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Rheidol Review Newsletter
Issue 1 - 2024
Two views inside the new Museum, Display and Events space at Aberystwyth station, taken during the preview days during late October 2023.The bright, airy building will open to the public from the start of the season in March 2024: will you be coming to visit us, to have a look around? Photos: John Jones
A new dawn in Aberystwyth....
Kerr Stuart Wren No.3114 on static display inside the immaculate new building.
Photo: Andrew Simmonds
Welcome
The start of a busy year...
Welcome to the first issue of the year. 2023 was a busy year for the Vale of Rheidol - but 2024 looks to be even busier still! Our new museum at Aberystwyth station is due to open within weeks of publication, ready for the new season. The building will contain locomotives from our own collection, as well as from elsewhere: it is exciting to see the building being populated with exhibits, especially with the recent arrival of both ‘Fire Queen’ and the Director’s Coach. Our workshop has been busy too, working both on our fleet and on contract work too: you can read more inside. The permanent way gang have also been busy: Ben Brotherwood writes in this issue, giving you the ‘behind the scenes’ view of what has been going on. 2024 sees the return of large events to the railway, with the Rheidol Steam Festival being held over the August Bank Holiday weekend (24th-26th August 2024). This will be our first major event since the ‘Forgotten Engines II’ gala in 2019, so it is definitely one to place in your diaries! c o n t e n t s
I should also pay tribute to Gareth Jones, who has edited this magazine since 2016. He has produced over thirty issues, which is an impressive run for any editor. He is still very much involved in the railway: he will be looking after group travel in the coming season, as well as his duties in managing the shop. You can also expect to see him about the railway during the season, acting as a guard or duty officer. I will be out and about around the railway over the coming season, either in the shop, guarding or acting as Duty Officer. If you see me, please do say ‘hello’: I am always pleased to hear any suggestions. You can also contact me via phil@rheidolrailway.co.uk. L o o k i n g forward to seeing you in the Rheidol Valley in the coming year! Diolch,
Phil Budd, Editor
Photo: Chris Hartley-Wooley
Page 4
News
Page 24
Birds, bulbs and brambles
Page 10
Workshop updates
Page 26
Rheidol Steam Festival
Page 14
Permanent Way update
Page 28
“The Dentist’s Mine”
Page 16
Then & Now
Page 34
News from the South...
Page 18
Picture Gallery Page 3
Photo Charters - November 2023
Photo: AndrewSimmonds Simmonds Photo: Andrew
The railway ran two successful days of photo charters in early November 2023.
were required to be up at Devil’s Bridge in time for the ‘master shot’ as the sun rose.
These featured two notable ‘end of season’ changes: No.7 in a new variation of its current livery (carrying ‘GWR’ on the tanks, rather than ‘Great Western Railway’) and No.8 in a new livery of British Railways black.
The event finished with a line-up of all three Rheidol tanks in various poses around Aberystwyth station, followed by a night shoot outside the shed as the locomotives were disposed.
No.8 was paired with the blood and custard set for the charters, whilst No.7 worked a typical GWR era goods train.
Results from the charters were published in many of the monthly railway magazines, including a double-page spread in the Christmas issue of ‘Trackside’ magazine. Other results can also be seen in this magazine, including on the cover!
The first day was characterised by poor weather, but this didn’t prevent the photographers enjoying many runpasts at the top end of the line. The morning of the second day dawned bright and clear, producing some stunning results as the sun rose. The day featured an early start for the train crews, as both trains Page 4
The railway is now getting ready for
four more days of photo charters, prior to the start of the 2024 season. The first of these is on 14th/15th March 2024, featuring No.8 in BR
black with carmine and cream coaches. Bookings can be made via David Williams (djw.edit7@btinternet.com). The second is on 19th/20th March 2024: this will feature one day of No.8 in BR
black with the carmine and cream stock, followed by a day with No.7 and the chocolate and cream rake. This is being run by Martin Creese of 30742 Charters: bookings can be made via the 30742 Charters website.
No.8 repainted into BR black - October 2023 No.8 was unveiled in a new livery of BR black in late October, prior to the charters. The locomotive is seen (left) in the paint shop, with the sun glinting off the smokebox. The loco was painted by Niall Bowdler and Simon Reeves, who then drove and fired the locomotive on its first day in traffic on 30th October 2023. They also crewed the locomotive for the two days of photo charters (seen opposite at Cwmdauddwr: Niall is driving, with Simon firing). The livery is a perfect match for the carmine and cream coaches. You can see No.8 in its new colours in the 2024 season, when it will be hauling trains up to Devil’s Bridge.
