LLANGOLLEN RAILWAY NEWSLETTER

01/08

 

 

Welcome to the first edition of a revised newsletter aimed primarily at volunteers and employees of the Llangollen Railway. This is in no way intended to compete with SAL, which is aimed at a wider audience, but to address some of the understandable comments about lack of news and information coming from the board.  

 

Naturally, confidential matters will not appear, but the plan is to put in as much as is sensible following board meetings, the next of which is scheduled for 23rd November, plus anything else of particular note as it happens.

 

I’ll start in earnest after the November meeting. In the meantime a quick round-up of some areas is given below.  In addition we are shortly going to circulate a summary of who the directors are, with a note of their main board responsibilities.

 

Geoff Williams

It is with regret that Geoff is resigning his chairman/directorships, due solely to his own and immediate family's health problems.  He will still support the board and railway to the best of his ability and is continuing as our S&T engineer. I am sure that we all wish Geoff and his family well and thank him for his stewardship through some difficult times.

Please route any Chairman’s correspondence to Nick Patching whilst the board makes new arrangements.

Berwyn

The team working on the renovation continues to make excellent progress – there is every expectation that letting of the flat will start in 2009.

 

Carrog

Martin Christie and his team have installed GWR style token exchange equipment on the upside; Huw Parker has recently led a team in tidying the stock of relatively newly acquired track.

 

Corwen

Gordon Heddon, Bill Shakespeare and Neil Williams are putting many hours into ensuring that the extension to Corwen will be a success.  Current work includes negotiation on details of the embankments and structures for the new station so that requirements for flood protection of the valley can be met.  Legal work for the Transport and Works Order is complex but progressing well.  The most optimistic view is that the various legal permissions could be obtained during 2009.

Deeside Loop

The boards have given “in principle” agreement to the removal of the ex-Bala Junction Pagoda building for re-use on the down platform at Glyndyfrdwy.

 

Glyndyfrdwy

The station team has improved the whole area significantly this year.  The worst of the vandalism problems now seem to be behind us and there is the possibility of some local involvement in the opening of the station on more operating days.

 

Llangollen Goods Junction

In principle approval has been given for renewal work at Goods Junction, where the installation has now been in service for some 20 years, although this may not start for a while yet.  Improvements will include track-circuiting of the crossover at the up end and, subject to funding being available, the revision of the track layout at the down end to provide a smooth curve on the up/down single line and ability to run stock to and from the Pentre Felin approach road without the need for reversal at the groundframe.

 

Llangollen Station

Jim Ritchie and his team continue to maintain and improve the station in general.  It is likely that we will be able to fund the provision of period lamp-posts for platform 2 shortly.

 

P-Way

In addition to Percy’s track reports, consideration is being given to improving the state of the flange greasers to reduce flange and track wear.

 

Contracting

Whilst it would obviously not be appropriate to give details, performance on external contracts is good, with plenty of work available and the railway’s reputation as one of the best sites in the country for much of this type of work continuing to grow.

 

Diesel Group

The board is working closely with the recently re-formed group and agreement has been reached as to the retention or disposal of the various locomotives.  The group’s aim is to operate a smaller fleet, but with funding in place to improve the appearance and availability of the remaining engines.

 

Rolling Stock

More paid hours have been committed to passenger stock cleaning and C&W have had a very busy year on overhaul work at Pentre Felin.  Mike Cooke is leading a project to identify any redundant stock on the line.  Consideration is being given to the future of on train catering/dining but no firm proposals have yet been put forward and no decisions have yet been taken.

 

Operating Meetings

The Signalmen’s annual meeting will be held on 16th November and the next Guards’ meeting and training on 22nd November.  These sessions will be led by Charles Wilson and Chris Simon respectively.

 

Medicals

Drs Ian Smith and Diana Turbin will be carrying out the next series of medicals starting in November.  Those due for a medical should by now have received appointment arrangements from Chris Simon.

 

Julie Roberts

 

Jules has confirmed her resignation as Commercial Manager to the board and will leave service on 10th November.   Both Jules and the board wish to make it absolutely clear that no personal animosity is involved; having turned what was a hobby into a full time job Jules now needs to re-balance her own life.  She will stay on as our link with HIT in respect of “Thomas” events and will continue to support our IT systems in the main office.  We thank Jules for the progress she has made in a short period in a very challenging role and wish her well for the future.

 

 

 

Any questions or suggestions are welcome, preferably by email to npatching@fsmail.net with “Newsletter” in the subject line.

 

Best regards

Nick Patching

 

LLANGOLLEN RAILWAY NEWSLETTER

02/08

 

 

Here is the second edition of the re-launched newsletter, thanks for all of the feedback on the first one.

