no.34
Rheidol Review
n o i t i d ial E
Newsletter
Spec
Photo by John R Jones
Issue 6 - 2018
www.rheidolrailway.co.uk Telephone us: 01970 625 819 - Park Avenue, Aberystwyth SY23 1PG Regular steam train services running throughout the year
Welcome A
A triumphant return...
great time of change is encompassing the railway, change for the better. In 1998 No.7 was withdrawn from service pending a heavy overhaul, and finally the engine has returned! When the locomotive was last in steam it was fired by oil, as part of the heavy overhaul No.7 has been returned to coal firing. No.7s return to traffic is an extra celebration as the last time all three of our ‘Rheidol Tanks’ were in steam together was during the mid 1980s. It is also the first time since the late 1970s/ early 1980s that all three engines have worn the same livery. So plenty of reasons to celebrate the triumphant return of locomotive No.7. For the 2019 season all three engines will be available for traffic, and
C O N T E N T S
at the end of the season No.1213 (No.9) will be withdrawn for it’s 10 yearly ovehaul. No.7 has already started earning it’s keep hauling passengers and has featured in a photo charter. As I sit writing this I can see the contractors busy working away preparing the groundworks for the developments ahead and starting to lay the blockwork. The changes will provide a greater experience for our visitors with enhanced facilities and ultimately lead to a
narrow gauge railway museum, though more on this exciting project is covered in our news pages.
Gareth D Jones Editor
Page 3 Wales to the World
Page 21 Over 90 years of history
Page 6 O Gymru i’r Byd
Page 9 The Project Begins - Mae Prosiect yn Dechrau
Page 23 No.7 Restoration
Page 14 Picture Gallery
Page 27 Rich Mountains of Lead
Page 19 5 Stations, 1 Destiation
Page 29 Timetable
for No. 7
Memories
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‘Wales to the World’
We are undergoing our biggest transformation in decades, to turn our station into a 1930’s Great Western -style station with the help of a £1.6 million investment from Visit Wales.
An artist’s impression of the new 1930s-style station
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itled “Wales to the World” it will see the current terminus at Park Avenue, Aberystwyth transformed into a Great Western Railway style station suitable for the modern tourist together with the creation of a multifunction display and entertainment facility within our former steam locomotive shed. Alongside these visitors focused developments, a new carriage storage shed will be built allowing the priceless collection of historic railway carriages to be stored in a protected environment and aid their long term conservation. For many years we have been working with Visit Wales to achieve our goal to improve the terminus of our station as well as plans to build our multifunction display facility. This funding will see the start of the project. We would like to thank the whole team at Visit Wales who have been fabulous, and helped us through the mine field of paperwork to Page 3
achieve this project. OUR HERITAGE, KEEPING THE 1930S ALIVE
Building the new station to authenticate the Great Western Railway era is a key goal of our project. Hours of research has been undertaken to find the correct pattern gas style lamps and posts, to the right shade of to enhance our visitor experience. WHO IS PAYING FOR THE PROJECT?
Our project is a funding collaboration between the Vale of Rheidol Railway and Visit Wales using WFO funding as part of the TAD Destination Program and the TMF Regeneration Fund. The railway is providing 35% of the revenue to support the project whilst the remaining amount will come directly from grant funding. Once complete the project will have cost £2.2 million and will represent the largest single investment in the Vale of Rheidol since its construction. This
funding will enable us to capitalise on the ever the railway. Expanding this space will offer growing tourist trade of Ceredigion and mid visitors a more efficient area to buy tickets, Wales. while offering retail opportunities. Robert Gambrill, CEO Vale of Rheidol New Carriage Storage and Conservation Railway explains: Store: Within our Aberystwyth site we are “This package of work is highly significant developing a three road storage shed to in the story of the Vale of Rheidol Railway. house our Heritage fleet of carriages but It represents the largest single investment in also to enable us to move items from the the railway since the Great Western owned future multifunction display facility that will the line. We hope it will see require protection from the more passengers coming to elements. Alongside this, the visit what is a hidden gem in shed will provide the railway ONCE COMPLETE mid Wales. With the help of with a store for future Visit Wales we are creating exhibits as the new Museum THE PROJECT WILL a tourist experience that develops. The complete HAVE COST £2.2 will encourage more people current train set of carriages to venture to the area as will for the first time be MILLION