news in brief for volunteers and supporters of the … earl – issue 21 june/july 2016 01 news in...

The Earl – Issue 21 June/July 2016 01

News in brief for volunteers and supporters of the Welshpool & Llanfair Light RailwayNo 21 – June/July 2016

Wheelchair access boosted by £42.5K Government grant

I am delighted to announce that we will soon be welcoming Richard Featherstone to fill

the staff vacancy in the workshop, (writes Charles Spencer).

Richard has a great background for the position. With a degree in mechanical engineering, he worked as a fitter/machinist in industry and taught engineering at a number of secondary schools and colleges. He also has extensive railway experience, including a number of roles at the Romney Hythe & Dymchurch over nearly a decade, in mechanical engineering, infrastructure and driving. And most importantly in our view, he combines his passion for quality engineering with an enthusiasm for working with people. Indeed, he came highly recommended by all the colleagues to whom he referred us.

I also liked hearing from Richard his positive initial impressions of our railway and his appreciation for the warm welcome he received (and yes, he has already experienced one of Llanfair’s pubs in our company). Being a place where people want to work is a high compliment to our line.

Richard will take up his position in early July. He plans to relocate to the area with his wife Su and dog Lucy in the near future, but for the time being Su will continue working from their base in Kent. Please make Richard feel at home when he arrives, and give him the space to assess the scope of his new job before hitting him with our extensive mechanical engineering ‘to do’ list! I look forward to his getting his hands around the many tasks which need regular attention, and to the support and training he will be able to provide to workshop volunteers.

Finally, my thanks to Colin, Bruce, Keith and Kevin for their involvement and support during the long recruitment process.

Scenes like the above should soon become a thing of the past on our railway after the

W&LLR won a grant of £42,500 to improve access to trains for wheelchair-bound visitors.

The grant, announced by Minister for Rail Claire Perry MP on 25th May, is being made as part of the £1 million Heritage and Community Rail Tourism Innovation competition, run by the Challenge Fund of the Department for Transport and the Rail Safety & Standards Board (RSSB).

We submitted our ‘Disability First’ project, that plans a combination of carriage modifications and platform lifts to allow visitors in wheelchairs to board and alight from most service trains in comfort and safety, and were named one of 17 winners.

Access for wheelchair users has always been a challenge for heritage railway operators, passenger rolling stock on such lines having been built long before society recognised the importance of disabled access, and Ops Dept members in particular will be aware of how the more restricted dimensions of our carriages and lower platforms emphasise the issues. The disabled ramps pictured above are by no means the best solution for either passengers or staff.

Under the Disability First project portable platform lifts will be purchased for both Welshpool and Llanfair stations, replacing the ramps and allowing effective access for

manual wheelchairs to most of our carriages. We also plan to modify two regular service vehicles to enable them to accommodate the larger motorised wheelchairs and scooters that have become more common in recent times.

That we won the award is a tribute in particular to the efforts of our appeals director Iain McLean. Presented with a requirement for a detailed application, supporting imagery and an impossible deadline, Iain met it, with a whole minute to spare!

Once the new equipment is in place and the carriage modifications complete, we plan a communications campaign informing wheelchair users about the improved facilities.n Also winning in the programme was the Great Little Trains of Wales marketing organisation, which W&LLR general manager Charles Spencer chairs. A £67,000 grant will allow GLTW to work together with Arriva Trains to attract tourists from London to Wales. Under the message ‘Use the Big Train to see the Little Trains’, the first step will be to produce a new guide for tourists, inspired by the Bradshaw’s Guides of years gone by, that suggests a range of trips by train to make it easier for the novice public transport user or overseas tourist to get around.

If all goes to schedule the guide will be officially launched at a major London main line station early in August.

Workshop – we have our man!

02 The Earl – Issue 21 June/July 2016

Sally is the new Sales roster GuruThe vital task of organising the W&L Sales

roster and providing volunteer staff for the Llanfair tearoom and the shops at either end of the line is now in the hands of a new person. Sally Lister, a long-time member whose parents David and Margaret and husband Triston are also prime members of the volunteer staff, has taken over the role from Steve Page, who has wanted to retire for some time.

Sally is very keen to hear from both existing sales volunteers and any new ones who might like to join the team. She can be reached on 01654 703600, which has a 24hr answerphone so please leave a message, or on email at [email protected]

In hanging up his charts Steve was anxious to thank all the many volunteers who have ensured he could fill the rosters, sometimes at short notice. We reckon, however, that Steve deserves the very grateful thanks of everyone on the railway for his diligent work in staffing a department that provides such a significant portion of our available funds.

As someone who received Steve’s sales roster e-mails, the editor of The Earl will miss them as clearly Steve had a latent career in the written word – while getting the essential message across, they were always highly amusing items in their own right, summed up very well in sales department member Callum Johnson’s reply to Steve’s retirement e-mail message; “Have you perhaps thought of putting together an anthology of your e-mails? Who could forget the anagram of the month, the shop roster puzzle, the tragedy of lost Snuggles, the Golden Days of Autumn, or the Adventure of the Vanishing Shopkeeper?”

An old friend returns in good time for the GalaMany members will recognise the

locomotive above and many will be delighted to hear that this picture was taken not in 2010 but on 17th June, as ‘Chevallier’ arrived to begin its third visit to the line.

The loco is set to be the star attraction at our annual Steam Gala in September, and the reason it has arrived so early is so that we can spend the summer thoroughly testing it to avoid a repeat of the problems, principally hot axleboxes, that blighted its last visit.

For those not in the know Chevallier is an 0-6-2T built by Manning Wardle & Co, Leeds, in 1915, originally for the Chattenden & Upnor Railway in Kent, the source of the W&LLR’s first carriages following preservation.

The loco later moved to the Bowaters Paper Mill line in Sittingbourne and when that closed in 1969, part of it being reborn as the Sittingbourne & Kemsley Railway, Chevallier was bought for a new line running through the animal paddocks at Whipsnade Zoo. It was later sold to Bill Parker of the Flour Mill Workshop in the Forest of Dean, and Bill undertook a full overhaul.

The loco’s visit to our 2010 Gala took place within days of the overhaul being completed, and various running-in issues prevented it showing its full capabilities over the weekend. But we are confident of having no such issues this time round – as well as us having lots of time to test it, the loco has spent the last couple of seasons working very reliably in its old haunt of the Great Whipsnade Railway.

