Could you help with the rebuilding of Britain's first public railway?

THE modern- day Llanelli & Mynydd Mawr Railway Company ( LMMR) has appealed for volunteers to join its bid to create a major visitor attraction for South Wales.

The company is aiming to restore as much of the original Llanelly& Mynydd Mawr Railway, initially known as the Carmarthenshire Tram road, which has been hailed as the oldest public railway in the UK.

The original line was established by an Act of Parliament in 1802 as a horse- drawn plate way and began running trains the following year. Although the Surrey Iron Railway is the long- time popular claimant as the oldest - and was the first to be incorporated, it is said that the LMMR was the first to carry traffic.

Origins

The Carmarthenshire Tram road closed in 1844 but the line reopened in 1883 under the newly- formed Llanelly ( sic) & Mynydd Mawr Railway Co ( see map, page 27) which became part of the GWR at the Grouping in 1922. The line continued as a main artery for coal distribution from the Gwendraeth valley until the closure of Cynheidre Colliery in 1989.

The modern- day LMMR spent 20 years developing the Cynheidre site as a heritage centre, and on September 3, 2017, held the first of several open days, giving visitors brake van rides over the 200 yard running line. An army track laying exercise that autumn of 2017 saw a further 11 O yards of running line open for the 2018 season. Until the Covid- 19 pandemic brought track laying to a halt, it was intended that a further 260 yards would open in 2020, bringing the total running line to half a mile in length.

Preparations are underway to link up with existing track to the north of Cynheidre village to create a one mile running line. A small halt and runround loop will be provided at the top end of the line, including picnic and other facilities for visitors.

Family events at Christmas and Easter have proven particularly popular and the LMMR currently holds around eight open days each year.

However, today's LMMR has much bigger plans, including the development of a heritage park telling the story of coal in the South Wales Valleys and its transport from pit to user and in particular the Cynheidre ' super' pit. As for the future, LMMR director David Mee said:" We would like the site to develop into a major tourist attraction for Llanelli and the surrounding areas, incorporating country and woodland walks, nature conservation and rural crafts, complete with all the usual facilities that visitors demand these days.

Support

"All of this requires time and money, and although still at an embryonic stage, things are constantly evolving as volunteers and funding becomes available.

"One major challenge at the moment is the lack of mains electricity on the site, something which will have to be tackled as a priority if the site is to develop.

"The other challenge is common to all heritage organisations - a lack of volunteers. In order to reach our goals we need more volunteer help in all departments, including operational, maintenance and restoration, and administration. If you could spare a few hours for what is a most enjoyable pastime and worthwhile cause do not hesitate to get in touch:'

Future plans - subject to available manpower and finance - include extensions north to Sylen Bridge and south to Swiss Valley. In the longer term, subject to local authority backing, the LMMR would like to extend back into Llanelli, linking it to Tumble, a total distance of 10 miles.

The current heritage line runs over a later extension to the original route, which was not part of the 'oldest 'line. However, a southern push over an available part of the Carmathenshire Tram road could change that.

If you would like to volunteer on the LMMR, visit www. llanellirailway.co.uk or www.facebook.com/llanellirailway