AND WILL well as the regular tourist housed separately from the REPRESENT THE hot spots in Wales.” steam locomotives ensuring a clean environment in LARGEST SINGLE HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE? which our dedicated staff INVESTMENT The project starts in can maintain them. 2018 and will finish at IN THE VALE OF New platform and toilets: the end of 2020. Over As part of the new project RHEIDOL SINCE ITS this period we will have we are moving our station totally transformed our CONSTRUCTION platform over 180 metres Aberystwyth station. (200 yards) from the existing Due to the station still in terminus. This will give our operation we have broken visitors less distance to walk the project in five phases starting with the from the carpark and an accessible access new platform and toilet and finishing with the to our new multifunction display facility. development of the old Great Western shed. Customer Toilets used to be provided by British Rail and that arrangement came to an WHAT COMES NEXT? end a few years back which led to a temporary This project will act as the stepping stone toilet block being installed at the station. On to building the main museum in the future. the new platform we will be building a Great These infrastructure improvements will Western style lavatory block with a Pagoda release the space and provide the vital area’s appearance and will offer our travellers a to enable the larger museum to be built. decent facility for the first time. New Display Space: The journey begins! WHAT ARE WE BUILDING? Getting some of the 30 engines the railway A New Ticket Office: As anyone who has owns on display has always been our goal but visited our railway knows the current ticket with the huge backlog of maintenance left by office leaves a lot to be desired. The project British Rail this has proved to be an uphill will recreate a Great Western style booking battle. Thankfully, we are now at the edge of office offering a dry and spacious entry to
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achieving this with the original Great Western shed being converted into a multifunction facility. This will offer the railway 5000 sq ft of space to display some of its priceless collection and also host events and entertainment. What will be inside? The aim is to display any of the operational engines when they are not running so a Rheidol tank and the newly arrived Beyer Garratt NGG13 could be on show together with examples of the rolling stock such as our Hafan tramway wagons and Great Western coaches. These will tell the story of the railway together with our collection of original artefacts. Alongside these exhibits, for the first time, we will display some of our international collection of engines and they will tell the story of how Wales led the way in narrow gauge railways and helped export the idea all over the world, thus the project title. New Café: Matching the style of our heritage station we will be building a new fully functional café to service our visitors as well as enabling us to cater for events in the new multifunction display facility as well. All New Railway Servicing Facilities: Keeping our precious engines running has always been top priority but now we are able to construct a dedicated servicing and coaling area, together, with new water cranes and water storage tanks, all helping to maintain the smooth operation of our trains. With all the works listed above we are also building a whole new track layout in
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Aberystwyth and moving and rebuilding all the signalling within the station site. This will be complimented with improvements to our current car parking arrangements as well. GOING GREEN AND LOOKING AT A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE
At the heart of the Vale of Rheidol’s business is sustainability. Looking long term is something we have prided ourselves on whether it’s apprentice training or re-planting woodland. As part of this project we are installing a solar roof to complement our current system sited on our new storage shed. This will provide power for both the storage shed and the new ticket office. A new water system will allow captured rain water to be fed into the new water system feeding our engines. Robert Gambrill, CEO Vale of Rheidol Railway finished by saying: “Our team at the railway must be thanked for all the behind the scenes work which has already gone into the design of the project. Also Ceredigion Council who have allowed us to achieve the goals of building the station also deserve praise for their efforts. Visit Wales have worked alongside us to remove the many hurdles we encountered, without them this funding would not be happening, so a big thanks to all the team. We, as a railway hope that everyone joins us in this exciting journey of bringing a 1930’s style station back to Aberystwyth”.
‘O Gymru i’r Byd’ Yr ydym yn cael ein trawsnewid mwyaf ers degawdau, i droi ein gorsaf i mewn i orsaf stêt 1930au Great Western gyda chymorth buddsoddiad o £ 1.6 miliwn gan Croeso Cymru.