Above: the sun glints on the smokebox of No.8, as the paint shop doors are thrown open... RIght: ....for No.7 to draw the freshly outshopped locomotive into the sunshine. Photos: Andrew Simmonds. Page 5
Vale of Rheidol Railway News
Photo: Llyr ap Iolo
The Vale of Rheidol Railway is pleased to announce the recent arrival of ‘Fire Queen’ for static display. ‘Fire Queen’ is one of the oldest narrow gauge steam locomotives in existence, having been built in 1848. The locomotive arrived in Aberystwyth on the evening of Friday 19th January 2024, and has been put on display in the new museum alongside the station. The Director’s Coach will also be going on display, prior to a move to the Bala Lake Railway. ‘Fire Queen’, her tender and the Director’s Coach were on loan to National Trust Cymru, and were accepted in lieu of tax by HM Treasury in 2023. They temporarily resided at Penrhyn Castle pending permanent allocation. Page 6
Llyr ap Iolo, Managing Director of the Vale of Rheidol Railway, said: “We are grateful to Julian Birley for offering us the Director’s Coach for short term display until the Bala Photo: Phil Budd Lake Railway can display it themselves, and also for recomending us to Cyngor Gwynedd as a possible temporary home for ‘Fire Queen’.”. Llyr continued: “it is good that the public can continue to enjoy it, rather than it going into a tempoary home behind closed doors. We are excited to have such a historic exhibit to display in our museum, to showcase alongside other rare and unseen rolling stock from our collection. We are really happy to have ‘Fire Queen’ on public display, until it returns home to where it belongs at Gilfach Ddu”. This will be a temporary visit, as ‘Fire Queen’
‘Fire Queen’ arrives in Aberystwyth - January 2024 will eventually return to Parc Padarn to be displayed in its original shed. This building is set to be restored by Cyngor Gwynedd, using Levelling Up funding gratnted by the UK government. Whilst this restoration work is being carried out, ‘Fire Queen’ will be temporarily allocated for display at the Vale of Rheidol Railway. Councillor Nia Jeffries, Deputy Leader of Cyngor Gwynedd and Cabinet member for the Economy and Communities Department, said: “our industrial history and heritage continues to fascinate and inspire people of all ages, and we very much look forward to welcoing the Fire Queen home to Gwynedd - and more specifically to Parc Padarn soon. In the meantime, we are pleased to work with the Vale of Rheidol Railway to ensure that the locomotive and tender has a fitting residency while restoration work is carried out on its original shed in Llanberis”. In addition, the Director’s Coach has been allocated to move from Penrhyn Castle to the Bala Lake Railway. It will be temporarily displayed at the Vale of Rheidol Railway alongside ‘Fire Queen’ during the
coming season, before moving on to Bala. Julian Birley, Bala Lake Railway, said: “Taking on the safeguarding of the Director’s Coach is a great responsibility. We are grateful to the Vale of Rheidol Railway for offering it a home for the time being, whilst all of our efforts and resources are being directed towards extending our own railway into the town of Bala. It is wonderful that all the artefacts from the unique Padarn Railway are going to be kept together, most importantly here in Wales. Both ‘Fire Queen’ and the Director’s Coach will spend the season on display in the restored 1938 engine shed at Aberystwyth station. The building has recently been transformed into a musuem display and events space as part of a larger project called ‘Wales to the World’, which is developing the terminus at Park Avenue into a Great Western-style station suitable for the modern tourist. The public will be able to view both ‘Fire Queen’ and the Director’s Coach in the musuem when the Vale of Rheidol Railway reopens for the season in late March 2024.
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Vale of Rheidol Railway News Museum Update
Photos: James Corbett
Exhibits for the new musuem are beginning to arrive in Aberystwyth, ready for the start of the 2024 season . January 17th saw the arrival of the Director’s Coach, which touched down onto specially laid 4’ gauge rails in the museum on a cold and crisp winter’s afternoon. Next to follow was the tender from ‘Fire Queen’ on January 18th, followed by the locomotive itself on January 19th (see photos below, courtesy of James Corbett). The haulage contractor was Allelys.
