TALYLLYN WINS LOTTERY SUPPORT FOR NEW REDEVELOPMENT PROJECTS

Both a new heritage centre at Tywyn Wharf and new engineering facilities at Pendre are a step closer to reality, after the Talyllyn Railway secured preliminary support from the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

The NLHF informed the railway in January that its initial application for funding for both schemes had been successful and has invited the TR to submit a full application for an estimated seven-figure sum to help fund the planned projects.

If the 2ft 3in gauge railway is successful in securing the NLHF’s financial support, the funds will be utilised to create covered accommodation for its vintage carriages and wagons, build new carriages to enable the original fleet to be taken out of daily use, and increase volunteer accommodation. At Pendre, the NLHF grant would go towards expanded and improved engineering facilities, a replacement for the North Carriage Shed, new mess facilities and conversion of the original workshop into a heritage display area.

Professional fundraisers will be employed to put the full bid together as “our experience of putting in a major bid to the fund, for the Wharf redevelopment, has led us to the conclusion that we cannot do this within our current staff and volunteer resources,” said TR heritage group secretary and former society chairman Ian Drummond.

He added: “If we are successful in our bid, we will still have to raise a substantial amount of money to make our dreams a reality. This means we will be making further grant applications to various bodies and also looking for any additional source of funding.

“We have been successful in our initial application, but now the hard work of pulling together a full bid really begins.”