GM Charles Spencer has expressed thanks on behalf of the W&LLR to Bill Parker for the loan of the loco. “We will not be using Chevallier on any timetabled services before the Gala, but we will be carrying out extensive testing to ensure the loco can prove a worthy special guest at our biggest event of the year,” Charles said.

Plans are now gearing up for the Gala, which as in previous years will be held alongside the Garden Railway Show at Llanfair Caereinion High School, and we’ll be revealing more attractions closer to the event.

Photo: Charles Spencer (on Bruce Webber’s camera!)

One in, one out...

n The day after Chevallier arrived at Welshpool, Resita 0-8-0T no 764.425 departed the line. As reported in the last special edition of The Earl, the loco, which has not worked on the W&LLR since a major motion breakage in 2013, has been sold to Austrian-based Handel mit Eisenbahnmaterial Georg Hocevar, which we understand intends to restore it to working order.

Photo: Bruce Webber

Too many pages, too few hours...Your newsletter editor needs to apologise

for the fact that this edition is with you a couple of weeks’ later than planned. As you will see it is among the largest examples we have produced yet, both due to the full report from the AGM and Members’ Forum and lots of news that has happened over the past few weeks – the production of the press releases for these also occupying the Ed’s available W&LLR time!

Unfortunately this coincided with an all-involving project in the day job, and as a result the next, July edition of The Journal will also appear rather later in the month than is preferred.

Please note that the Ed is determined that such delays will not become the norm for W&LLR publications and so next year he will no longer be doing the day job project that got in the way!

Do you know of someone interested in the W&LLR who doesn’t receive The Earl and should be? Then get them to sign up by

sending their e-maill address to [email protected]...


n This month’s pair of passings-out are both in the footplate department. Former driver and Vice Chairman Iain McLean (pictured at top with assessor Simon Bowden) has regained his qualification for the right-hand side of the footplate, a helpful addition to the roster as we look towards adding extra train services to the timetable. And Henry Robinson (above) has gained his spurs as a fireman. Many congratulations to them both.

Surveyor needed!Is there a Quantity Surveyor out there in

member land? If so, would you like to provide some hands-on help to the new workshop programme? We need such experienced assistance to help with costing up the various proposals and possibly subsequently to help control costs. Anyone that can help please contact Peter Malim on [email protected]

Hedge datesDiaries out! It’s time to plan those

autumn/winter sessions for attacking the railway’s vegetation. The dates for the coming hedgebash season are 17th-18th September, 29th-30th October and 25th-17th November (Friday to Sunday). Hedgebash organiser Willy Field will be delighted to hear from volunteers at [email protected]

Sign up for our Members’ Midsummer Hog Roast...Members who attend the popular

Midsummer Madness barbecue need to know that there are some changes to the event for this year.

The date for this year’s event will be Saturday 16th July, and as usual a special train will depart at 18.20 from Llanfair, running to Welshpool for a prompt return and stopping at Castle Caereinion.

The major difference is that this year the event will be a Hog Roast instead of the previous barbecue, but retaining the usual salad accompaniments. A Vegetarian Option will also be available but only if it is specifically booked.

A limited range of soft and alcoholic drinks will, as usual, be available on the train, which will return to Llanfair at about 22.00.

All W&LLR members, their partners and

children are invited, but as outside caterers are providing the food, pre-booking is required.

Numbers need to be known by Monday 4th July so if you wish to attend, please put your name on the list in Keyse Cottage. The cost is £7.50 per person paid in advance and details are on the notice in Keyse Cottage.

Anyone not able to get to Keyse Cottage should contact Roger Pattie on 0118 984 2884, leaving a message if necessary, or by e-mail on [email protected] with their name, number in the party, number for the vegetarian option and a contact telephone number, preferably not a mobile number, so that arrangements for paying can then be sorted out.

In the event of bad weather, the Hog Roast will take place at Llanfair Caereinion Station.

Anyone with any queries about the event should contact Roger.

n Recent weeks have seen the railway run its first Fish & Chips and Welsh Tea special trains, and both proved hugely successful, all seats sold out. The Fish & Chip Train (above) saw an evening departure to Welshpool where some 150 or so portions were served up for eating on the return trip – clearly enjoyed by our refreshments-serving volunteers! On the Welsh Tea train (bottom) passengers enjoyed a selection of local treats in one direction, and travel in the first class Sierra Leone carriage in the other. Thanks are due to all involved in the operation of these trains, they will certainly happen again! Photos: Megan Charman and Kevin Heywood


Could you be the W&LLR’s Company Sec?For health reasons Martin Evans has

decided that he must relinquish the post of Company Secretary. The Trustees greatly appreciate the contribution he has made and understand the reasons for his decision.

If you think you might be interested in taking over the Company Secretary post from Martin, you are invited to contact him at [email protected] or on 0118 986 6328 for an informal discussion or to register an interest in the role.

In brief, the core duties involve preparing the board meetings, recording and distributing the minutes of those meetings and ensuring that the company complies with the requirements of Companies House and the Charity Commissioners.

This role would allow you to be in on discussions about the railway’s present day operations and future plans. A good deal of the work can be done from home, and Martin and others will be available to help with a thorough transition.

Summerfest kicks off Young Members GroupThe W&LLR’s new Young Members Group

(YMG) will launch in style on 6th-7th August with ‘Summerfest’, an event designed to attract more young people to the line.

Anyone aged between 14 and 25 is invited to join in the event, which includes a night’s stay in Keyse Cottage and is designed to offer hands-on experience in all aspects of the railway, on the footplate, guarding trains,

working on stations, in the workshop and the many other aspects of keeping the line going.

The weekend will include a barbecue on Saturday evening, and for a cost of £10 participants will also receive a year’s membership of the W&LLR.

Anyone who wants to take part, or help the YMG team over the weekend, can get more details of the event from the office.

Progress at the cattle docksW&LLR Trustee and Welshpool Town

Clerk Robert Robinson reported to the AGM meeting the likelihood of significant progress on recalling the railway’s history in Welshpool. He had come from a meeting with the Welsh Government and was able to announce that £250,000 of funding is on the way to refurbish the cattle docks, the one remaining section of the former W&LLR terminus, and the adjacent motte & bailey castle. The process will begin in August when archaeologists will be on the site to record what survives in detail.