Argraff artist o’r orsaf newydd yn y 1930au
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dan y teitl “O Gymru i’r Byd”, bydd y gwaith yn golygu trawsnewid y terminws presennol yng Nghoedlan y Parc, Aberystwyth, a’i droi’n orsaf debyg i orsafoedd Great Western Railway sy’n addas i dwristiaid modern. Byddwn hefyd yn creu lle arddangos amlbwrpas ac adloniant yn hen sied y trenau stêm. Ochr yn ochr â’r datblygiadau hyn sy’n canolbwyntio ar ymwelwyr, bydd sied newydd yn cael ei chodi i storio cerbydau, sy’n golygu y bydd modd storio’r casgliad amhrisiadwy o gerbydau rheilffordd hanesyddol mewn amgylchedd gwarchodol a fydd yn help i’w cadw yn y tymor hir. Rydym wedi bod yn gweithio ers blynyddoedd gyda Croeso Cymru i wireddu ein nod o wella terminws yr orsaf ynghyd â’r cynlluniau i adeiladu’r cyfleuster arddangos amlbwrpas. Bydd yr arian hwn yn gweld y prosiect yn cychwyn. Hoffem ddiolch i bawb yng nhîm Croeso Cymru sydd wedi bod yn
wych, ac wedi’n helpu drwy’r mynydd o waith papur er mwyn gwireddu’r prosiect. EIN TREFTADAETH, CADW’R 1930’AU YN FYW
Mae adeiladu’r orsaf newydd gan adlewyrchu oes y Great Western Railway yn un o amcanion allweddol ein prosiect. Gwnaed oriau o ymchwil i ganfod y patrwm cywir ar gyfer y lampau a’r polion, yn arddull hen lampau nwy a chan ddefnyddio’r lliw cywir er mwyn rhoi’r profiad gorau i’n hymwelwyr. PWY SY’N TALU AM Y PROSIECT?
Mae’r prosiect yn gynllun ariannu ar y cyd rhwng Rheilffordd Cwm Rheidol a Croeso Cymru, gan ddefnyddio Rhaglen Cyrchfannau TAD a Chronfa Adfywio TMF. Mae’r rheilffordd yn darparu 35% o’r refeniw i gynnal y prosiect tra bydd gweddill yr arian yn dod yn uniongyrchol o arian grant. Robert Gambrill Prif Swyddog Gweithredol Rheilffordd Cwm Rheidol: Page 6
“Mae’r pecyn hwn o waith yn arwyddocaol tu hwnt yn hanes Rheilffordd Cwm Rheidol. Mae’n cynrychioli’r buddsoddiad sengl mwyaf yn y rheilffordd ers dyddiau Great Western yn berchnogion y lein. Rydym yn gobeithio y daw â rhagor o deithwyr i ymweld â’r campwaith cudd hwn yn y Canolbarth. Gyda help Croeso Cymru rydym yn creu profiad i ymwelwyr a fydd yn annog mwy o bobl i fentro i’r ardal yn ogystal ag i safleoedd twristiaeth poblogaidd arferol Cymru.
manwerthu. Storfa Gerbydau a Storfa Gadwraeth Newydd: Ar ein safle yn Aberystwyth rydym yn datblygu sied storio dair ffordd i ddal ein fflyd Dreftadaeth o gerbydau. Bydd hefyd yn ein galluogi i symud eitemau y mae angen eu gwarchod rhag yr elfennau o’r cyfleuster arddangos amlbwrpas yn y dyfodol. Law yn llaw â hyn bydd y sied hefyd yn darparu storfa i eitemau newydd yn y dyfodol wrth i’r Amgueddfa newydd ddatblygu. Am y tro cyntaf, bydd y set gyflawn FAINT O AMSER FYDD bresennol o gerbydau yn HYN YN EI GYMRYD? cael eu cadw ar wahân i’r Bydd y prosiect yn peiriannau stêm gan sicrhau AR ÔL CWBLHAU’R cychwyn yn 2018 ac yn amgylchedd glân lle gall ein gorffen ddiwedd 2020. staff ymroddedig eu cynnal PROSIECT, BYDD Dros y cyfnod hwn a’u cadw. byddwn wedi trawsnewid Platfform a thoiledau WEDI COSTIO £2.2 ein gorsaf yn Aberystwyth newydd: Fel rhan o’r MILIWN A BYDD yn llwyr. Gan fod yr orsaf prosiect newydd rydym yn yn dal i weithredu, rydym symud platfform yr orsaf YN CYNRYCHIOLI’R wedi rhannu’r prosiect yn dros 180 metr (200 llath) o’r bum cam, gan gychwyn terminws presennol. Bydd BUDDSODDIAD gyda’r platfform a’r hyn yn golygu llai o bellter SENGL MWYAF YN toiledau newydd a gorffen cerdded o’r maes parcio i’n drwy ddatblygu hen sied y hymwelwyr a mynediad NYFFRYN RHEIDOL Great Western. hygyrch i’n cyfleuster arddangos amlbwrpas ERS EI ADEILADU BETH SYDD YN DOD newydd. Roedd