Meanwhile, the glass atrium is close to being completed by contractors (mid January 2024 - see photograph from Phil Budd opposite). When the new season starts, access to the museum will be via the new level crossing (complete with ornate level crossing gates) and through the atrium into the building. This will provide an imposing entrance that is in line with modern tourist expectations. Other exhibits are set to follow, to populate the new museum.These will be taken from our own collection (featuring locomotives from across the world), as well as from other sites. The new museum will be open to the public when the season begins on March 23rd 2024. It will then be open daily throughout the season, as well as being available for hire for events, functions and more. For more on our Wales to the World project see: https://www.rheidolrailway.co.uk/futuredevelopment/
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Vale of Rheidol Railway News Museum Update
Photos: Phil Budd
Page 9
Workshop Talyllyn Railway No.4 “Edward Thomas” Work on Talyllyn Railway No.4 ‘Edward Thomas’ is approaching completion in the workshop. The locomotive received a complete strip-down, with the frames and many of the components being sand-blasted back to bare metal. Meanwhile, a new smokebox has been fabricated out of stainless steel to replace the lifeexpired original. This will last much longer than the previous one, which was made out of mild steel. Below: the locomotive begins to come together again in the workshop.
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Update The loco has also received a new ashpan, again made out of stainless steel. Parts were designed with 3D-CAD: the components were laser-cut and then welded together in house. Meanwhile, the wheels have been taken out of the frames to be turned and re-profiled. Whilst the wheels were out, some of the rivets on the frames were replaced as well. The cylinders have had new piston rods, new piston heads and rings: this will help the locomotive’s performance. The slide bars have been machined, and the rod bearings have been renewed to remove excess wear. New bunkers have been fabricated for the locomotive, to replace the repaired and life-expired originals. These came as ‘flat packs’, which were then riveted together. The locomotive has also received new pony truck axleboxes. These were drawn: bronze castings were cast externally, before being machined in-house. Finally, the locomotive cab has also had ventilation added for the first time, to aid air-flow on warm days - see photo below, from Tom Curtis.
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Workshop Home Fleet It has been a busy winter for the team in the workshops! Loco maintainence has focussed on the operational loco fleet (No.7, No8, No.60, the Wren and ‘Margaret’): completing mechanical work, as well as preparing them for annual steam tests prior to the start of the season. Exams have been carried out on all of the operational carriages. Carriage No.5 has been in the paintshop for a full repaint Above: the completed MoD transporter wagons, ready for (GWR livery), whilst carriage use on the railway. Garratt No.60 and No.7 stand in the No.4 is having a full body background, with work underway to prepare them for the overhaul. (see opposite right). start of the season. The MoD transporter wagons have also been overhauled for carrying large machinery for the permanent way gang.
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Below: Work continues on carriage No.9, seen inside the paint shop in early February 2024.
Update Contract Work
Work has continued on the construction of a new ballast wagon for the Talyllyn Railway. This will allow the railway’s permanent way gangs to transport and deliver ballast around the railway. Over the winter months, we have also carried out wheel turning for a number of railways (including the Isle of Man Steam Railway, the Manx Electric Railway and the Welshpool & Llanfair Light Railway).
Carriage No.16 The underframe of carriage No.16 (below) has had a full overhaul and rebuild. The vehicle was a Summer car, and has so far not run in the preservation era. It is intended to return it to traffic in as a replica of a 1920s wooden-bodied compartment coach.
Carriage No.4.
Underframe of Carriage No.16. Page 13
RAILWAY NEWS PERMANENT WAY
Ben Brotherwood The permanent way team has fully
assembled for winter, now that passenger trains have ceased operations for the season. It has been a busy couple of months! The first area of attention saw the lineside cut back using the rail mounted flail, supplemented by several members of staff attacking the areas unreachable by the flail arm. The wildflower meadow in Devil’s Bridge had its annual hair dressers appointment, on what felt like one of the final sunny days of 2023. Track work began with an intensive spot resleepering along the length of Glanyrafon Industrial Estate. The process begins with fastenings being removed and carefully put in a place of safety. Machine operator ‘Sponge’ then digs out enough room with
his digger to slide the old sleeper out and put the fresh sleeper in. He then moves onto the next sleeper, while the track team works behind to drill and screw the fresh sleeper to gauge. In total we replaced over 280 sleepers in 4 days - quite an achivement! Two relays are underway this winter. The first (larger) relay at 62 panels has been screwed together and is currently being ballasted at the time of writing (see photo bottom right, taken in mid-January 2024). The track between Nantyronen road crossing down to the start of Troedrhiwfelin straight was the focus of this work.