Meanwhile a Town Trail, spearheaded by former Welshpool town councillor Alan Crowe, is about to come to fruition. A series of display boards have been created and will soon be erected along the W&LLR’s former route through Welshpool.

Loss proves a gainA fine example of how a little thought on

our part brings benefits. A party from the Doncaster branch of the National Trust rode the train and one lady left her coat behind. On discovering the loss Llanfair staff promised to post the coat to the lady concerned.

Sending the address, the party organiser added; “Each year on the way home we vote for the National Trust visit that was most enjoyed. Since you are a charity and preserving things for the future we felt that you should be included. I’m pleased to say you won so in the next couple of days I will arrange for the Treasurer to send you a cheque for £250 to be added to your funds. We had a wonderful morning and were so well looked after.”

n We welcomed TV cameras to the railway on 23rd June, filming for a BBC4 programme ‘Trainspotting Live’, which is due to be broadcast over three nights between 12th-14th July. Megan Charman, one of the leaders of the new Young Members Group (see below) featured in the footage, filmed both in the tearooms and on the footplate. Megan is seen here talking to fireman and fellow volunteer Larry Bridges. Photo: Geoff Gauntlett

n The original W&LLR open wagon lettered as GW 71692 had its first outing since restoration, rostered behind the Pickering carriages, during the Country Railway Weekend on 25th-26th June. The wagon had deteriorated badly while spending an extended period in the open advertising the display shed at Welshpool, and the body required substantial rebuilding using the original metalwork and most of the underframe. This was carried out over the past winter by John Bancroft and his woodworking crew at Tanllan. At the end of the Country Railway Weekend the wagon was placed in the Display Shed at Welshpool where when it’s not in use it will help tell the story of the railway. The next rolling stock projects include roof repairs to covered wagon 100666 and the building of a replica open wagon lettered for Mr Peate, Llanfair coal merchant. Welshpool volunteers have also agreed to repaint the small van that sits at the end of the bay platform adjacent to Raven Square station building. Photo: Kevin Heywood - more Country Railway Weekend pictures later in this issue.


...AGM & Members’ Forum...AGM & Members’ Forum – AGM &

As reported in the special edition of The Earl published directly after the AGM

to announce the purchase of the Colinette buildings, the Trustees who were seeking re-election at the AGM were all successful, there being four candidates for four places.

Simon Bowden received 257 votes for, 14 against and 5 withheld. Steve Clews received 259, 10 and 7. Councillor David Jones received 267, 3 and 2, and Simon Mayor received 256, 11 and 5.

There were two resolutions presented to the AGM, both of which were detailed fully in the April edition of The Journal.

The first was to streamline the Trustee voting process, so that in future where there is a competitive election, with more candidates than places available, the election can be achieved in one vote rather than two separate

time-consuming processes. There were 273 votes for, none against and two withheld.

The second resolution was to submit our annual accounts for an Independent Examination, rather than a full audit – this process is fully acceptable to the Charity Commission and approved by our accountants, and can save us around £6,000 a year in accounting costs. This was passed with 269 votes for, three against and three withheld.

Thanks are due to the Tanllan squad, and equally due to Kaye Forman and all of the hardworking staff of W&L Sales, who have again made a major contribution to the railway’s finances.

It is also encouraging, Steve added, to see the numbers of volunteers on the line growing, along with the moves towards the setting up of a young members group – we are

looking forward to seeing that grow.Finally at the Heritage Railway

Association’s AGM in Wolverhampton in February Steve had been very proud that the W&LLR, along with other Welsh Narrow Gauge Railways, had received a Steam Railway magazine award. He commented on receiving the award; “It is a reflection of the progress we made in 2015.”

Winter came & the work continuedThe Annual General Meeting on 21st May

provided W&LLR chairman Steve Clews with the opportunity to update members with progress on the railway since the period covered by the annual report.

Steve noted that the winter period had seen much activity, as in every winter, by the track gang, though this year the relay began with unexpected extra work resulting from the flooding in December. As reported in issue 17 of The Earl, the repairs were completed in time to ensure that the very successful Santa Special trains ran to schedule.

After this vital work was done the gang was able to concentrate on the relay which this year stretched from Dolarddyn Road level crossing to Rowlands Crossing. A number of other jobs were also completed, including a new sleeper wall at the Mill Curves, the gang working in all of the various forms of weather Wales could throw at them.

Steve added that grateful thanks were due to the staff, the track gang and other volunteers, Rodney Gotto our long-term contractor and other contractors who ensured that the railway was ready to open on time.

Also working hard over the winter were the hedgebashing team and the small and dedicated flail train group, taking on the never-ending battle against lineside vegetation and opening up the views for our passengers.

Heat in the WorkshopIn the workshop work continues on the restoration of 699.01 ‘Sir Drefaldwyn’ – some engineering issues have surfaced with unexpected repairs needed to the superheater header, while a decision has been made to change the design of the smokebox door back to a dog-type.

Among the diesels ‘Chattenden’ has undergone major work, a precursor to the diesel passenger trains planned as part of the August high-season timetable.

Lots of other activities are underway – at Tanllan the restoration of the ‘Welshpool Bay Platform’ wagon has progressed well (a photo appears in this issue – Ed). Meanwhile carriage B25 is having its balconies reskinned, with a team getting together to perform the vital riveting operations.

Elections & votes at the AGM

Whether it is riveting new end balconies for an Austrian carriage, removing encroaching vegetation or continuing the restoration of ‘Sir Drefaldwyn’, much winter effort has been expended by W&LLR volunteers and staff.

Photos: Geoff Gauntlett, George Best and Andrew Charman


The Members’ Forum traditionally gives the General Manager an opportunity to

update members on progress and Charles began with a synopsis of his first year at the helm, reminding members that on his first day in post, in Spring 2015, he had been reminded that if there is a safety incident in which the railway is proved negligent, “I go to jail.” So his first priority was safety and he was pleased to report that during the year new safety procedures and documentation were introduced, there were no major safety-reportable incidents during that time, and a safety audit at the end of the year produced no issues, merely suggestions for improvements.

The rest of the report on 2015 followed the lines reported to the previous forum in November and detailed in issue 16 of The Earl. Occurring after that report, however, was an addition to the 2015 event highlights, the Santa Special trains, which were the most successful in recent memory. The team ably led by Robert Robinson provided an event that attracted almost 2,000 people; “We had to stop selling tickets, we made more than £16,000 of net profit and we received more great comments about the event on Trip Advisor,” Charles said.

