with steam, sadly, currently seems cost prohibitive and difficult due to the amount of systems that must be installed on the engine. Who knows what the future may hold, we may yet see mainline steam return to Aberystwyth once again in the future but for the time being at least, it lives on in the memories of photograph collections.
Black 5 45407 in 2004 (Photo: Trevor Owen)
7802 Bradley Manor in 2006 (Photo: EMF)
8F 48151, Gauge 0 Guild, in 2010 (Photo: Will Smith)
Driver Ray Poole in cab of 76079 (Photo: Will Smith) Page 28
2020 Timetable Step 1: Pick your date from the calendar. (Please note there are no services on white days.) Step 2: Match the colour shown to the relevant timetable below. In order to help us to run the trains to time, please aim to arrive at the Booking Office at least 20 minutes before your departure.
Due to the ongoing social distancing requirements all public train services have been suspended until further notice.
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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
12:10 12:30 12:50 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 12:10 2:00 12:30 2:20 12:50 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
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
Photo by John R Jones
www.rheidolrailway.co.uk Telephone us: 01970 625 819 - Park Avenue, Aberystwyth SY23 1PG