A cold start for the P-Way gang on 17th January 2024....
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Phil Budd.
RAILWAY NEWS PERMANENT WAY Once tamping has been complete on the first relay, the second project will start: this will be from the bottom points of Aberffrwd and run through the check railed curve down to the end of the straight below Aberffrwd curve. Finishing this section, this will virtually complete the plan to have the Capel Bangor to Aberffrwd section fully relaid by the end of winter 2024/25. Approximately 70 panels will be left to relay to achieve this goal. Once finished, attention can turn to relaying from Aberffrwd towards Devil’s Bridge. Various other jobs have occurred in lulls on the relays. Several troublesome joints in the Aberffrwd to Devil’s Bridge section have received attention from the hydraulic crow to improve the transition of the curves.
The team not involved in ballasting have spent several days greasing fishplates in the Aberystwyth to Capel Bangor section;.
....and it’s even colder in the valley!
Phil Budd.
Page 15
Then & now...
Left: The interior of the 1938-built Aberystwyth shed in an undated photo, believed to be taken just after closure to standard gauge steam. Note the mineral wagon on the left hand road, presumably to assist with the closure of the shed. The VoR began using the shed in May 1968. Photo: the late John Reeves collection. Below: Light pours in through the windows of the building, taken during the museum preview days in late October 2023. Photo: Ian Medcalf
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Then & now...
Above: 74xx pannier tank No.7417 stands outside Aberystwyth shed in this undated photo from the late John Reeves collection. Below: A view taken in January 2024, showing the 1938 building being prepared for its latest use: note the new glass atrium being built on the right hand side.The small workshop building and fitters store (slanted roof, on the right and side of the original picture) was demolished in 2014. (P.Budd)
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No.8 crosses Cwmdauddwr embankment on Friday 3rd November, during the second day of photo charters. A.Simmonds. Photo courtesy John R Jones
Picture
No.8 shunting in the carriage shed: 3rd November 2023.
Photo charters 2023: No.7 and No.8 at Devil’s Bridge.
Photo: Andy Pannett
Gallery 97303, 37405, No.11 and the Wren on 29th September 2023.
The engineering prototype of a new 009 model, spotted at Warley in November. ..
...we look forward to further developments soon! It is being produced by ‘Model Rail’ magazine. Page 18
Photo: Stephen Mullen
No.7 propels its coaches towards the carriage shed, at the end of a wet day in late October 2023. Andrew Simmonds
Picture gallery - Night Steam
No.7 and No.8 on shed at Aberystwyth on November 3rd 2023. Page 22
Andrew Simmonds
A night at the museum... Above: No excuse needed for another picture of ‘Fire Queen’, spending its first evening in our new museum on Friday 19th January 2024. Phil Budd Below: A new view from the station platform...
Phil Budd
Page 23
Birds, bulbs & brambles Volunteer update - Jenny Edwards, Railway Volunteers
Andrew Simmonds
The past year has been a very busy time for the
volunteers as well as the staff. With lots of new developments on the railway there were many new areas of ground for volunteers to tend and plant up. These new challenges, coupled with spells of adverse weather conditions and some other setbacks have had quite a profound impact on what the team has been able to achieve. We are lucky however that we have been able to recruit some new willing hands to help with our weeding and planting tasks at Aberystwyth and Devils Bridge Stations and with the slightly more strenuous task of cutting back brambles and other overgrown areas at some of the more rural places like Nantyronen Halt and Aberffrwd Station.
trial idea for this year and the team will be interested to see if this new plan is successful. Elsewhere, the troughs and garden areas were planted up with spring bulbs around October/ November time. There were some newly bought bulbs of hopefully spectacular tulips. The old daffodil bulbs had been stored since May (under the roof and away from rats) in the platelayers’ hut near to Nantyronen Halt. Interestingly, this platelayers’ hut was in use through the 1950s but had sadly become rather dilapidated until it was rebuilt and renovated in 2018 by the volunteer crew of Peter White, John and Clive, who have restored it to its former condition.
We have been able to welcome Colin and Katharine to the team working over the winter months and they have proved to be enthusiastic to get stuck in to the main tasks of bulb planting in the beds at Aberystwyth Station and in the troughs at Nantyronen, Capel Bangor and Aberffrwd.