Having thanked all involved in helping him to achieve the initial targets he had set himself

in 2015, Charles turned to 2016, which he dubbed ‘a year of transition’.

“Having inherited the 2015 timetable, this year gave us the opportunity to try some things to see if they worked, to test new ideas,” he said, emphasising the importance of building the revenue base, to cover the railway’s operating costs so that funds can be generated for new projects.

The target agreed with Trustees is a revenue increase of five per cent in 2016, which Charles proposes to achieve by adding more running days, more trains on some of those days, and more special events, continuing to build the visual appeal and interest of the line.

As a result there are 14 more running days on the 2016 timetable compared to 2015, more trains on vintage weekends – these trains now mixed workings with interesting shunting at either end of the line – and many more trains in the August timetable. The latter sees the experiment of a first departure form Welshpool, 1.5 hours earlier than previously, by use of a diesel, allowing visitors to ride the railway and then do something else, such as visiting Powis Castle, in a single day.

Special events are key to increasing revenue, to provide a means to bring visitors back to the line once they have ridden it. The intention is to increase the number of events,

of which there are two types. First are those that require special timetables, such as the Gala and two new ones in 2016, the Country Weekend at the end of June and the Diesel Day in September. The second are the ‘value added’ events which add attractions alongside the existing timetable, such as Easter Bunnies, the Teddy Bear weekend, Ham Radio and for 2016 Canada Day – an event which Charles described as “completely selfish!” Events add interest and so people come back to the railway, generating revenue – at the Gala 800 extra people travelled the line at £20 each; “do the math...”

Restorations and improvementsRestoring the railway’s heritage assets and improving the infrastructure remains a priority and much has been achieved. In the workshop, 699.01 ‘Sir Drefaldwyn’ is the major focus, and we are very hopeful of having the loco close to completion before the end of 2016.

Meanwhile down at Tanllan sheds carriage maintenance has been going on apace, both running repairs and a major refurbishment of Austrian four-wheeler B25 involving renewing the end balconies. Much progress has been made on heritage wagons, John Bancroft and his gang having just to paint the restored ‘Welshpool Bay Platform wagon’ (since completed, see picture in this issue). Another wagon has already been selected for repair and the timber has been purchased to build another replica open wagon which will be finished in the private owner livery of Llanfair coal merchant J L Peate.

Out on the line work is being carried out on crossings, signals are being restored, sidings relaid or rebuilt, and building and site maintenance done.

Increasing the capacity of the tea room is important – in the long term this will be

...AGM & Members’ Forum...AGM & Members’ Forum...AGM & Members’ Forum...AGM & Members’ Forum.. AGM & Members’...

GM – We are in a Year of Transition

New events such as the Country Railway Weekend (top) and bringing out under-used assets such as the Sierra Leone carriages (left) add interest but also require resource to make such happenings possible.

Photos: Andrew Charman

10 people – four footplate crew, a guard, two stationmasters, two shopkeepers and a duty manager. So assuming one duty per week, at least 70 volunteers are required just to operate a daily service for a week, before including any maintenance or project work.

Similarly, the special events that are vital to growth need people to manage them – if the paid staff have to run them they are unsustainable. Charles emphasised that too many events still rely on “the usual suspects” – new people coming forward are essential, at which point he paid tribute to the likes of Gareth Jones, Bob Mason and Roy Wilkinson who had stepped forward to organise the Fish & Chips and Welsh Tea trains.

Volunteers and staff have already achieved much in 2016, Charles added, listing more painting and carpentry, maintaining picnic areas and gardening, track repairs, retaining walls and other civils work, loco and carriage repairs and restoration with visible progress on 699, and electrical repairs.

We have also achieved good coverage in print and social media, and our 10 reviews on TripAdvisor have all been five star. ‘Dougal’ has been on its travels again, a successful trip to the Garden Railway Show in Peterborough, while use of the mixed stock on the Vintage Trains has been well received.

At this point Charles provided details on the sale of Resita 764.425, the railway’s No. 19,

and the chassis of 764.423, which as reported in last month’s special edition of The Earl have been bought by Austrian-based Handel mit Eisenbahnmaterial Georg Hocevar.

Reminding members that No. 19 had not worked since failing in 2013, and had not been nominated when members were consulted on loco options and the 699 project launched as a result, Charles reported that two months ago an unsolicited offer had been received for the two locomotives.

“We tested the market, talked to likely candidates for sale, and based on that feedback Trustees agreed to accept the offer of €40,000. This is less than the railway has spent on No. 19 but much more than its current book value, and it is most unlikely we would get a better offer now or in future”.

Charles added that the locos were not being sold for scrap – they will be rebuilt and used in a new location.

Concluding a largely positive report, Charles stated that there were at least three more announcements to come, which tantalisingly he was unable to reveal just yet! Two of them, our winning a Government grant and ‘Chevallier’ arriving on the line, are revealed in this issue!


...AGM & Members’ Forum...AGM & Members’ Forum...AGM & Members’ Forum...AGM & Members’ Forum.. AGM & Members’...achieved by the building of a new visitor centre, but in the short term an area outside the tearoom has been relaid with undercover picnic tables (shown in The Earl issue 20), which offer wheelchair access and provide increased undercover seating.

Other areas of focus include increasing passenger-carrying capacity by ensuring there are enough carriages available, and marketing, generating partnerships with for example the Lake Vyrnwy hotel where the railway is among vouchers that guests can choose for a day out. The hiring of a combined marketing and administration staff member is planned as the railway works to get on top of its paperwork. Meanwhile the office staff are supporting a number of plans being worked on by Trustees.

Winter woesCharles admitted that the 2015/16 winter off season had produced a disappointment; “I assumed the volunteers would still come when the trains stopped running but it didn’t actually happen, apart from a few hardy souls on the track gang, the workshop regulars and a few others who came and worked very hard all through the winter”.

He has the view that the winter message needs better packaging; “Come for a weekend and have a lot of fun with friends,” and hopes to build on successful winter initiatives such as Willy Field’s Hedgebash gang.

Charles next updated members on the 2016 season so far, which had seen an earlier start due to the Easter holiday happening 10 days earlier than in 2015 and the various school districts in the W&LLR catchment area scheduling their term ends at different times. “This gave us an excuse to run for three weeks instead of two, 20 days instead of 14 – I was worried that this would produce the same traffic from last year but spread over more days. But while the average bookings per day went down by two per cent, the period’s takings went up, so there were more people.” Charles added, however, that it was still very early to project what the season as a whole might produce.