 

Directors Areas of Responsibilities

 

We are working on a longer item for the general membership for SAL next year.  In the meantime, below is a summary of the main areas covered by various board members as the lead director.  Please bear in mind that where nothing specific is showing it usually means that the individual is doing everything else!  Also, it’s very much a team effort and there will be some overlap.  Quite a few volunteers have requested this so that they know who best to approach.

 

Mike Cooke: Everything else!

 

Neil Evans Corwen Extension, Berwyn Refurbishment

 

Peter Evans: Plc Finance Director and Admin

 

Phil Freeth: Trust Finance Director, Business Risk

 

Andrew Gardiner: Day to Day Train Running Matters, Timetabling, Operating Committee (new)

 

Les Green: HR, Grant Aid, Business Development

 

Mark Leman-Lawrie: Everything else!

 

Dave Owen: Chief Mechanical Engineer, Locomotive Fleet, Contract Engineering, H&S (Workshops and Rolling Stock)

 

Nick Patching: Company Secretary & Operations Director, External Authorities, Operating Rules and Regs, H&S (Train Operation and Fire Protection)

 

Hugh Shipton: Finance, Carrog Tea Room

 

Berwyn

 

The board has confirmed that funding for completion of the renovation is available and that letting should start mid 2009.

 

 

 

 

 

Carrog Signalling

 

Andy Maxwell and the S&T Dept have scooped a significant award for the heritage signalling project, details of which will appear shortly.  This is a fantastic achievement and many congratulations are due.

 

 

Glyndyfrdwy

 

Paul Bailey has circulated the notes below:

Just an update for members letting you know what's been going on up the valley @ our little station. Those of you who ventured away from the big HQ during the recent Autumn Steam Gala will have seen Glyndyfrdwy as a hive of activity. As the Autocoaches terminated here from Llan they met the Carrog to Glyn Shuttle with the Metropolitan Tank. We had organised a Classic Motorbike Rally with the bikes displayed on the Up Platform. Welcome refreshments were provided in our newly kitted out Tea Room complete with new Stove whilst those wishing to enjoy the atmosphere outside were able to use our refurbished picnic tables on the patio & in the picnic area behind Barmouth Signal Box. This Box has seen considerable work carried out during the past few months with all the broken glazing replaced & new steps fitted. A start has also been made to repaint it in Cambrian colours. A new Barmouth South name board was affixed during the Gala - fitting to see 7822 Foxcote Manor pass here on it's farewell weekend sporting it's Cambrian Coast Express headboard. Far from being the eyesore that it had become many photographers enjoyed this new vantage point now that the Signal Box has been reopened as a viewing area. Visitors will also have noticed the station's return to Western region chocolate & cream with our refurbished & repainted Platform seats, Running-in name boards, Totems & Planters.  If any of you out there wish to help the continued refurbishment of Glyndyfrdwy either voluntarily or financially why not join the" Friends". (Application form on Llan website or send me an e-mail).

 

Many thanks,

Paul Bailey

 

 

Diesel Group

 

Sunday 7th December saw a farewell to the Class 20 “Whistling Wardrobe” trip to Carrog and back.  Despite some reservations about allowing a run during the Santa operations the run went faultlessly, the group gained some extra external publicity and made a welcome donation to the railway in return for the operating path as well as supplying some additional catering provisions for Santa use.

 

 

2009 Timetable

 

Operating patterns for 2009 have been agreed and the timetable has now gone to press.  Schedules are available for rostering purposes immediately.  Both the operating pattern and the look of the timetable have been changed this year.  We expect to have a tough trading period for the next couple of years and we are getting ready for this now.  That said we are not showing the downturn that some other railways have already experienced, but any opportunity for savings must be taken.

 

 

Operating Meetings

 

Both the Guards’ and Signalmen’s meeting were very well attended and contained a good deal of useful operating and safety refreshers.  After the formal section of the signalling meeting Charles Wilson gave a fascinating slide show of signalling in the North Wales area over the past decades as well as many shots of our line in preservation.  The next assessment day for Guards will be on Saturday 10th January.

 

 

2008 Santas

 

These are underway and performing well both operationally and financially.  Jim Ritchie has the station team well organised and Santa and his little helpers are getting many compliments from passengers.

 

 

Next Board Meeting

 

Scheduled for Sunday 11th January.

 

 

Any questions or suggestions are welcome, preferably by email to npatching@fsmail.net with “Newsletter” in the subject line.

