Following a hectic week of maintenance (with help from the Railcar Association) and new arrivals, we were finally able to test run our new primary DMU pairing, 51205/51512. This set has 4 engines, and for the first time we were able to run a DMU set with all 4 engines powering the movement.

Time will need to be spent now on crew training, ready for the opening of the railway for service trains. An opening date will be announced here as soon as it is available.

Following on from the arrival of the Mink D, we then received multiple spares for our DMU sets, comprising of:

• 4 Spare engines

• 6 Spare gear boxes

• 3 exhausts

• 4 Alternators

• 4 Radiators, and

• 1 Gangway connection

Two of the gear boxes have been installed into DMU unit no.51187, making this our third power car, and the power car for out back-up set.

As many of these spares as possible will be loaded into the Mink D that has recently arrived.

Following on from the exemption order, and in attempt to lengthen the line before services start, the length of our line has now been increased by another 7x60ft panels, and ballast has been laid further towards Pant. Our line has now passed Ty-Coch farm, as can be seen in the accompanying photograph.

It has been decided to create two new pairings of the DMU units, the best two units have been paired to provide us with our main set, and the other two units as a backup set. This meant that units 51512 and 51187 were turned around 180 degrees, giving us new pairings of:

51205/51512  -  Two power cars, our primary set

51187/54055  -  One power car and one trailer, our backup set

The move was done with the help of a low-loader, loading the unit onto it then turning the low-loader and unloading the unit, easy when you know how !!

Work has now started on the new, DEFRA funded, station and road/car park at Llynclys. This will provide us with a waiting room and ticket office. The road and car park leading to the station building has also been laid, using crushed stone.

One more hurdle to re-opening the line was today removed, by the granting of a Certificate of Exemption by the Office of Rail Regulation.

This will enable us to run services between Llynclys Sidings (where we are building new station facilities), and Pen-y-Garreg Lane just outside Pant.

Part of the reason we were given this, is that we do not cross any roads or bridges anywhere along this stretch of line, and also because we do not join with any other railway network and our operations are of limited scale and scope.

Any expansion beyond either of these two limits will require a full TWAO (Transport and Works Act Order). Hopefully in the not too distant future !!

With help from members of the Railcar Association, including replacement of the cylinder heads of one of the engines, both engines of set 51205/54055 were successfully started this weekend. Followed with a successful return journey to Ty-Coch farm. This now provides us with a backup DMU set once passenger services start.

Both sets of DMU’s were also examined by them for any remedial work that needs to be done prior to us starting passenger services. The first bit of work done was the replacement of an exhauster unit on DMU 51512, as the original had been damaged some time before we acquired it, when the pulley wheel had been removed, and in so doing had damaged the spindle. 

Saturday, 7th. May was a red-letter day in the history of the Trust. After many weeks of remedial work on the engines and electrics of DMU pair 51512/51187, we were finally able to move the set along the line to Ty-Coch farm, and back of course !. After 5 years inactivity the brake cylinders initially had to be released manually after every application, but once they had “run-in” they performed flawlessly, and learning how to change the controls from one end of the set to the other is interesting to say the least ! But it did show that all the electrical connections between the two cars were undamaged.

This was the first movement of a passenger train on the line since services ceased in 1965.

Work will now continue on the refurbishment of the insides of the units, mostly in cleaning the upholstery and walls, but also replacement of some of the panelling which had been damaged whilst in storage. This was due to the previous owners checking for asbestos, a common material used in these units for insulation. Luckily the insulation had been replaced at some time with a more modern material.

Work will now also continue on the engines and electrics of our second two car set. This will then provide us with a backup set should one fail on open days.

Other Railways have shown that preservation is not entirely a Male domain, the Trust encourages anyone who wants to help with our project. Here we see Joan Boughton (R) and Becky Caulfield (L) at work on the important job of repairing the inside panelling of our DMU set. 

Anyone who wishes to help in any way is invited to turn up on most weekends. Confirmation that working parties are happening can be made by calling the membership secretary on the phone number in the application for membership. Membership is, of course, required on health and safety grounds.

The 8th April saw the arrival of two extra Mark 1’s, FO E3095 from the Great Central Railway, and TSO E4610 from the West Somerset Railway. Below are pictures of them, following arrival, standing in the yard at Llynclys:

Paintwork on the outside of both these carriages will need to be renewed before they will be available for use.

Also to arrive onsite the same day, was another DMU set provided by a Trust member. They are 101676 (51205) a power car, and unpowered trailer 101662 (54055). As with the previous DMU set, they will require a certain amount of work, internally and externally, before they can be put to revenue earning use.