The concernsTop of Charles’s list of concerns was the continuing effort to fill the paid position in the workshop, now ongoing for more than a year (but since solved, see page one!).

More volunteers are still needed for regular operations – not so much in the footplate department which is pretty well staffed, but certainly in the operations dept. People are also needed for maintenance and the various projects underway.

However Charles added that the volunteer liaison programme is paying off, producing new volunteers some of whom possess very useful skills. The arrival of a qualified electrician has meant that except for a couple of high-level installations the W&LLR has not paid outside contractors for any electrical work in 2016, a major saving. In another example, a new volunteer having a chainsaw licence has reduced the railway’s need to hire someone.

Succession is certainly an issue – every role needs to have a back-up, and Charles showed a graph that revealed that on a basic yellow timetable day to run the line requires

Dave Billmore: There was great concern over the condition of our embankments earlier in the year, Is there still? Charles S: We still don’t know in detail what’s underneath the embankments and to find out will be very expensive. There will be surveys done on track movements, but for now restrictions on double-heading will remain.Tony Thorndike: Do we know where the Resita will be operated? Charles S: Know we don’t, only that it will be rebuilt in Austria.Phil Crook: Is it not time for an assessment of the Banwy bridge, and Brynelin viaduct?

Charles: We are doing both but in the other order, looking at the viaduct first. I have a proposal on my desk for a thorough structural assessment and we will use that as a benchmark in succeeding years. Both are constantly monitored.David Taylor: Not a question but a comment. I applaud the state of the track, it’s so much better than it used to be, very impressive. Charles: It’s not down to me, I inherited very strong track, and in Kevin someone very focused on keeping it that way. I’m also very grateful to Terry (Turner) for coming back and training Kevin on the tamper.

Questions from the Floor...

Volunteers are happy to turn their hands to all sorts of jobs required, but getting them to come to the railway in the winter is an issue.

Photo: Kevin Heywood



A Plan for a DecadeFor the past 11 years the W&LLR has been

following a business plan, and at the end of 2015 the Trustees decided it was time to produce a new one. Steve Clews addressed the Forum to detail the Commercial Strategy that guides the plan that is now being created.

Steve started by explaining that dedication to a common interest, many years of labour, gifts and donations, including more recently from external bodies, have all helped create a business worth in the region of £2million, with an annual turnover between £5-700,000. In turn higher overheads have been created. The line now operates on around 160 days a year, and has become more commercially led out of necessity.

Using the graph reproduced above right, showing passenger bookings (yellow bars), income adjusted for inflation (green line), and expenditure adjusted for inflation (red line), Steve showed how the previous business plan had recognised the challenge of sustaining commercial success whilst retaining what was unique on the W&LLR. Written and developed with the prime objective of sustaining the business the plan has been successfully followed – the much-praised condition of the trackwork is a result of that business plan. But it included little in the way of growth with the result that over the last five years the business has stagnated commercially to some degree.

Since 2007 expenditure levels have steadily increased against a static income, and so operations have not contributed to capital expenditure for the last five years, requiring subsidising from legacies and donations. As a result the railway finds itself in the unhappy position of not being able to provide the service it needs to survive unless it increases income, but it also needs to increase services to increase that income. The basis of the Commercial Strategy is the need for growth over the next ten years.

The Strategy is informed by the Major Developments Programme (MDP) initiated last year. Past infrastructure proposals for the line have been somewhat ad-hoc, resulting in wastage of resource and capital. By looking at the whole line and planning accordingly the MDP will prevent such wastage.

The building blocksThe Commercial Strategy has some basic considerations guiding it; l Our duty of care to the railway’s heritage and historically important itemsl The need to maintain the light-railway atmosphere and a feeling of space on trainsl The need to maintain interest amongst our volunteers and membersl A secure future for the railway.

To these are added the aims of the Strategy;l To grow the business by attracting more visitors and creating more income per visitorl To run more and smaller trains to enable our visitors have more choice in how they spend their day on the railway

l To run trains on more daysl Increase the attractions and facilities on sitel To create a museum, which is key to our educational charity statusl To improve the appearance of the infrastructure, making the line more appealing and persuading visitors to returnl To provide improved catering and retail facilities open more often. Visitors expect this and will compare ours with everywhere elsel To improve our educational presentation.

In summary, offering more flexibility and increased activities creates the opportunity and incentive for visitors to spend more time at the railway, which provides us with the potential to generate more income per visitor.

Three phases of progressTaking the above considerations and aims as its basis, the Trustee sub-group working on the Commercial Strategy has come up with three phases of growth over the next decade, and Steve was able to show the meeting potential timetables (reproduced on the next page), and ideas for events, over the three phases.

In the Short Term – from 2017-2019, the strategy sees traffic restored to the levels of 2008/9, maintaining the trend of this year’s aim to restore traffic to 2014 levels. “This is not something we haven’t done before,” the Chairman emphasised.

Such an increase will be needed to compensate for a predicted 20 per cent increase in expenditure. This will be caused by a likely increase in staff costs due to the difficulty of recruiting paid staff and volunteer leaders; an increase in energy costs – such prices are currently low and low prices only go one way; the need to increase income over expenditure to enable contributions to infrastructure maintenance; and the increased overheads resulting from our expansion plans.

A 2019 timetable could see 17 per cent more operating days, 27 per cent more service trains, and 27,000 annual passengers.

During this period we would aim to have the new workshop completed and the visitor centre building commenced. We would aim to run trains during the February school half term, supplement the timetable with more diesel trains, stage two Galas each year as well

as the Country Railway Weekend, and make catering trains and activities a permanent part of the timetable.

In the Mid Term, by 2023, the aim would be to restore traffic to the peak years of 2002 and 2004, and as a result produce an increased surplus from operations.

This would allow us to improve our educational facilities and offering to the public, especially the local community; to improve the amount of money brought into the local area in general as part of our involvement with the local community; to contribute to the maintenance and upkeep of the infrastructure and rolling stock; and to reduce the maximum normal service train weight to ease the loading on our original engines and thus protect our heritage assets. Currently our 114 year old locomotives can regularly be called upon to take eight units.

A potential 2023 timetable sees operating days 29 per cent increased on 2015, with service trains 45 per cent up in number, more special trains and at the Galas, with annual passenger numbers of 31,000.