toiledau WEDYN? i gwsmeriaid yn arfer cael Bydd y prosiect hwn yn eu darparu gan British gyfrwng inni fwrw ymlaen i adeiladu’r brif Rail ond daeth y trefniant hwnnw i ben rai amgueddfa yn y dyfodol. Bydd y gwelliannau blynyddoedd yn ôl gan arwain at osod bloc seilwaith mawr hyn yn rhyddhau’r lle ac toiledau dros dro ar yr orsaf. Ar y platfform yn darparu’r arwynebedd holl-bwysig i’n newydd byddwn yn adeiladu bloc toiledau yn galluogi i adeiladu’r amgueddfa fwy. arddull y Great Western a fydd yn edrych fel Pagoda, gan gynnig cyfleusterau teilwng i’n BETH YDYN NI’N EI ADEILADU? teithwyr am y tro cyntaf. Swyddfa Docynnau Newydd: Fel y gŵyr Gofod Arddangos Newydd: Dechrau’r unrhyw un sydd wedi ymweld â’n rheilffordd, daith! Arddangos rhai o’r 30 injan y mae’r mae ein swyddfa docynnau ymhell o fod yn rheilffordd yn berchen arnynt oedd y nod inni foddhaol ar hyn o bryd. Bydd y prosiect yn erioed ond oherwydd yr holl waith cynnal ail-greu swyddfa docynnau debyg i rai’r Great a chadw a adawyd gan British Rail mae hyn Western - bydd digon o le, a hynny dan do, i wedi bod yn dipyn o dasg. Ond, rydym ar gael mynediad i’r rheilffordd. Drwy ehangu’r fin gwireddu hyn nawr wrth i sied wreiddiol gofod hwn bydd yn cynnig lle mwy effeithlon y Great Western gael ei throi’n gyfleuster i brynu tocynnau, ynghyd â chyfleoedd amlbwrpas. Bydd hyn yn cynnwys 5000 tr sg
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o le i’r rheilffordd i arddangos rhai o’r eitemau yn ei chasgliad amhrisiadwy a hefyd i gynnal digwyddiadau ac adloniant. Beth fydd y tu mewn? Y nod yw arddangos unrhyw injans sy’n gweithio pan nad ydynt yn rhedeg ar y cledrau, felly gallai Rheidol Tank a’r Beyer Garrat NG13 sydd newydd gyrraedd gael eu harddangos gyda’i gilydd ynghyd ag enghreifftiau o gerbydau fel wagenni tramffordd Hafan a choetsis Great Western. Gyda’n casgliad o arteffactau gwreiddiol, bydd y rhain yn adrodd stori’r rheilffordd. Ochr yn ochr â’r eitemau hyn, am y tro cyntaf byddwn yn arddangos rhai o’r injans o’n casgliad rhyngwladol a byddant yn dweud y stori fel yr oedd Cymru yn arwain y ffordd o ran datblygu leins bach ac wedi helpu i allforio’r syniad ar draws y byd - sy’n egluro teitl y prosiect. Caffi Newydd: I gyd-fynd â’n gorsaf dreftadaeth, byddwn yn adeiladu caffi newydd i wasanaethu’n hymwelwyr yn ogystal â’n galluogi i arlwyo ar gyfer digwyddiadau yn y cyfleuster arddangos amlbwrpas newydd. Cyfleusterau Trin Newydd Sbon: Mae cadw ein hinjans gwerthfawr i redeg wedi bod yn flaenoriaeth bennaf erioed ond nawr rydym yn gallu adeiladu lle pwrpasol i’w trin a’u llwytho â glo, ynghyd â chraeniau dŵr a thanciau storio dŵr newydd - i gyd yn helpu i gadw’r trenau’n gweithio’n effeithiol. Gyda’r holl waith sydd wedi’i restru uchod rydym hefyd yn adeiladu cledrau i gynllun
cwbl newydd yn Aberystwyth ac yn symud ac ailadeiladu’r holl signalau ar safle’r orsaf. Byddwn hefyd yn gwella’r trefniadau parcio. Bod yn Fwy Gwyrdd - tuag at ddyfodol cynaliadwy: Mae cynaliadwyedd yn ganolog i fusnes Cwm Rheidol. Mae edrych tua’r dyfodol tymor hir yn rhywbeth yr ydym wedi ymfalchïo ynddo, boed hynny’n hyfforddi prentisiaid neu’n ailblannu coetiroedd. Fel rhan o’r prosiect hwn rydym yn gosod to solar newydd ar ein sied storio newydd, i ategu’n system bresennol. Bydd yn darparu pŵer ar gyfer y sied storio a’r swyddfa docynnau newydd. Bydd system ddŵr newydd yn caniatáu bwydo dŵr sydd wedi’i ddal i mewn i’r system ddŵr newydd a fydd yn bwydo’r injans. Robert Gambrill Prif Swyddog Gweithredol Rheilffordd Cwm Rheidol yn gorfen dweud: “Rhaid diolch i’n tîm yn y rheilffordd am yr holl waith sydd wedi’i wneud y tu ôl i’r llenni i ddylunio’r prosiect. Hefyd, mae Cyngor Ceredigion, sydd wedi caniatáu inni wireddu’r nod o adeiladu’r orsaf, yn haeddu canmoliaeth am ei ymdrechion yntau. Mae Croeso Cymru wedi gweithio gyda ni i gael gwared â’r llu o rwystrau a wynebwyd. Hebddyn nhw ni fyddai’r arian hwn wedi dod i’r fei, felly diolch o galon i’r tîm i gyd. Rydyn ni, fel rheilffordd, yn gobeithio y bydd pawb yn ymuno â ni ar y siwrnai gyffrous hon i ddod â gorsaf o’r 1930’au yn ol i Aberystwyth.”
