Wales on the Web A flash movie about the Talyllyn Railway. Including Talyllyn, Steam Locomotive, Corris, Abergynolwyn, Bryn Eglwys, Nant Gwernol Valley, Aberdovey, Towyn and more. Part of the largest collection of movies on any culture anywhere on the Web.
Wales on the Web Talyllyn Railway - wales flash movie The Talyllyn Railway of two foot three inch gauge runs for seven and a half miles between Towyn and the former Bryn Eglwys slate quarries in the Nant Gwernol valley. Opened in April 1864, it did not connect with the sea at Aberdovey as intended, but with the Cambrian main line at Towyn and, from the beginning, carried both slate and passengers. When the quarries closed in 1946 Sir Henry Haydyn Jones, the railway’s owner, decided to preserve the line at his own expense and, when he died in 1950, LTC Rolt founded the “Talyllyn Railway Preservation Society” – Britain’s first such organisation. This locomotive disguised as Thomas the Tank Engine’s companion “peter Sam”, is in reality, “No 4”, otherwise “Edward Thomas”, a 0-4-2 engine built in 1921 that spent much of its working life on the Corris Railway. An efficient engine, “No 4” leaves Towyn with its train, at the beginning of what is one of the best narrow gauge railway journeys in Wales. The first six and a half miles of the route passes Rhydyronen, Brynglas and Dolgoch to reach Abergynolwyn, which until May 1976, was the railway’s terminus. The station here has been much modified during its life and now boasts what is believed to be the longest narrow gauge platform in Britain, with a length of some 200 metres. A new signal box and passing loop have been installed because the new line now continues another three quarters of a mile through dramatic countryside to Nant Gwernol. This short, but well worthwhile extension required a great deal of hard work and blasting to cut the ledge on which the trains run high above the valley. After passing cascades and travelling alongside a ravine, Nant Gwernol is reached, literally “end of track” at the foot of a quarry incline: There is not even a road connection here, simply paths leading into beautiful country. Changing ends, “No 4” starts its return journey, and shortly after Abergwynolwyn Station, arrives at Dolgoch whose waterfalls, viaduct and beautiful scenery, makes this one of the most photographed sections of the line. Locomotive “Talyllyn” is the railway’s oldest and bears the proud “No 1” plate. Built in 1864 at Whitehaven, this engine worked consistently until 1945 when it had to be withdrawn from service because of a cracked steam chest. Now after rebuilding and modification, “No 1”, still hard working and reliable, is seen passing the original stone and timber water tower, since replaced by a more modern system. Travelling up the line, “Talyllyn” enters the passing loop at Brynglas to allow “No 4” to go by, the signalman exchanging the tokens which permit entry to a single-track section. From 1864 to the present, the Talyllyn Railway continues working!