During the period between 2020-3 we would aim to have the Llanfair Visitor Centre and museum completed. We would want to fill out our trains and provide more turns and satisfaction for volunteers. We would see more seven-day-a-week running – it is no longer sacrosanct that households do their washing on a Monday and shopping on a Friday so don’t visit railways. And we would reduce our service train weight, both protecting our heritage assets and smoothing out the flow of visitors into our sites.

Special events could include a Beer Festival – we have been told by one of our fellow lines that this is one of the best money spinners they run, and it can also involve the local community. There could be a Murder Mystery train and we could run the ‘driver for a fiver’ programme which several other railways are adopting.

The Long Term programme, achieved by 2026, would take the railway into territory it hasn’t been in before, and Steve started by revealing that leisure industry professionals in the immediate area believe the W&LLR should be carrying 50,000 passengers a year,



and certain members of the Heritage Railway Association cannot understand why our passenger numbers are so low.

The aim would be to expand traffic to a level not previously achieved, in order to offer improved facilities and an increased educational offering; to guarantee the future of the railway with a healthy business able to be sustained with less reliance on legacies for general upkeep of the infrastructure, locos and rolling stock; and to enable the W&LLR, through legacies, donations and appeals to contribute more to the preservation of heritage and historical railway equipment and artefacts, particularly those of 2ft 6in gauge.

A 2026 timetable might have 43 per cent more operating days compared to 2015, with 57 per cent more service trains, further increases in Gala and special trains, and annual passenger numbers of 34,000.

During this period the new Welshpool Visitor Centre would be completed. The season would be extended – though there would remain months when the line did not run. Santa Specials would be extended to three weekends, despite the major effort needed to staff them. Beer Trains, described to us as very profitable, would be run while Sunday lunch trains could be a possibility. And the ‘driver for a fiver’ programme could be extended as one of a number of ideas to extend interest and profitability on the line.

Steve concluded by pointing out that the Commercial Strategy would need to be underpinned by other vital considerations;l The Financial Strategy – costing each project and determining what can be affordedl The Engineering Strategy – analysing the vehicles, assets, determining what is needed to support the commercial objectives.l The Infrastructure & Operational Strategy – producing a similar analysis for our museum, workshop, visitor centre, bridges and such like l The People Strategy – described as the most important, concerned with understanding the numbers of people needed to manage and run the railway, encouraging strength and depthl A Marketing strategy.

Peter Malim – The strategy talks of more diesel trains, will we need more diesels in order to do that? The current fleet won’t cope.Steve C: This is an example of how the commercial strategy has to be backed up by an engineering strategy. What do we need to make this happen, do we need to acquire new items, or maintain what we have?Kit Carter: I welcome the recent initiative to repatriate the Sentinel railcars from Sri Lanka. Are there plans to ensure they come to the W&LLR? They would be something really different to attract visitors.Steve C: There are no current plans for the railway to fund their rescue. The repatriation and restoration is being organised by an independent body, the Narrow Gauge Sentinel Railcar Preservation Trust. We have initiated a working liaison with them, with the intention and possibility that the railcars may visit the line, either on a short or long-term basis. We are keeping our options open.Kit C: The 15th September 2016 will mark the 60th anniversary of the running of the special train on the line by British Railways, the first move that led to the setting up of the preservation scheme. As a wildly excited 18-year old boy passenger on that train who signed up to the Society on the day I ask if there are any plans to mark the anniversary?Steve C: Our thunder was stolen a bit regarding that train as it was recreated at the 2013 Gala. But this year also marks the point that the W&LLR has been operating longer as a preserved line than the combined period in its previous independent ownership and under the Cambrian, GWR and BR. We are looking at celebrating that significant event. Malcolm Elliott: I feel we should think very seriously about the location of a museum. From a business perspective it would be sound logic to site it where two thirds of our traffic starts from, to keep people on site. Charles S: Welshpool has some arguments for a museum, but my philosophy is that we

are primarily a railway and we want to get people to travel on it. By having most of the attractions at the Llanfair end, we encourage visitors to travel on the railway to our museum. For the same reason we try to make Llanfair the destination on Gala weekend.

The Llanfair site is more suitable for what will be a living museum, also used for storage and the display of stock not being used. There is a balance, but for logistical and marketing reasons Llanfair is better.Steve C: The sheds at Welshpool will continue to be available for display and we are planning to extend the concrete floor into the longer shed to enable both safer access for staff and for visitors to go into it. So there will still be some interest at Welshpool.Bob Mason: It’s also worth pointing out that we own all the land at Llanfair whereas we only own a strip by the road at Welshpool – the remainder is leased from Powis Estates.

Short Term – 2017-19 Mid Term – by 2023 Long Term – by 2026

Questions from the Floor...

There is still room for expansion in Welshpool’s display shed, with a concrete floor being added in the longer shed.


The Forum presented an opportunity for an update on the Major Developments

Programme, which included the announcement that on the previous day the railway had exchanged contracts to purchase the Colinette Yarns industrial units between Keyse Cottage and Llanfair running shed, reported in last month’s special edition of The Earl.

Steve Clews explained why Colinette presents the best of the four options for development at Llanfair, the others being relocating the workshops to Tanllan or two versions of development on the existing site.

The Colinette and Tanllan options provide a single workshop facility, the Llanfair options do not as the woodwork and paint shops would remain at Tanllan. By using Colinette we would not need to build an additional carriage shed due to the space released at Tanllan.

Colinette and Tanllan allow an increase in size of our facilities, which would not be possible at Llanfair – the Colinette option provides the greatest scope for office, mess and changing facilities to be incorporated into the design, and both it and Tanllan would allow the construction of a decent-sized museum which would be highly compromised by developing on the existing Llanfair site.

A major consideration is road access, for deliveries and such like, which is excellent to Colinette, but very difficult and possibly would be very costly to implement at Tanllan.

Developing at Llanfair would provide good viewing access for visitors to part of the workshop – Colinette could provide a view of the whole workshop but divorced from the

week to allow the existing owners more time to clear material from the site.

Steve explained that the fact that the site is the only opportunity for expansion available to the railway would be known to the vendors which alone would inevitably push up the market price. Indications of a competing party willing to offer £280,000 provided some reassurance that this price reflects the intrinsic worth of the site.

