Narrow Gauge

HAVING secured approval of its Expression of Interest submission to the National Lottery Heritage Fund (NLHF) last year (RM ,May 2020), the Talyllyn Railway (TR) has submitted its Development Phase bid for £1.3million of grant assistance. The bid encompasses construction of a Heritage Storage Facility at Tywyn Wharf to house the TR’s original carriages and wagons (RM, December 2019), demolition of the current North Carriage Shed at Tywyn Pendre and replacement with new workshops, and construction of new carriage sheds and works facilities on the adjacent ‘Orchard’ land purchased in 2019.

Also included in the bid are alterations to the first floor of the building at Tywyn Wharf and conversion of Trefri, the house adjacent to the station purchased in 2019, into a volunteer hostel to supplement the existing hostel in the bungalow Llechfan.

If the bid passes this application stage it will progress into the delivery phase, during which detailed plans and costs will be drawn up. This could take up to two years before the final application is submitted.

Your reports and pictures are most welcome. Highly competitive rates are paid, especially if exclusive to The RM.