Cambrian Railways Trust


	1000th. Passenger welcomed.


	19th. June. 2006


	As announced on the front page of this website, we entertained our 1000th. passenger since opening last July. Here we see Mr. & Mrs. Dyson, and their three children, Joseph, David and John, from Kinnerley in Shropshire, following presentation of a certificate commemorating the event. Also included was a family ticket for another days rides complete with morning or afternoon tea.


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	Lining out continues on DMU set.


	14th. June. 2006


	Whilst services have been in operation, chances to complete the paintwork, and lining out, on our operational DMU set have been difficult to fit in. Here we see further progress having been made in the lining out and the application of the BR logo and DMU carriage numbers. Next comes fitting in the completion of the gloss finish to the cab end !!


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	Ditcheat Manor on loan


	20th. May. 2006


	7821 “Ditcheat Manor”, shortly after arrival at Llynclys in Jan ‘06

Following boiler repairs and other maintenance work at Crewe Heritage Center, it has been decided to loan Ditcheat Manor out to the Churnet Valley Railway, near Leek, in North Staffordshire. It was felt that until we have a longer run on our Railway (including the provision of run-round facilities) it was not feasible to run it at Llynclys. Ditcheat is due to return to Llynclys, following this loan period, when we will hopefully have an extended line.


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	More stock arrivals


	6th. May. 2006


	The last few weeks have seen the arrival of extra stock, including this Siphon G, No.1046. Built in Swindon in 1955 to Diagram O62 and Lot 1768, it requires a fair amount of rebuilding before it can be used in traffic, due to general deterioration following some collision damage in BR use.


Here we can see 4 12-Ton Box Vans, acquired from MOD use. In order, from the camera , is:

		230336 230281 (WGB4021) 230171 (WGB4367)

	These were all built in Horwich in 1982, part of Lot 4017. And:

			230000 (WGB4004)

		Built in Ashford in 1977, part of Lot 3918. All these wagons are earmarked for departmental use. At the end of these wagons can be seen the Siphon G mentioned above.


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	Trackwork upgrades


	14th. Apr. 2006


	Here we see Richard Jones (right), our Trackwork consultant helping with the fitting of a new point changing apparatus. This will enable us to operate the points using levers in the future, instead of the current manual method, involving bars and rail clips.


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	New End of Line


	7th. Apr. 2006



	To add interest to the journey, it was decided to increase the length of the running line, so that passengers could see the newly exposed Picadilly Pool when arriving at the end of the line, and whilst the crew went through the reversal procedure. Here we see work started in laying the new track on the newly laid formation.



				A few days later, and the track has been laid, along with the repositioned buffer stop.


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	The Show must go on !!


	13th. Mar. 2006


	Heavy snow over the night of 12th/13th March would normally have stopped work. But the new season approaches and work is still needed in providing further sidings space. Here we see workers continuing in the task of site clearance. The subsequent bonfire was very welcome !!




	Here, newly arrived BR(W) 4-6-0 “Ditcheat Manor” stands amidst the newly lain fall of snow.


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	Ditcheat Manor arrives


	29th. Jan. 2006

Early on Friday 27th. January the Railway took delivery of 7821 ‘Ditcheat Manor’. Here we see it on the reception siding following delivery from the Great Central Railway where the engine had been on loan for the last few years.It is currently in an early 1950’s livery of ‘mixed traffic’ black with red backing on name plates and cabside numbers. This engine, unfortunately, is in need of a complete overhaul, and it may be the focus of a Heritage Lottery Fund application by the Trust. In the meantime it will be on permanent display, next to Llynclys Station platform, until the overhaul can be commenced.

On the 29th January, 7821 was towed the full length of the line, to check for possible track problems as it was the heaviest vehicle up the line, and also to check out some routine maintenance that had been performed on D2094. Both the track and the diesel passed with flying colours.

Here we see the train just past Ty-Coch farm, on the way to Pant.

Ditcheat Manor was built in November 1950, and its first allocation was Oswestry shed for the first 3 years of its life. It then had a short spell at Shrewsbury before moving on to Tyseley, in Birmingham, in December 1953. In 1959 it moved on to Newton Abbot for pilot duties on the South Devon banks until in 1961 it was transferred to Croes Newydd, before moving on to Machynlleth in 1963. In 1964 it had a year long spell at Oxley, near Wolverhampton, before spending its last few weeks in Shrewsbury again, before being withdrawn in November 1965.

Following withdrawal it was moved to Barry scrapyard in May 1966, until it was purchased and removed in June 1981 to go initially to the formative Gloucester Warwickshire Railway at Toddington. Following a brief stay at Llangollen, it moved on to Swindon works where the overhaul was completed in 1997.

It has since spent time at various railways, latterly at the Great Central Railway, but now can be considered to have finally come home !


	ALSF Grant Update



	ALSF Grant-work


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			26th. Jan. 2006

		Following a couple of weeks hard work, supervised by Trust member Roger Date, the change in the view at the new station building is obvious. Gone is the building site, to be replaced by a landscaped area surrounding a waiting room and toilet facilities, ready for use when we re-open for services at Easter. To the left of the picture can be seen the RMB buffet coach, to be used as a shop/catering facility. Restored inside and out, and resplendent in a new coat of ‘blood and custard’ paint.

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			10th. Jan. 2006

The Cambrian Railways Trust are pleased to announce that they have been successful in their application for a grant from the Shropshire Aggregates Levy Sustainability Fund (ALSF) to further enhance and improve access arrangements at their Llynclys Station base.

Work is currently underway to pave the main station platform adjacent to the recently constructed, and DEFRA funded, station building.

The project work also entails the construction of a ramped access to the platform for the disabled together with fencing and landscape works to further enhance the period setting.

The project is due for completion by mid-February, allowing plenty of time for Final preparations in readiness for the Easter resumption of public services.




		As part of the ALSF work, we can see here landscaping of the area surrounding the new station building in progress. Planters are being built to further enhance the period scene.


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	Latest stock arrival


	5th. Jan. 2006

The latest piece of rolling stock to arrive onsite, is this Toad Brake-van. Here we see it on the unloading line, just after arrival. It has been acquired by a member of the Trust for eventual use on the Railway.

Built in Swindon in 1923, it is numbered W17952, and is from a batch of 30 from Lot 888 to Diagram AA15.

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