Steve added that the real value to the company of acquiring Colinette was the cost of the next best option for development. To do nothing would negate the conclusions of the Major Developments Group that expansion is essential to the sustainability of the company in the long term. The next best option was development at Tanllan and investigations had shown that there were considerable costs and risks associated with pursuing this option, in terms of land stability, environmental constraints, road access, power and services supply, duplication of support facilities and separation of the workshop from the railway’s operating staff.

visitor centre, while viewing of activities at Tanllan would be difficult.

Developing at Llanfair would likely cost the least, Tanllan has potentially the highest cost implication. Llanfair, however, would cause most disruption to workshop activities during construction, Colinette the least.

While one of the Llanfair options would likely be quickest to complete, Tanllan would take longest. And the Tanllan site, being divorced from the main Llanfair HQ, may not be acceptable to some volunteers, while developing on the existing Llanfair site would not be in line with the conclusions of the Major Developments Group last year.

Based on the above the Colinette site clearly presented the best option, and negotiations were opened with the vendors. The asking price was £295,000, estate agents having suggested to the owners that they should put it on the market at £320,000. Our own valuation of the site was £220,000 but an initial offer for £250,000 was rejected before the £280,000 was accepted. Completion was planned for 30th June, since delayed by a

Bob Robinson (comment): To emphasise that this acquisition is key to the entire major developments programme – while a new workshop will be welcome, relocating onto Colinette unlocks the current workshop site to enable the building of the new visitor centre and tea room. This is the first step of the development of Llanfair.Dave Billmore: Are there likely to be any issues with obtaining planning permission or ground contamination from the chemicals used by the previous owner? Steve C: We are as confident as we can be on obtaining planning approval, it is a change of use from B1 to B2, and we don’t see any issues. We understand that the previous owner had built in very substantial protection against drainage into the underlying sub structure.Tony Thorndike: What is the broad timeframe for progressing the work?Steve C: A good question. We will have a project team in place as soon as possible after completion. We will enjoy three months of empty building rates during which time we must come up with a detailed design, ready to begin construction at the end of that three-month period. This may only be initial

increasing our parking capacity. There will be also great opportunities for volunteer effort once work begins. A great deal of the interior structure will need stripping out and there is an amazing amount of wood, enough to light up our locomotives for likely many years. Steve C: Looking at taking the project forward we have two basic options, which is to contract the work out and manage it, or to do it all ourselves by volunteer effort. Our intention is a combination of the two, using volunteers where we can, contracting where we have to.

dismantling but will trigger a change in the rates. So we will make a start in the third or foruth quarter of 2016. The timeframe for completion won’t be known until we have a detailed design. Tony T: Will access to the new workshop be from the Llanfair or Welshpool end and will it involve demolition of the Dougal shed?Steve C: The current concept will take the access route through the Dougal shed which will need to be removed. Bob Mason (providing extra information): We need to make the most of the awkward-shaped Llanfair site. Legacies donated to the railway last year have enabled us to buy this plot of land, and money from such legacies as that from the estate of (former workshop foreman)Pasco Rowe, which was intended to be spent on a new workshop, will enable us to build the workshop and do the basic kitting out. Bob Robinson (comment): A great deal of research has been made into the site in the past few months, including into such matters as flood risk, and it is a very strong site.Peter Malim (comment): It is also worth adding that the purchase of the building includes the small car park opposite,

...AGM & Members’ Forum...AGM & Members’ Forum...AGM & Members’ Forum...AGM & Members’ Forum.. AGM & Members’...Colinette – the key to all our development

Questions/comments from the floor...

11The Earl – Issue 21 June/July 2016

Following on from the effective start of the Major Developments Programme was the

announcement of our next appeal, agreed by the Trustees and which will seek to help fund the MDP.

Appeals Director Iain McLean said that the appeal was so new that he could not present glossy brochures describing it yet – the official launch would likely be in the July edition of The Journal. It will be called ‘Our 2020 Vision’ and as the title suggests will run until the year of 2020.

As Robert Robinson had stated the building of the new workshop is the key to unlocking everything else in the MDP and the appeal will cover everything in the programme – the workshop, museum building, tearoom and shop, as well as investment at Welshpool and along the line.

Costing such a wide-ranging project is very difficult but it could be as much as £1.5 million. We have been holding for an embarrassingly long time a bequest from the estate of Pasco Rowe, which can now be applied as he wished to the workshop. And a quite unexpected legacy from the estate of enthusiast David Lord, together with other accumulated funds has enabled us to purchase the new workshop site with the Pasco bequest to be used for fitting out the building.

Iain was also able to announce another important bequest, from the estate of the late W&LLR vice chairman Derek Mayman. It was Derek who in the 1960s created the link between the line and the Zillertalbahn in Austria, one of most important measures in ensuring the W&LLR was able to progress as it resulted in the arrival of the four-wheeled carriages and eventually loco No. 699.01; “without these we would have gone nowhere.”

The bequest is of £40,000 and has been specifically made to help maintain the original four Austrian carriages, and so Trustees have agreed endowment funds for these vehicles in similar fashion to a fund that already exists for the Pickering bogie vehicles. Part of the Mayman bequest will also be used in refurbishing Tanllan as a specific carriage shed after the paint and wood shops have moved to the Colinette site, enabling the four carriages to be kept under cover at all times.

Iain added that of a potential project cost

of £1.5m the railway already has around £400,000 to spend. There will be applications for grant funding to the likes of the Heritage Lottery Fund – while the HLF will not fund a new workshop it might contribute to the scheme as a whole. We will only be seeking a smallish proportion of the total project cost from such sources – the majority will come from members and supporters of the line through the 2020 Vision appeal, which has been set a target of £600,000; “Our most ambitious appeal to date,” Iain added.

Questions from the FloorPeter Malim: During the period of this development we are hopefully going to get another of our locomotives (Hunslet No. 85) back, and it will require funds for restoration to working order. How will this be achieved?Steve: When we do that and in what form will be covered in the next business plan, drawing on our engineering strategy.

