Lottery £110k grant made for Talyllyn improvement plans
THE National Lottery Heritage Fund has awarded the world’s first volunteer-run heritage railway a grant of £110,000 towards developing its Preserving Our Past, Building Our Future strategy, which aims to boost income and provide financial security by attracting more visitors.
As reported in issue 296, the Talyllyn Railway is planning a redevelopment of its Pendre locomotive and carriage sheds and workshops, as well as making changes to the interior layout of the main station building at its Tywyn Wharf terminus. The grant will allow the TR to fully develop these in detail and how they will be delivered, before then applying for further ‘delivery’ funding to complete them.
The plans are still at an early stage, but it is envisaged that the booking office and shop (which are currently located at platform level) will be moved into the top floor and thus become accessible directly from street level.
The upstairs space is currently occupied partly by the Narrow Gauge Museum and the TR offices; some of the latter will be relocated to the late Edward Thomas’ house Trefri, just across the bridge over the railway at Tywyn Wharf.
After arrival at the booking hall and having purchased tickets or browsing the shop, visitors will then be able to make their way down to platform level via the museum, admiring the extensive collection of artefacts and rolling stock from across the narrow gauge world.
The downstairs space vacated by the current shop will then become part of the station’s Kings Café but with the ability to separate the spaces remaining, meaning private functions or talks can take place without interrupting business.
The changes to Pendre works will see new construction and improvements made to existing buildings to improve working conditions.
The current locomotive shed and workshop would receive a light refurbishment but retain its character and a visitor experience reception for tours.
A new carriage shed on the current site of a former orchard would offer a full-length pit to enable more efficient inspections to be undertaken. A dedicated paint shed, wheel drop and wheel lathe are also included in the initial proposals, as is a dedicated locomotive overhaul space.
TR general manager Stuart Williams said: “The Talyllyn is proud to be the world’s first preserved railway, part of the slate heritage of northwest Wales.
“We want more visitors, as well as the local community, to experience this unique line and understand its heritage.
“Through the project we will increase our interpretation and key facilities, and provide volunteering opportunities for a wider range of people with differing skills.
“The railway has significantly grown since it was preserved in 1951 and thanks to The National Lottery Heritage Fund we can approach our 75th anniversary confident that it can thrive, enhancing the economy locally and regionally.”
On October 12, new batch of solar panels were fitted to the roof of the West carriage shed at Pendre as part of the TR’s continuing efforts to manage its carbon footprint.