More information regarding the platelayers’ huts and indeed many other historical details of the operation of the railway can be found in ‘The Vale of Rheidol Railway in Detail’ compiled from the archives by Stephen Phillips, and available from the bookshops in Aberystwyth and Devil’s Bridge Stations.
Due to the exciting developments at the station in Aberystwyth, the volunteers have been kept very busy keeping up with planning, preparing, planting and maintaining the five new flower beds around the station and car park.
Other work has been underway at Aberffrwd Station, where its sack barrow has been carefully restored and repainted by John. Also the beds and troughs at Aberffrwd were cleared and tended by Maureen. Soon some volunteers will clear and tidy around the whitestone Aberffrwd sign and the letters will be brightly repainted.
Unfortunately, autumn rain rotted the geraniums in the beds at Aberystwyth which had to then be removed. The wet ground caused some delays to the bulb planting programme. At Nantyronen, 25 pre planted bulb boxes replaced the geranium boxes which had been lifted and stored in a glasshouse to try to overwinter the plants till the spring replanting time. This is a Page 24
Maurice and Mark have been involved in the weeding and bulb planting at Aberystwyth, Capel Bangor, Nantyronen and Devil’s Bridge Stations and the whole team works together to maximise the display and maintain the new plantings of Gingko and Whitebeam trees which have been a feature of the new station
and car park landscaping that has gone on this year. Many passengers travelling on the railway this year may have noticed that bird feeders have been installed at the three intermediate stations of Capel Bangor, Nantyronen and Aberffrwd. The volunteers fill and maintain these feeders to try to encourage diversity of wildlife along the line and interestingly we have observed many blue tits, a family of woodpeckers, nuthatches and robins making use of these facilities. It is always heartening for volunteers to overhear some of the comments made by passengers who remark on how lovely the flowers are and how nice it is to see the birds come to feed when the trains stop at these stations. Our most recent task is ongoing, that is clearing the brambles and overgrown area around the entrance to Nantyronen Halt. It was important to try to finish this task before the birds begin to build their spring nests, however extreme cold weather has impeded the progress on
recent occasions. Philip, Colin, Katharine Jenny and Clive have been instrumental in getting this job almost finished and their efforts will definitely improve the diversity of wildlife that make the VoRR their home. Finally, if you find yourself with some spare time to fill, we encourage enquiries at the main station in Aberystwyth. You can be sure to receive a warm welcome if you meet up with the volunteers.We are a happy group.We also look forward to welcoming our wonderful visitors this year when the railway opens again at the end of March. and we look forward to all the new attractions on The Vale of Rheidol Railway. Hope to see you soon! Editors note: the gardening volunteers are a happy team who meet regularly: it is great to see the gardens around the railway looking fantastic at all times of year. Why not join them? Get in contact when you next visit, or phone or email the railway for more details: you can be assured of a warm welcome, as well as an unusual perspective on the railway.
Andrew Simmonds
At the time of writing, the rain is hammering outside and the wind is howling. Here iss a flashback to warmer days, taken on the August bank holiday of 2023 with Aberffrwd looking splendid. Would you like to be part of the happy team that enjoys views like this, tending the gardens? Get in touch! Page 25
Rheidol Steam Festival 2024
2024 sees the return of large events to the railway, with the Rheidol Steam Festival on 24th-26th August. The event will be held over the August Bank Holiday weekend: it will be an exciting time to be at the railway. The festival is intended to showcase our new station site and musuem at Aberystwyth, where there will be plenty of trains to ride, photograph and enjoy. We also plan to have a surprise for you, which we will be announcing in the railway press and via our website and social media in the coming weeks. Keep an eye out for news of a visiting locomotive.... An intensive timetable will be in operation over all three days, allowing plenty of opportunities to ride behind as many locomotives as possible. There will also be lots of unusual train movements to photograph. Copies of the working timetable will be available online closer to the event. If you are travelling far, it may worth booking accommodation well in advance: the weekend is also shared with the popular ‘Big Tribute’ musical festival in Aberystwyth, which is likely to fill local hotels and guest houses in the area. It will be a great weekend to be in Ceredigion: enjoy the Rheidol Steam Festival in the daytime, and enjoy strolling the seafront with a fantastic sunset each evening too! Aberystwyth will also be hosting it’s annual Street Food Festival in the marina as well. Page 26
If you are interested in narrow gauge railways, don’t forget that our friends at the Bala Lake Railway are also holding their annual gala on the same weekend. Closer to home, the Corris Railway are also holding their annual Model Railway Exhibition in Machynlleth from 10.00 until 16.00 on the Saturday and Sunday. Why not stay for all three days, and visit other narrow gauge railways in the locality as well? Aberystwyth station will be a busy place during the bank holiday weekend, with lot of train movements. As well as the busy timetable on the railway, there will also be a small number of displays inside our new museum building at Aberystwyth station. If you have something that you would like to exhibit at the event, please get in touch. We would be particularly interested to hear from anyone with models of Rheidol tanks (in any scale), as well as owners of miniature or full size road steam. Exhibitors and display stands are also welcome, particularly from other narrow gauge railways. Please get in touch if you would like to bring a display stand (or similar) to the event. Phil Budd will be organising the event: you can contact him via email (phil@rheidolrailway. co.uk), or via phone (01970 625 819 option 1). The August Bank Holiday weekend will be an excellent time to come and enjoy narrow gauge steam in the Rheidol valley - especially as the railway basks in late Summer weather. Will you be joining us? Put the date in your diary now!