Terry Turner: Objected to the wording of reports suggesting that the railway has been stagnating economically and operationally for some years. Terry argued that substantial progress had been made – passenger numbers had risen to 27,000 from only 19,000 and now traffic is broadly level. He stated that to use such negative language did not reflect the efforts of many, such as the track gang and staff, who had made big contributions and worked hard over the years.Steve C: Replied that he noted Terry’s comments.Megan Charman: Replying to Terry, insisted that W&LLR members were not negative towards the track gang, quoting such examples as regular posts on Facebook and the many comments to the gang praising the “amazing job” they do. She added that everyone appreciates the work the track gang does as is appreciated the work that everyone does.Bob Robinson: Commented that during Terry Turner’s time in charge professionalism had come to the railway, resulting in “damned good track” and a lot of improvements. But that era has come to an end and we have moved on to a different era; “In the 14 years I’ve been here things have improved every year. We accept that traffic levels were down in some years, there was a recession on, but I have had good times over the years, both under Terry and now Charles and I think we are going to have some more”.

Tony Thorndike: When is the siding at Cyfronydd going to be reconnected?Steve C: It is planned for this year.Tony T: Are any other sidings planned?Charles S: We are investigating what can be done at Sylfaen – and not necessarily only for storage purposes. We do need more siding space, because we need more carriage space because we need more carriages. Tony T: What’s the future of the Welshpool bay platform?Charles S: It will be reinstated for passenger use by 31st July.Megan C: Are there any plans for a return to steam for Dougal?Steve C: We are conscious that Dougal has great appeal especially to young people. We are concentrating on our infrastructure at present, we need to focus for now on the railway, so we can then move onto the ‘nice-to-haves’. We haven’t forgotten about Dougal and if a benefactor came along with several £10s of thousands we wouldn’t turn them down. But the loco is not our top priority at the moment.Bob Mason (comment): With the salary savings we have made from two extended paid staff vacancies and the extra income coming in from the likes of the Welsh tea and fish & chip trains we hope to make contributions to the winter tracklaying programme and such like, as well as funding some of the ‘other stuff’ away from the 2020 Vision appeal. For Dougal

we need to find something from another resource. We can’t have an appeal for Dougal that might detract from the £600,000 we need to raise in the 2020 Vision appeal but if someone can find a way to fund Dougal away from that, it would certainly be possible .Tony T: Driver for a Fiver – what does it mean and where would the funds go?Steve C: Many railways have started such programmes, that simply mean running a loco up and down a siding for a specific time so that visitors can try their hand at the regulator. It takes a little resource but is appealing to do, providing a point of interest between passenger trains and bringing in a little income, which would be put into general funds.


Making an appeal of 2020 vision...

General Questions/Comments from the Floor...

The arrival of the Austrian carriages in 1968 was a big boost to the W&LLR – now they will be properly protected undercover. Photo: Geoff Weir

‘Dougal’ – no plans for now, but the loco is not forgotten about. Photo: Andrew Charman

n The plethora of recent special events included a highly enjoyable Presidents’ Day train (above) on 18th June. Organised by former W&LLR chairman Alan Higgins, the event saw invited guests, including those who have played a major part in the W&LLR such as long-time volunteers and major donors, and local dignitaries such as former deputy Prime Minister William Hague (right) enjoying a trip to Welshpool and a picnic lunch on the train, giving us the chance to describe to our guests progress we have made and our exciting plans for the future. On 25th-26th June we staged our first Country Railway Weekend, portraying the railway as it might have looked during the 1950s, with goods traffic and transhipment for the local communities. While the event fell short of expectations in terms of visitor attendance (due partly to poor weather, football competition and perhaps a Brexit hangover), we put on an interesting show for those who came, with lots of shunting, freight movements, and interesting visiting vehicles, art and artifacts. Thanks are due to Martin Evans and Eileen Niblock, the initiators of the project, to those who helped with the preparations, decoration, shunting and positioning of vehicles and artifacts, and to the five (!) loco and operating crews who operated each day. We have good feedback and lessons learned for next time! Photos: Megan Charman and Kevin Heywood

Useful informationRailway websites: Railway Facebook: Members and Supporters Facebook: Railway Twitter feed: Office: For volunteering, general infoVounteer Liaison OffficerLoco Crew Officer Loco Crew Admin and Rosters Operations Officer: Ops Dept Rosters: Tearoom/shops rosters: Press Officer: Company Secretary

www.wllr.org.uk www.89a.org.uk www.facebook.com/WelshpoolSteamRailway

www.facebook.com/LlanfairLine @LlanfairLine 01938 810441, [email protected]

Robert Robinson, 01938 811378, [email protected] Bowden, 01189 814918, [email protected]

Roger Pattie 0118 984 2884, [email protected] Charman, 01938 810592, [email protected]

Dick Hewett, 01794 500523, [email protected] Sally Lister, 01654 703600 (24hr a/phone), [email protected]

Andrew Charman, 01938 810592, [email protected] Evans, [email protected]

Diary Dates

This newsletter is published on an approximately monthly basis as a

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those without web access can read it. News for future editions? Want to go on the mailing list? Contact Andrew

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Canada Day eventTrustees Meeting Brush-cutter training for hedgebashers – contact Willy Field at [email protected] or 07814 143707Welsh Tea TrainHam Radio Weekend Young Members Taster Wknd ANNUAL GALATrustees MeetingDiesel day

n Steve Clews writes: I am writing this only a week or so since the AGM and members’ forum and what a lot we have going on.

Figures show that we have had a decline in visitor numbers and income to the railway over the last few years and we are determined to reverse that. The indications are that our expanded timetable is starting to work and we will produce a business plan that builds on these changes to ensure that we continue to make progress.

The purchase of Colinettes next door is the start of the biggest capital investment we have made for some time which is intended to add the amenities that the modern-day visitor expects whilst ensuring that we maintain our light railway atmosphere.

This will have to be funded and therefore we will shortly be starting a very large appeal no doubt spurred on by our recent success in gaining government funding for disabled access. This was a grant application we put in at the last minute thinking we had only a small chance of success – so it is all the more pleasing that we won a grant.

Talking of success – I had a great time on Saturday 28th May driving the fish & chip special – a full train, 150 tickets sold, smooth organisation and lovely fish and chips at Welshpool. Thanks to all those who made it possible, It was a beautiful evening.

Yes, a lot is happening but there is more to come and there will be announcements in due course, though I cannot promise that they will all be as big as purchasing the Colinette site!

One lump or two?n A fireman was hit on the head with a lump of coal which spilled while Joan was being bunkered. There’s a safety lesson here, but the actual words in the accident book caused some amusement in the office: “Bump to head from lump of coal. Ice pack applied to lump.”

A word from the Chairman...


news in brief for volunteers and supporters of the … earl – issue 21 june/july 2016 01 news in...

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