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The project begins Photos of the work that has already begun at the station. With less than 4 months before re-opening, contractors and VoR staff are extremely busy.
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Mae’r prosiect yn dechrau Lluniau o’r gwaith sydd eisoes wedi dechrau yn yr orsaf. Gyda llai na 4 mis cyn ailagor, mae contractwyr a staff VoR yn hynod o brysur. Page 10
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Picture Gallery
Photo by Peter Johnson
Picture Gallery
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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Five Stations, One Destination
The station in 1902
Aberystwyth and the Vale of Rheidol Railway has a very interesting claim to fame.
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he mainline station at Aberystwyth opened in 1864 and was first constructed by the Aberystwyth & Welsh Coast Railway Company and acted as a terminus for trains from Oswestry when that company formed part of the Cambrian Railways. The station was then joined by the Manchester and Milford railway in 1867 giving a further line to the south of Wales. With the Grouping of 1921 the Cambrian Railways became a part of the Great Western Railway network. This company embarked on modernising the station and this is the building that we see today. Page 19
The First Station The Vale of Rheidol Railway’s first station was constructed in 1902 and was sited next to a foundry, an abattoir and a tannery, not the best neighbours for a tourist railway! Nevertheless it proved popular on this site. Facilities were limited to a small waiting shelter and gas lamps. Platforms of crushed stone and a team of porters were on hand to help with the luggage. The station was located at Smithfield Road (now Park Avenue) which is now a municipal car park next to the football ground. The Second Station Once the Great Western Railway had completed the new mainline station they moved quickly to bring the Vale of Rheidol closer to the big terminus. Thus a new station was built adjacent to it, and the first train departed in 1926. Our trains were required to cross over the newly renamed Park Avenue. This site forms part of the retail park today.
The Third Station With the Beeching report and threat of closure, help came in a proposal from Mr George Dow the Midland Railway Area Divisional Manager. He proposed the rebuilding of the Vale of Rheidol on the closed alignment of the former Carmarthen railway and bringing it into the terminus of the main station using the redundant platform. This untimely event saved the railway. This station consisted of a flat platform within the old standard gauge station platforms. Passengers alighted the train via a long ramp. This proved an interesting solution as the locomotives had to run road the trains through the passengers once they had arrived. Facilities were at first provided by British Railways but when the line was sold a small metal style cabin was all that greeted passengers.