Left: ‘Margaret’ is seen (left) in steam outside the workshops, on the freezing cold but sunny morning of January 17th 2024... ....before finding its way into the carriage shed, seen outside the Museum Store. (photos: Phil Budd)
No.8 (left) is steam-tested on 31st January 2024, outside the workshops: note the dome cover in an unusual position! Page 27
“The Dentist’s Mine” Ioan Lord
Interest in the old Rhiwrugos Mine, situated in the heart of the so-called Horseshoe Bend, was awakened soon after the opening of the Vale of Rheidol Railway in 1902. The track lay on the same contour as No. 2 Adit, passing the foot of the tips. In 1911 the adit was reopened as the Erwtomau Mine. Its leaseholder and promotor was Thomas Augustine Fox, a dentist and chemist from St Helens, Lancashire. Born in 1849, Fox’s connections Page 28
with mining are unknown, and he remained at his profession in St Helens until his death. However, he evidently had faith in his mining enterprise and ordered the construction of a large timberframed dressing mill clad with corrugated iron, set in stone and concrete foundations. It was built just above the railway, by means of which the machinery and building supplies were carried to the site.
Rhiwrugos (now Erwtomau) had been reopened chiefly for mining zinc-blende, although lead-ore was also still produced. The mill machinery was powered by a suction gas plant, driven by a Fielding & Platt gas engine of 68bhp. It had a 22” × 16½” stroke and cylinder, with a gas generator, wet and dry scrubbers, air cylinder and self-starter.
his interest in chemistry and dentistry in mid-Wales is not known, but he soon proved himself to be a successful manager at Erwtomau.
No. 2 Adit was not widened to accommodate the new generation of mining equipment, so everything was scaled-down to fit. Wagons barely 3 feet high ran on a 1’ 6” gauge tramway which led along the crossFox employed his former assistant, cut from the portal to the Main Lode. Thomas W. Brennan, as the mine manager. Brennan, who like Fox was Here, the tramway turned left a native of St Helens, was trained as and the modern workings took a chemist’s assistant and his sudden place in the westerly reaches career change into managing a of the drivage on this lode. metal mine came at the age of 21. The old passage which the tramway It is unknown whether he had any passed through to reach the modern previous experience in mining, but workings is barely 4 feet high, yet he moved to Llyn Ddu, a house no attempt was made to heighten opposite the mine on the floor of it. Light-weight, metal sleepers Cwm Rheidol, in 1911 and two years were used to fasten the rails, and later married Catherine Davies from extensive stoping took place on the Aberystwyth. Whether he continued Main Lode between 400 and 600 feet Left: Half a mile underground at Erwtomau, large stopes where zinc-blende was mined. Below: Tint end-tipping wagon and 18” gauge tramway at the Erwtomau mill, c.1930.
