|
The Gwili Railway, situated on the A484 three miles north of Carmarthen, West Wales, is one of Britain’s most beautiful heritage steam railway lines. Originally part of the Carmarthen to Aberyswyth main line, which had branches to Aberaeron and Newcastle Emlyn, the railway follows the River Gwili upstream, passing through fields of cattle and sheep before crossing the river and winding past steep wooded hillsides. The countryside abounds in wildlife with many interesting birds to be seen, including buzzards, red kite, herons, dippers, woodpeckers, goldcrests, nuthatches and treecreepers.In British Rail days, the line carried passengers, including special trains which took holidaymakers through to Butlin’s holiday camp at Pwllheli, but equally important was the goods traffic - wool from the many local mills along the route, livestock, milk and timber. The line closed to passenger traffic in 1965 as a result of Lord Beeching’s review of the railways, which saw hundreds of branch lines shut down, and 1973 saw the last daily freight train. The Gwili Railway Company was formed in 1975 by a group of enthusiasts, at the very time that British Rail was ripping up the track. The Company purchased 8 miles of trackbed between Abergwili Junction, on the outskirts of Carmarthen, and Llanpumpsaint, which included the fishing rights along parts of the river, since sold on to angling clubs. Unfortunately, the Company only had sufficient capital remaining to purchase just less than a mile of the existing track and the station at Bronwydd Arms. The Company’s first passenger train, consisting of one engine and one coach operating in a 'push-pull' manner, ran in 1978. Since that time, there has been steady development of the railway, which now operates along 2˝ miles of line from Bronwydd Arms to Llwyfan Cerrig and on to its newest station at Danycoed, opened in 2001. Llwyfan Cerrig Station was also built by the railway’s volunteers on a site where stone from the nearby quarry was loaded onto trains. To reach this station with its riverside picnic site, woodland walk and miniature railway, trains pass over a river bridge, which could proudly claim to be the longest in Britain restored entirely by volunteers. At Bronwydd Arms, visits can be made to a working signalbox with its array of traditional signal equipment from the age of steam, and to the original station building which serves as a booking-office and gift shop. Alongside the Gwili Railway Company is the Gwili Railway Preservation Society, the volunteers’ own organisation. The volunteers, from a wide range of backgrounds and from many parts of the country, operate the trains, staff the shop and catering facilities, maintain the track, equipment and rolling stock and are continuously expanding and enhancing the railway’s facilities. Indeed, there are major plans to open another 2˝ miles of line and build a new station and visitor centre at Abergwili, alongside the Carmarthen eastern bypass. It is the enthusiasm and friendliness of these volunteers which appeals so much to those who visit the railway. Train services operate for 8 months of the year, weekly or twice weekly in the quieter periods and daily during school spring, summer and half-term holidays. There are five trains per day, between 11.15am. and 4.30pm. However, the majority of the railway’s passengers come to the special events, such as the very successful 'Day Out with Thomas' held over the Easter Bank Holiday weekend, the popular 'Santa Specials' in December and other events during the summer, such as a Teddy Bear Day, a charity fun day and evening jazz and rock and roll trains with live music and excellent buffet meals. Information about the railway, its timetable and events can be accessed on the Company’s Website The Gwili Railway, now in its 25th year of operation, is a wonderful example of volunteer enterprise, helping to preserve the traditions of the age of steam while making a valuable contribution to tourism in the heart of beautiful, unspoilt Carmarthenshire.
|
