Cambrian Railways Trust


	More Track Materials Obtained


	30th. Dec. 2004

Renewal of the trackwork within Birmingham New Street station over the Christmas/New Year period, allowed a group of volunteers, on December 30th, to acquire around 50 tons of sleepers, chairs, bolts and associated materials. Being from within the station confines means that much of the material acquired is related to pointwork, which would normally be both expensive and difficult to acquire. Unfortunately none of the rail was recovered, as Network Rails contractors cut the panels in to small pieces to allow for quick removal.


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	Pictures taken on the day show volunteers dismantling the disposed of trackwork. This allowed us to acquire just the parts we required, and dispose of any cut track, and retaining sleepers/chairs etc.

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Extra coaching stock.


	Three more Mark 1 carriages have also been acquired. Due to space constraints at Llynclys they are currently stored on the Great Central Railway and the West Somerset Railway. They are:

Mk 1 Corridor Composite (CK)

Number 15632

Built Wolverton 1956

Mk 1 Tourist Second Open (TSO)

Number 4610

Built York 1956

Mk 1 First Open (FO)

Number 3095

Built BRCW 1959


	As soon as we can accommodate these important additions to our coaching stock, they will be delivered to the site.


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	Lottery Award for Cambrian Railways Trust

The long-awaited scheme for a heritage steam railway between Gobowen and Llanymynech has come a step nearer, with the announcement of a Heritage Lottery Fund grant of £50,000 to the Cambrian Railways Trust.

The “Project Planning Grant” will allow the funding of detailed Development Plans, a Conservation Plan, and an Ecological / Landscape Plan. These plans will ensure that the project makes the most of its potential to bring benefits to local people, the local economy, and the environment.

Both Oswestry Borough and Oswestry Town Councils have confirmed their support for the Cambrian Railways Trust as the lead body to take the project forwards, and the Town Council has pledged a contribution of £3,000 to match this grant in recognition of the importance of the railway for the town’s future. There will also be a lot of input from volunteers with relevant expertise.

On completion of these studies, the next step will be an application for a much larger Heritage Lottery Fund Grant to help bring the heritage railway to fruition.

The Trust’s members have already rebuilt the railway from Llynclys towards Pant, and are waiting for approval from Her Majesty’s Railway Inspectorate before starting passenger services with their recently-restored diesel train. But now they are delighted to be on course with the much more ambitious project to run steam trains to Oswestry, Gobowen, and Llanymynech. This is one of the most exciting developments planned for the area - it will attract large numbers of visitors, and transform the derelict railway into something the town can be proud of at last.

Keep up to date with progress by regularly visiting this website


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	New Platform


	Work has been progressing quickly on the platform at Llynclys South, with what was an uneven cattle-dock now a level platform edge, extended by 7 meters. This extra length will allow our Buffet Coach (E1850) to remain in the platform, operating as a shop/cafe, while still allowing the full length of the DMU to enter the station, once services have started.

Maintenance work has started on the Buffet coach, now it is in the new Platform. This shot shows Harry Barber working on the newly re-opened door. During the end of it’s BR days this door was sealed, as was the door on the other side of the carriage - now also opened. Painting can also be seen to have started, slowly removing the ‘artwork’. This coach will ultimately be painted in ‘blood and custard’ livery.


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	D3019

The Diesel Shunter arrived at Llynclys after going via Tyseley to have its wheels turned to the correct profile. Although initial work has started on the paintwork, it was decided to have it examined mechanically, and any maintenance needed was to be performed.

Work started so far includes replacement of the axle-box pads, which were providing very little (if any !) lubrication to the axles.

Also, the shunter was fitted with an air-horn (missing at purchase time), and work has started replacing the float mechanism for the fuel tank. Sticking air-brakes were also repaired by replacing the ejector. The vacuum brake being reinstated at the same time.




		D3019 waits next to the new platform edge at Llynclys South, undergoing maintenance.

Although the Diesel is a ‘runner’, it was noticed that there was a fair amount of oil all over the engine. This was diagnosed as a slight leak of the cylinder head. This will mean a removal/repair of the head. In preparation for this, we can see Malcolm Draper removing the worse of the ‘spare’ oil, prior to removal of the head.

The top of the Diesel has been opened in preparation of the head removal.


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It’s been a busy time onsite at Llynclys South, with the arrival of our first pieces of motive power, class 08 No:D3019, and a class 101 2-car DMU, Nos:51187 and 51512. The shunter has been invaluable in moving our rapidly increasing stock around the site as it has been developed, and also in speeding up track laying and ballasting.

The first section of running line has been ballasted using the shunter and our first permanent way train comprising of a Shark brakevan and 2 Dogfish ballast wagons. The following picture shows the train ready to be used prior to ballasting work proceeding.

This has enabled us to complete the laying and ballasting of the main line all the way to Ty-Coch farm, giving us a run of about 500 yards.

The two car DMU set arrived over two days, following shunting difficulties at the storage site at Shoeburyness. The set finally being a single unit on Friday 13th August (!)

The next picture shows 51512 at home, prior to work commencing on paintwork and some interior and exterior bodywork. The ‘artwork’ has actually helped the bodywork survive its 2 years in storage!

Also to arrive on site are 4 Mark One coaches from the Great Central Railway:

SO No. 4362
TSO No. 4965
CK No. 16025, and
BSK No. 35334

These will form the basis of our first locomotive hauled train, hopefully in the not to distant future.

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To be able to run a passenger service from Llynclys South, work has proceded on extending the original cattle dock. This will enable us to install a coach for buffet services/shop, allow the train to pick up and deposit its passengers.

Below is a picture of volunteers rebuilding the buffer end of the platform, in the shadow of 5952 “Cogan Hall”