west of the main cross-cut. Gelignite manufactured by Nobel’s Explosives Company of Glasgow was used for blasting underground, brought to the site by the Vale of Rheidol Railway. Stuff was trammed out of No. 2 Adit and reached the storage hopper on the first floor of the mill by means of the mill elevator. The Acme Stone Breaker was probably also positioned on the first floor, after which the stuff passed through the crusher rollers to the four trommels on the ground floor. Water to the jiggers, vanning tables and flat buddle was brought from Nant Rhiwrugos along wooden launders from above No. 2 Adit and into a third centrifugal pump housed near the centre of the mill building. A small pond was created in the field at the head of the ravine, and a concrete dam built across the portal of Top Adit to add to the water supply. From the lower end of the mill, the exit tramway split into two branches; one for loading ore, the other for collecting materials transported to the mine by theVale of Rheidol Railway. The loading branch ran on to a wooden stage that projected at the edge of the tips, from which endtipping wagons emptied into trucks on the railway below. A siding was never laid here and goods trains could pause only briefly, to avoid disrupting the railway’s timetable. The other branch ended at the tips a few feet south of the loading branch. From here, a short incline worked by a hand-operated winch drew up small wagons from the offloading area. The railway continued to supply the mine
with machinery, ironwork and timber, which were transferred from the side-door wagons of the main line to the small mine wagons on the incline. Work at Erwtomau was suspended when Thomas Fox passed away on 19 March 1930. With its owner gone, the future was uncertain and all the miners were laid off. The lease soon expired and Fox’s executors offered the entire plant and machinery for auction in 1932. The mine was officially closed, and except for Caecynon and Ystumtuen was the last to do so in the valley. The final sale took place on 30 July, when the mill was demolished and its components included in the various lots. Whilst checking over the site prior to the sale, Captain Brennan noticed the disappearance of various bolts, drills, an iron scraper and some wire netting. The local police obtained a search warrant on 20 August and found the missing items hidden in the woods on Bwlchcrwys farm’s land, over 700 yards from the mine. Henry Williams of Bwlchcrwys denied any responsibility, adding that he had found something like a small waterwheel hidden in the same woods almost a year ago. The thief was never found. It is not known who purchased the mill and the machinery at Erwtomau in July 1932, but the Vale of Rheidol Railway carried everything away and the mine was left deserted. This was probably the last goods train ever to run on the VoR, which had officially closed to goods traffic the previous year
N.B. These mines are on private property, and entry is forbidden unless by prior arrangement. Mines in the valley are very dangerous owing to the vertical shafts, and the potential for them to be hidden within woodland. Exploration should only be undertaken by experienced persons, and with extreme caution.
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“The Welsh Potosi” The Vale of Rheidol Railway is pleased to announce the recent publication of a new book by local historian and railwayman Ioan Lord, covering the history of mining, railways and industrial history in the Plynlimon Mountains. The unusual book title refers to a period when the Plynlimon and Cambrian mountains were known by a different name, reflecting the riches of South America during the seventeenth century The mountainous region north of Ponterwyd was christened th ‘Welsh Potosi’, after the world-famous Potosi silver mines in Bolivia. The book contains much to interest railway enthusiasts, as well as those who are interested in the mining history of the local area. The book can currently only be purchased from the Vale of Rheidol Railway: either from our online shop, or in person at our Aberystwyth shop. Ioan is of course a familiar face to the railway, as he works regularly as a guard and locomotive fireman on the Vale of Rheidol Railway during the season. If you see him out and about on the railway, do ask him about his book!
www.rheidolrailway.co.uk/shop Page 31
2024
Photo courtesy Geoff Griffiths
AMSERLEN TIMETABLE Dewiswch eich dyddiad teithio o’r calendr a pharwch y lliw a ddangosir gyda’r amserlen berthnasol. Pick your date of travel from the calendar and match the colour shown to the relevant timetable. MAWRTH M
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Aberystwyth Capel Bangor Aberffrwd Devil’s Bridge Devil’s Bridge Aberffrwd Capel Bangor Aberystwyth
Why not treat yourself by upgrading to our luxurious First Class Carriage for your journey.
MELYN YELLOW 10:30 12:15 2:00 3:45 10:50 12:35 2:20 4:05 11:10 12:55 2:40 4:25 11:30 1:15 3:00 4:45 12:30 2:15 4:00 5:45 12:50 2:35 4:20 6:05 1:10 2:55 4:40 6:25 1:30 3:15 5:00 6:45 GWYRDD GREEN Aberystwyth dep: 10:30 12:15 2:00 3:45 6:00 Capel Bangor dep: 10:50 12:35 2:20 4:05 6:20 Aberffrwd dep: 11:10 12:55 2:40 4:25 6:40 Devil’s Bridge arr: 11:30 1:15 3:00 4:45 7:00 Devil’s Bridge dep: 12:30 2:15 4:00 5:45 8:00 Aberffrwd dep: 12:50 2:35 4:20 6:05 8:20 Capel Bangor dep: 1:10 2:55 4:40 6:25 8:40 Aberystwyth arr: 1:30 3:15 5:00 6:45 9:00 PINC PINK Special Event August Bank Holiday weekend, 24th - 26th August. An intensive timetable will operate, see website for details. dep: dep: dep: arr: dep: dep: dep: arr:
OREN
10:30 10:50 11:10 11:30 12:30 12:50 1:10 1:30
ORANGE
2:00 2:20 2:40 3:00 4:00 4:20 4:40 5:00
Trains call at Llanbadarn, Glanyrafon, Nantyronen, Rheidol Falls and Rhiwfron halts on request. Please speak to the Guard to arrange for the train to stop.
