Good news for historic Welsh steam locomotive




Valley Veteran TVR 28 needs your help!
The cosmetic restoration of Taff Vale Railway ‘O1’ class 0-6-2T No. 28, the last surviving Welsh-built standard gauge steam locomotive, is set to go ahead thanks to a unique three-way partnership between the National Railway Museum, and two of Wales’s leading standard gauge preserved railways.
The Gwili Railway-based Gwili Vintage Carriage Group (GVCG), and the Llangollen Railway have agreed to work together to cosmetically restore the locomotive to showroom condition and display it with the only Welsh-built standard gauge railway carriage to survive into preservation, Taff Vale Railway Brake Third No. 220.
James Buckley, of the GVCG, explained: “As custodians of No. 220, this project reflects a long-held aspiration to display the carriage within an appropriate context, and uniting it with the sole-surviving Welsh-built standard gauge steam locomotive in South Wales is a fantastic proposition.
“This project has three major benefits in that we will move a step closer to creating a train that consists solely of Welsh rolling stock; the Llangollen Railway will get to re-assemble No. 28, and the locomotive will be out on public display for the first time in over two decades. We look forward to working closely with both the Llangollen Railway and the National Railway Museum to achieve this aim.”
An appeal for £10,000 to complete the cosmetic restoration and transport the locomotive to the Gwili Railway is launched today by the GVCG on behalf of the other two partners.
Neil Evans, from Llangollen Railway, said: “It will be great to get this loco back to ‘showroom’ condition. Llangollen Railway’s workshop is the largest standard gauge steam loco workshop in Wales, so we’re very happy to be involved with the project. Since No. 28 arrived at Llangollen we have already worked on some parts of the locomotive, and a successful fundraising exercise will help us to complete the job.”
Anthony Coulls, of the National Railway Museum, said: “It has long been our ambition at the National Railway Museum to get No. 28 looking in tip-top condition and it’s great to have such enthusiastic partners in Wales to help us achieve this aim. Although Wales is well-known for its narrow-gauge lines, perhaps No. 28 will help remind everyone of Wales’ standard gauge railway heritage; the coal hauled by this engine helped to develop Britain.”

Cheques in support of the restoration fund should be sent with a covering letter to:
Gwili Vintage Carriage Group c/o
Gwili Steam Railway
Bronwydd Arms Station
Carmarthen
SA33 6HT
Or online via:
http://gvcg.co.uk/donations/
Gift Aid forms will be sent to everyone who donates.

TVR No.28 Historical note
Taff Vale Railway ‘O1’ class 0-6-2 No. 28 was built in 1897 at West Yard Works, Cardiff to a design by Tom Hurry Riches. It was designed to pull passengers and freight on lines in the South Wales valleys and Cardiff docks, and represents one of a series of similar locomotive types that would influence the development of the GWR’s 56xx class 0-6-2T.
No. 28 was withdrawn from mainline service by the GWR in 1926. The locomotive saw further use with the Army and the National Coal Board, which enabled it to survive into preservation, becoming a part of the National Collection in 1960.
Briefly returned to working order in Caerphilly in the 1980s, No. 28 was moved to the Dean Forest Railway in Gloucestershire after the group looking after it disbanded. It is currently stored at the Llangollen Railway in a dismantled state awaiting restoration, initially to non-operational condition. 

Photos:
No. 28 at Llangollen with 'Gordon' nameplate from its days on the Longmoor Military Railway. The Gwili Vintage Carriage Group (GVCG) and Llangollen Railway representatives involved in the project are from L-R: Dewi Jones (GVCG); Neil Evans (Llangollen Railway); James Buckley (GVCG) and Chris Beet (National Railway Museum). Photograph attributable to National Railway Museum.
No. 28 during its last period of operation in Taff Vale Railway Company livery. National Railway Museum.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Former Gower MP Gareth Wardell the guest speaker at Llanelli Rotary Club

Image
Former Gower MP Gareth Wardell was the guest speaker at the weekly meeting of Llanelli Rotary Club held at the Stradey Park Hotel. Mr Wardell gave an illuminating address, weaving comparisons between his job as a politician and his late father's job as a Tumble barber. It was an amusing, highly-entertaining and thought-provoking address. Mr Wardell, now 69, won the Gower constituency seat in a Parliamentary by-election in 1982. The Labour MP held the seat until his retirement in 1997. He now works as a public affairs consultant in Wales. Mr Wardell's Parliamentary term was largely in opposition to Margaret Thatcher's Conservative Government. But his did make a significant contribution by being the youngest MP to chair the Welsh Affairs Select Committee. Mr Wardell recognised that in the 'fame stakes' he may have played second fiddle to his father, Jack, who was one of the UK's oldest barbers and who cut and styled hair for almost 80 years. Jac
Read more

'Class of 1980' from Burry Port enjoy reunion

Image
There was a big class reunion held in Burry Port at the weekend. Members of the Class of 1980 from Porth Tywyn (Burry Port junior) School got together at The Coasting Pilot pub. The reunion was organised by Christine Rees and same 22 members of the original class of 28 turn up to discuss their old schooldays. One ‘Class of 1980’ member was Burry Port businessman Owain Davies. He said: “We all have very happy memories of our time in school. We had a fantastic teacher in Mr Heddwyn Jones, who now lives in Four Roads. “We were very fortunate to have the same teacher for three years and we were a very happy class. Mr Jones was an inspiring teacher and we all got on every well and we are all still good friends. “Heather Thomas (now Heather Osmond) made it from Surrey, but she was trumped by Gail Morris, who flew in from Ohio in the United States for the reunion. “It was a fantastic evening at the Coasting Pilot with good food, good wine and good company. We even recreated the class
Read more

Lauryn Davey is making her mark in athletics - but needs sponsors

Image
Ammanford-based Lauryn Davey is making a major mark in the world of Welsh athletics. At just 16, she is the best all-round athlete of her age in Wales. She's chalking up Welsh championship victories and has been honoured by her club, the Carmarthen Harriers. Lauryn's been earmarked as a future international star, but knows the road to the big championships is difficult, demanding and expensive. Ammanford businessman and well-known comic entertainer Phil Evans has launched a campaign to get cash backers for Lauryn's athletics career. "Everyone in the area is hugely proud of her achievements in athletics to date," said Phil. "But we also want to see her go on and do bigger and better things. "Together with some friends, I am helping find ways of generating much-needed sponsorship cash for Lauryn. "She has massive potential to succeed on the international stage and I am sure a little bit of financial help will help to smooth her
Read more