The Fourth Station With the sale of the railway from British Railway and then its conversion to a charity, change again occurred in Aberystwyth.
Increasingly the reality of passengers alighting from the floor and an aligning population necessitated another change. The then island platform and former standard gauge platforms where demolished and a new platform slightly towards Devil’s Bridge were built together with a set of toilets and for the first time a direct link to the railway’s carpark. These facilities were also enhanced with a pair of canopies and an improved ticket office.
The Fifth Station The latest station will see by far the biggest improvement since the building of the line. This new station is 200 yards closer to Devils Bridge and will for the first time provide a proper ticket office, set of lavatories and canopies for our travelling public .The station will also for the first time offer full disabled facilities and fulfil our goal of making all our stations accessible. Being linked to the main station and directly opposite our current carpark.
The question is, does Aberystwyth hold the record for the most stations for the same place? Page 20
Over 90 years of history for No.7 By Gareth Jones
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n January 1922 the Vale of Rheidol received a new owner, the Great Western Railway. They discovered they had inherited 3 engines with the line, a small rather worn 2-4-0 Bagnall Tank, and two Davies & Metcalfe designed 2-6-2 tank engines which were in need of a little TLC. Investment was needed, the line asked for 3 new engines and agreement was reached for two new engines and one of the current engines to be rebuilt. The new engines were designed to have a similar appearance to the original Davies & Metcalfe designed engines though with one very obvious change being the use of Walschaerts valve gear instead of a version of Gooch valve gear which was in use on the D&M engines. Construction was authorised in January 1923 and two engines were built as lot 227 at the Great Western Railway Locomotive Works in Swindon. No.7 was one of the engines delivered towards the end of 1923, having been Page 21
completed during October, No.8 being the second. The engine cost £2,737 to build, which today would cost around £500,000. When the engine arrived it was painted in plain unlined loco green with ‘Great Western’ lettering on the tank sides. (This is the livery the engine currently carries post restoration.) Not alot of details of No.7’s history under Great Western ownership is available. We do know that the engine will have received general overhauls, boiler inspections every seven years and heavy repairs as needed. During the second world war the three engines were stored under cover but did receive maintenance checks and lubrication. At the end of the war No.7 along with No.8 was repainted into plain unlettered green livery. In 1948 the engine was repainted with GWR in large letters on the tank sides. Under the Transport Act 1947 the UK’s railway network was nationalised and on the 1st January 1948 the VoR was
absorbed into British Railways as part of this process. No.7 carried the GWR livery through until 1955 when it was repainted into unlined BR western region green with the early BR crest or ‘lion over wheel’ emblem. In 1956 this livery was modified by the lowering of the BR crest to make way for the fitting of nameplates, No.7 receiving the name ‘Owain Glyndwr’. The following year (1957) another repaint was applied this time receiving orange and black lining on the green paintwork and the then new BR ‘roaring lion’ crest or late BR crest. In the 1960s BR wanted to run down the image of steam to encourage the populace to embrace the diesel era, this instruction took a while to filter down to the Vor (or it may of been ignored) as the engines continued to be polished for a little while longer. In 1968 the green was gone and BR’s new corporate image of blue and new double arrow logo was brought in, with all three engines receiving the new livery, which was enhanced with red backed name and numberplates. In 1976, No.7 returned from overhaul at Swindon in BR Blue with black & white lining, the number had moved higher up on the cab and brass double arrows had been added to the bunker sides. For the 1978 season, No.7 was converted to oil firing (in consultation with the Ffestiniog Railways Boston Lodge), the first of our three engines to be converted. No.7’s next repaint in 1983 was sponsored by Shell(UK) and returned the engine to the lined BR western region green with late BR crest. During May 1988, No.7 hauled the last steam hauled ballast train on British Rail and also holds the accolade of being the last BR owned steam engine to haul a train in BR ownership in November,
bringing to a close the 1988 season. This also marked the occasion of the first part of British Rail to be privatised; the VoR. The 1989 season was kicked off with No.7 hauling the first train of the now privately owned VoR. During 1991, No.7 was converted from vacuum braking to air braking with the addition of a Polish air pump to power the system mounted on the front of the water tank. In 1992 No.7 was repainted into plain green livery, this livery was then enhanced with yellow lining and the company logo on the bunkers in 1993. No.7 ran in this livery until being withdrawn for overhaul in November 1998. Work to bring No.7 back into steam began during 2014. It has involved converting the engine back to coal firing with a new steel firebox being fabricated by Hatch Engineering based in Swindon. The engine’s air pump has also been hidden in a false compartment within the water tank to improve the ‘face’ of the locomotive, the same way that No.8’s was during its overhaul.
