QUOTE: O.K-I`m going to go straight for the "Tales from the pool room" train story before responding `cos there`s so much good stuff there I`d get bogged down and run out of steam before getting properly started.......O.K-Is everybody sitting comfortably,...then I`ll begin--My thinking here is that most of you will have main-line journeys to describe,overnight trips on the high iron and such,so It occurred to me that something a little more bucolic might make an interesting contrast--Thus it was--An unexpected offer from missisnick to take a trip up the coast from Pembrokeshire to Merioneth to ride on the Tal-Y-Lyn Rly ( a long-term strategy that resulted in Hannah ,age 4 & a half..............) brought us to Tywyn,where the line connects with the former Cambrian Rlys (later G.W.R ,B.R,etc) std gauge line from Dovey Jn to Pwehelli,For those who have neglected their studies of Welsh narrow gauge lines of late, ,scroll back,a description of the line has been posted on a (much)earlier page-so,where was I-right,arrived at wharf station,eager & ready,train waiting in platform-loco #7-Tom Rolt 0-4-2t (Andrew Barclay 1949 for 3` gauge,rebuilt Pendre works 2`3"),train included original 1865 coach stock,plus former Glyn Valley Tramway 1st class car(supplement payable). Also in the yard,former Corris Railway #4 "Edward Thomas"-0-4-2t-Kerr-Stuart "Tattoo" Class(1921),in Corris Railway livery,waiting to rotate with next down train -onto train and away,through the impossibly narrow bridge at the top of the yard and into a deep,dark but mostly damp cutting,between slate slab fences held together with baling twine,climbing up between the cottage yards to to Tywyn Pendre (Town ) stn-the main depot of the line..here we found #2 "Dolgoch" ( 1865,Fletcher-Jennings) in light steam at the end of the headshunt,diesel shunter#5 " Merseysider" and others on the shed roads,off quickly-As you leave Tywyn,you are following the right side of the valley of the avon Fathew,on a gentle rise to Rhyd-Yr-Onen,steepening up to Dolgoch Falls,then turning across the watershead into the Dysinni valley,up to the new terminus at Nant Gwernol,about a half mile beyond the old pass. stn at Abergynolwyn.At the first passing point (Brynglas) we crossed with #1 " Tal-Y-Lyn" (Fletcher-Jennings,1864) and at the next (Quarry siding) #3 "Sir Hadyn ( ex -Corris 0-4-2t,Falcon wks,1888 ) Arrived at Nant Gwernol (one-engine-in-steam on extension) and decided to"do the tour" of nature walks etc and get the following train down ( a secret plot to get a ride behind "Tal-y-lyn"-a little beauty of an engine) arrived back at staion to find #4 "Edward Thomas" on the point,but managed to get my all-time favourite pic on the run back down-#1 "Tal-y-Lyn" pulling into the bottom of the loop at Abergynolwyn--have sent pixs to TOM-may well appear on sunday,gentlemen its been a joy to read the tales from the poolroom so far
QUOTE: BudKarr Posted: 09 Oct 2005, 18:16:58 Quote I should explain that my interests do not necessarily center on railroads. However, I do appreciate riding them and looking at the photographs. My activities preculde my being able to hobby them and although I am capable with a camera, I regret that my inventory does not include anything of worth for viewing by this esteemed gathering.
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