02/10/2023
The Talyllyn Railway’s Young Members Group has been awarded a £5000 grant to construct a replica of the Gunpowder Van used by the Railway in Pre-Preservation days.
The Gwynedd Youth Volunteering Grant 2023-2025 has been provided by Mantell Gwynedd, with the aim of supporting local youth volunteering groups for those aged between 14 and 25 in the county of Gwynedd.
The project will benefit not only the YMG, but the wider Railway, Members of the Preservation Society, Visitors to the Railway, The “Preserving Our Past, Building Our Future” Project and tie into the Railway’s recognised status as a part of the Slate Landscape of North West Wales World Heritage Site and the continued efforts to better interpret the Slate Heritage at the Bryneglwys Quarry. It is presumed the Van was built within the first batch of waggons for the Railway for the transport of Gunpowder up to the Bryneglwys and Dolgoch Slate Quarries. The Van stayed in use until Circa 1935 - at this point the metal body became a sand store at Pendre and survived in this form until the mid 1960s. Regrettably the surviving body was junked, much like the demolition of Ty Dwr and the Abergynolwyn Winding House this is not something to scorn but to look back on, understand why it was done - and have a crack at reviving something lost to time!
The YMG is very confident that this project will engage, intrigue and encourage our young volunteers to get stuck in; learning heritage skills that otherwise they may not have the chance to - it is also a great opportunity to create a legacy item for the YMG that aims to inspire. Slate fencing, track relaying and various maintenance work is vital and key to keeping the TR going, and is very much enjoyed by the YMG - however to be able to create a completely unique tangible item that will still be at the Railway for years and years to come, to show future generations of YMG just what can be done by young volunteers is a key aspect of this project.