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Restoration Memories of No. 7
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Photo by Peter Johnson
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‘Rich Mountains of Lead’: The Metal Mining Industry of Cwm Rheidol and Ystumtuen
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By Ioan Lord
his book details the history of the breaking underground surveys; sites lead, silver and zinc mines of Cwm which all contributed to forming one of Rheidol and Ystumtuen and studies the the largest and most important industries rise and fall of the mining industry in which Ceredigion ever had. this often-forgotten part of the Central ‘Not a person had stood at this place Wales Orefield. underground since the May A huge number of sites have of 1863, and many tools and and continue to be bulldozed, artefacts lay exactly where Not a landscaped and destroyed; sites they were left by those people person had which have great significance from a bygone age. We filled stood at in local heritage, and which in the entrance again after we this place shaped and transformed midleft. Perhaps the time capsule underground of workings beyond are best Wales forever. Very few of since the these local industrial sites left this way: entombed and are protected, and many silent, in respect of the people May of more can still be saved and whose footprints still cover 1863 preserved out of the hundreds the floors, and who worked which are scattered across the and laboured here more than county. This book contains the 150 years ago.’ individual histories of each mine site in Ioan Lord, aged 20, has been studying Cwm Rheidol and Ystumtuen as well as and exploring the old abandoned mines modern day examinations and ground- around Aberystwyth since the age of 6,
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and started to write this book when he was only 8. A decade of further research and with the support of the Vale of Rheidol Railway who have published this unique academic book, Ioan has finally achieved a childhood dream and has a book which breaks new ground in exploring not only the history of an industrial valley which has never before been studied in detail, but also the lives and legacies of hundreds of men, women and children whose lives revolved around the mining industry. Ioan studies Welsh History at Bangor University, and when not working as a Guard and locomotive Fireman on the Vale of Rheidol Railway, volunteers in curating and exhibiting industrial museums at Corris and the Llywernog Silver-lead Mine at Ponterwyd. This book is the culmination of many years of archival research, archaeology and underground digs and explorations which tie in the history with some fascinating discoveries recently made
hundreds of feet below the earth in Cwm Rheidol and Ystumtuen. It brings together a vast archive of old photographs and documents, maps and books which date back as far as 1670. It demonstrates the local and national importance of a 4,000-year-old industry, which deserves a much higher recognition and value.
Available for purchase in our shop or online priced at only
ÂŁ45
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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2019 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.
MARCH 2019 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 25 26 27 28 29 30
S 3 10 17 24 31
JUNE 2019 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
S 2 9 16 23 30
M 1 8 15 22 29
APRIL 2019 T W T F S 2 3 4 5 6 9 10 11 12 13 16 17 18 19 20 23 24 25 26 27 30
S 7 14 21 28
MAY 2019 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 27 28 29 30 31
S 5 12 19 26
M 1 8 15 22 29
T 2 9 16 23 30
JULY 2019 W T F S 3 4 5 6 10 11 12 13 17 18 19 20 24 25 26 27 31
S 7 14 21 28
AUGUST 2019 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 31
S 4 11 18 25
OCTOBER 2019 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 31
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FEBRUARY 2019 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
NOVEMBER 2019 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
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
SEPTEMBER 2019 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
Why not Upgrade to the First Class Saloon?
for seating that yields extra comfort and observation windows.
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
Romance of a Steam Train to your Special Day.. Add the
Aberystwyth’s most unique wedding reception venue
With a variety of opportunities and locations, the possibilities are endless. From using the Steam train to get from the ceremony to the reception venue, or even holding your reception at one of our charming stations. The Railway is completely flexible to make your dream day come true.
Contact us on 01970 625 819
marketing@rheidolrailway.co.uk www.rheidolrailway.co.uk Park Avenue, Aberystwyth SY23 1PG
Photo by Steve Sedgwick
www.rheidolrailway.co.uk
Telephone us: 01970 625 819 - Park Avenue, Aberystwyth SY23 1PG Regular steam train services running throughout the year