STUNNING SCENERY FROM THE COAST TO THE CAMBRIAN MOUNTAINS
RHEILFFORDD CWM RHEIDOL VALE OF RHEIDOL RAILWAY
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info@rheidolrailway.co.uk
01970 625 819
www.rheidolrailway.co.uk
Photo Charters - March 2024
Could this be your camera....? Join us for our next round of photo charters, which will be running in March 2024. Enjoy unrivalled lineside access to parts of the railway which are usually out of bounds, as well as enjoying runpasts staged specifically for photographers. Booking for these events is via the event organisers: details are below. David Williams charter Thursday 14th March 2024 - No.8 and carmine & cream carriage Friday 15th March 2024 - No.8 and carmine & cream carriages Email djw.edit7@btinternet.com to book. Martin Creese (30742 Charters) Tuesday 19th March 2024 - No.8 and carmine & cream carriages Wednesday 20th March 2024 - No.8 in GWR green with chocolate & cream coaches https://www.tickettailor.com/events/30742charters/1074683 Page 33
News from the Brecon Mountain Railway A new column for this magazine...
Work is still in progress legally structuring the purchase of the line by the Vale of Rheidol Railway. We are hoping that this will be concluded by early summer 2024, The Brecon Mountain Railway will open as normal on March 23rd 2024, and the business transition will happen seamlessly when a final date is concluded. Meanwhile, we are pleased to announce the appointment of Stuart Williams as the new General Manager of the Brecon Mountain Railway. Stuart will be responsible for managing the line, and is expected to be in post in early Summer 2024. Managing Director Llyr ap Iolo said: “I am very excited about the appointment of Stuart as the General Manager of the Brecon Mountain Railway: we are fortunate to have recruited such an experienced and capable person to fill the role. We are looking forward to working with him to develop plans to expand the visitor experience in the future, as we continue the good work of the Brecon Mountain Railway”. Stuart is no stranger to railways, having been General Manager of the Talyllyn Railway from 2017 to 2023. He was also a volunteer and director at the Dean Forest Railway from 2010 to 2017, as well as being a directror of the Heritage Railway Association from 2020 to 2023.
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He is currently living and working in Orkney, leading a trust that is developing and promoting three remote islands. In addition, he also remains a stakeholder in County Marquees (a company that he co-founded back back in the 1990s, and was Managing DIrector of until 2017). Stuart said: “I am thrilled to return to Wales to take up the position of General Manager at the Brecon Mountain Railway. My experience in Orkney has proven instrumental in gaining experience in effective collaboration with funders, community development and the essential transition to Net Zero skills that will undoubtedly contribute to the success of my new role. The Brecon Mountain Railway boasts immense potential, and I eagerly anticipate collaborating with the existing staff, as well as partnering with Llyr and the team at the Vale of Rheidol Railway”.
st 24 u g Au th 20 OF H R EIDOL 6 E L 2 A RAILWAY V 4th THE
2
RHEIL
RDD FFO
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RHE IDOL
. the ..save dat e... .
Rheidol Steam Festival 2024
A three day festival of steam in Aberystwyth! Intensive timetable, lots of trains, new museum and more...
Andrew Simmonds 2023 Phil Budd / VoR 2024
Photos: Andrew Simmonds & Phil Budd
Above: More scenes from the November 2023 photo charter: No.7 is seen passing the Stag on a run past, heading towards Devil’s Bridge.There will be similar scenes on at the 2024 charters, being run separately by David Williams (14th/15th March 2024) and Martin Creese (19th/20th March).Will you be joining us? Details of how to book are inside in the magazine. (Andrew Simmonds) Below: No.7 and No.8 line up at Devil’s Bridge. (Andrew Simmonds)