 

Best Wishes and a Merry Christmas

Nick Patching

 

LLANGOLLEN RAILWAY NEWSLETTER

 

01/09

 

 

Berwyn Station

 

Work on the “Station in the Gorge” has progressed well over the winter months, thanks to the efforts of Llangollen Railway Trust’s dedicated band of volunteers and a small number of specialist sub-contractors. Currently the station house is being decorated with few tasks remaining before the floor finishings can be laid and then furniture and soft furnishings brought in ready for the first occupants of “Ty Gorsaf”, the new holiday flat at Berwyn. We now have on the station a state of the art public convenience albeit with a heritage flavour, far superior to anything the station has seen before. A far cry indeed from the outside, slate built lavatories that used to be installed. The station now looks in far better condition than it has for fifty years.

 

The volunteer team will no doubt need a rest after all their efforts. However, there remains the actual ongoing maintenance and restoration of the station, platform and gardens to consider. The Trustees, who are responsible for the upkeep of the stations along the railway, will also have to take a financial breather after their exertions with the house restoration and will not be able to provide any financial assistance in the necessary external and internal repair work. So it is up to the Friends of Berwyn Station to shoulder the burden for the time being and endeavour to keep the momentum going by either staffing the station, helping with physical restoration work or contributing financially to the Friends of Berwyn Station bank account.

 

There are a multitude of jobs that need carrying out, from the opening of the station premises and operation of the station tea room, primarily at weekends and bank holidays, to gardening, decorating internally and externally together with minor building works. Current projects envisaged are the restoration of the booking office interior, now that the opening into the house has been bricked up, together with the overhaul of the main doors onto the main road.

 

With the forthcoming Steam, Steel and Stars II Gala impending in April, I am hoping that members keen on seeing the station open and staffed for this important event may like to consider becoming station staff to help out with the opening of the station, operating the tea room, the proceeds of which go into the station restoration fund or restoring part of the actual station and its environment. The station is quite accessible. There is car parking near the station on either side of the river, local buses stop just outside on the A5 and of course the service trains. If you would like to help, during the Gala or indeed at any other time during the year, please contact me either via the Llangollen Railway Trust office or by telephone on 0151 486 1860. I look forward to hearing from you. During quiet interludes, you might just enjoy watching the river flow past or the interesting variety of vehicles and motorbikes which pass on the A5.

 

Ben Jackson

Station Master.

 

 

Lineside Clearance

 

Charles Wilson and Colin Cooper have organised a number of working parties recently, concentrating on vegetation clearance around the tunnel portals.  The area is mush improved as a result.

 

Carrog Working Party

 

Huw Parker is organising a working party for 28th February.  Details have already been posted on Llanrail and those interested in assisting are invited to contact Huw.

 

Steel Steam and Stars 11

 

The Grange group are now finalising timetable details in conjunction with Andrew Gardiner.  Based on the initial drafts, Andrew and Sue have produced the first issues of the Signalmen and Guards rosters whilst Steve Carter is awaiting some loco confirmations before issuing his diagrams.  The number of turns to be allocated over the nine days is significant and the work already done is a tribute to both the rostering officers and the number of volunteers who booked leave at an early stage.

 

Guards

 

The 2009 written and oral assessment sessions have been successfully completed and the revised Guards Handbook has been produced by Chris Simon.  Personal copies are being provided to all guards.

 

Commercial Performance

 

The 2008 Santa season has returned excellent figures and contributed to what we hope to have been another record turnover year.  Our auditors are now at work finalising the 2008 accounts and we hope to be in a position to determine the 2009 AGM date soon.  A new £25 members’ family ticket is to be made available for DOWT events.  Details will be published prior to the summer event.

 

Day Out With Thomas

 

At the time of writing the first 2009 “Thomas” event is underway.  There has been some inconvenience to volunteers and staff, due in part to some changes of personnel here at about the same time as some of the HIT entertainment criteria were revised.  For this I apologise and confirm that we are working to minimise the effects of the changes and protect a vital income stream.

 

Next Board Meetings

 

The next board meetings are scheduled for Sunday 8th March and Saturday 4th April.

 

 

Best Regards

Nick Patching

 

The joint boards convened a meeting on 2nd August and appointed the following to act jointly on both the Trust and Plc boards:

Chairman: Jim Ritchie

Vice-chairman: Neil Evans

Secretary: Hugh Shipton

Operations Director: Andrew Gardiner

At the same meeting Steve Jones has been appointed as Consultant Civil Engineer for the railway.

I believe that we now have a good mix of railway, business and financial control expertise on our boards and we look forward to building on the good work of Nick, Geoff, Gordon and others. As always, we depend on the help and support of _all_ our Llangollen Railway members and staff.

Signed

Jim Ritchie

please send any replies to Jim Ritchie