Gwendraeth Valley Railway

21/12/2024

Another milestone for our page! Thank you to everyone who likes, follows and supports the project 🙂

21/12/2024

And in other news this week:

We are delighted to announce that we have acquired former Gwendraeth Valley cut down class 03 locomotive 03119 to join our fleet of dedicated class 03 and 08 locomotives specially adapted for the height restricted Gwendraeth Valley route which is a legacy of its canal ancestry.

03119 was one of nine specially modified class 03 locomotives with reduced height cabs and multi operational capability (enabling a pair of locomotives coupled back to back to be operated by a single crew) with remarkably six surviving into preservation. These characterful locos used to haul the anthracite coal trains in the Valley, usually with three locos per train. They were allocated to Landore depot in Swansea and usually stabled at Llanelli during the 1970’s/80’s.

On withdrawal, 119 entered directly into preservation initially with the West Somerset Railway and most recently at the Epping and Ongar Railway. The loco was delivered yesterday to Valley Rail Preservation’s site at Lydney on the Forest of Dean Railway for a full service and mechanical evaluation prior to joining its former stablemate 03141 already at the Gwendraeth Valley.

Both 03119 and 03141 retain their air controlled multi operational gear which brings the tantalising prospect of eventually seeing a pair of multigear fitted 03 operate on the route for which they were designed.

We would like to thank the Dean Forest Railway and Valley Rail Preservation for accommodating the loco whilst we carry out a full evaluation.

We will bring you more news of this exciting development in due course

20/12/2024

More progress today!

Survey work on our land in Kidwelly got off to a good start focusing on the park side initially, the plan is for the railside survey work to be completed early in the New Year. The topographical survey will produce a 3D graphic model of the land features which consists of a mixture of relatively level former junction site and undulating wooded terrain. We plan to explore and consult on various options with the view to maintain the natural balance of the site. More details to follow in due course.

This work is funded by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund and supported by Carmarthenshire County Council.

18/12/2024

It’s been an extremely busy week, the main line fencing works was completed on schedule and we are extremely pleased with the result. This paves the way for later this week when surveyors will arrive to carry out topographical surveys of potential areas for a new heritage rail platform location and areas at the back of Parc Stephens on the old junction site to accommodate visitor parking and other supporting facilities and infrastructure.

This work is funded by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund and supported by Carmarthenshire County Council.

10/12/2024

Specialist Rail Contractors QTS have been busy fencing off our shared 550 metre boundary with the South Wales Main Line in Kidwelly. This is a landmark development allowing us to survey the rail side land area and determine the best location for new station platform and rail alignment.
More details to follow…

26/11/2024

https://youtu.be/Ji_NuDUwOFs?si=m8Sny8_BkvqsUmEz

A short video about track clearing work done by volunteers in 2009.The former Burry Port and Gwendraeth Valley Railway which is being redeveloped into a heri...

07/11/2024

Work is currently underway on the first phase of a project to develop options for a heritage rail terminus station and visitor reception facilities on railside land adjacent to Park Stephens in Kidwelly. Scrub removal and habitat improvement works are progressing on an overgrown area of land overlooking the Park and adjoining a larger area of rail side land alongside the Great Western Mainline. Options for future heritage rail use has received funding from the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund and supported by Carmarthenshire County Council. The land was once the location of the junctions with the Great Western mainline for both the Gwendraeth Valleys Railway and a spur of the former Burry Port & Gwendraeth Valley Railway. The site is ideally located with its own access and commanding views of the ancient Town of Kidwelly dominated by the Norman castle and impressive Church. Once surveys are completed by around December, options for various uses of the site to include platform location, track layouts and visitor reception facilities will be considered and consulted upon. Further options might include locating one or more historic camping coaches on the perimeter of the site. The next phase of the project will include fencing off over 550 metres of boundary with the GW Main line. More details to follow and we look forward to further consulting on this key gateway development for the project.

01/09/2024

Back to clearing overgrowth now that bird nesting season has ended :)

11/02/2024

10/02/2024

Thanks for being a top engager and making it on to our weekly engagement list! 🎉 Gary Walden, Raymond Phillips, Gerald Calver, Simon Evans, Dale Yonkers

01/02/2024

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vozyovUHjMc

03170 + 03119 Thrash

30/01/2024

We visited the Severn Valley Railway on Saturday to pick up a set of 08 lifting brackets - very heavy!

Lots of locos under overhaul including some 08’s in various states of overhaul. Bob examining 08 cylinder head and liners. Very impressive depot which is something for us to aspire to, but remember 15 years ago they were still servicing locos in a field!

09/01/2024

Interesting vehicle at 01:44

Irish Traction Group 'Diesel Day' at the Downpatrick & Co.Down Railway, March 2010, featuring ITG/DCDR diesel traction including ex CIE Metrovick A Class A39...

31/12/2023

Happy New Year to all our page followers, Society Members, volunteers and everyone who's played any part in our progress so far ! :) There is always lots going on behind the scenes and plenty more to come in the new year ahead. Stay tuned, and enjoy tonight's celebrations :)