Cambrian Heritage Railways facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Cambrian Heritage Railways
Locale	Llynclys & Oswestry, Shropshire, England
Terminus	Llynclys South & Weston Wharf
Commercial operations
Name	Cambrian Railways
Original gauge	4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Preserved operations
Operated by	Cambrian Heritage Railways
Stations	2 (Oswestry section) 2 (Llynclys section)
Length	62 chains, 0.78 mi, 1.2 km
Preserved gauge	4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Commercial history
Opened	1860
Closed	1965
Preservation history
2004	Restoration and relaying of track begin
2005	First trains run on newly restored (Llynclys section) of track
2011	First train service along restored (Oswestry section) of track
2012	Penygarreg Lane halt (Llynclys section) opens to the public, officially
2022	Weston station (Oswestry section) opens to the public, officially

The Cambrian Heritage Railways (CHR) is a special railway company. It is also a trust and a society. It is based in Llynclys and Oswestry in Shropshire, England. The CHR uses the old Oswestry railway station. It runs trains on two different parts of the railway line. One part is between Oswestry and Weston Wharf. The other part is between Llynclys South and Penygarreg Lane Halt.

The CHR was formed in 2009. Two groups, the Cambrian Railways Society (CRS) and the Cambrian Railways Trust (CRT), joined together. Their main goal is to rebuild the railway lines. They want to run trains from Gobowen to Llynclys Junction and to Blodwel.

The Cambrian Heritage Railways also has a museum. It is called the Cambrian Railways Museum. You can find it in the old goods building at Oswestry railway station. The museum shows old photos, signs, and lamps. It also has items from signal boxes. These displays tell the story of the Cambrian Railways.

History of the Railway

How it All Started

In 1972, some railway fans started the Cambrian Railways Society. They rented part of the old Oswestry goods yard. They also rented the Oswestry South Signalbox. The Society opened a museum in the old goods shed. They also bought steam and diesel engines. They got many old railway carriages too.

In 1997, the Society was allowed to run trains. They could run them for about 300 meters to Middleton Road. Later, they bought the Weston Wharf goods yard. This was done with help from the Heritage Lottery Fund. After 1988, they could run special work trains to Blodwel. These trains did not carry passengers.

Plans for the Future

In 1998, another group was formed. It was called the Cambrian Railways Trust. This group included the Society, Oswestry Council, and local businesses. Their aim was to buy the railway line. This line ran between Gobowen and Blodwel. Once they bought it, the Society would run the trains.

The Trust got money to study their plans in 1997. They then agreed to buy the track from Railtrack. By 2001, they had permission for the whole project. They also had a plan and funding.

Challenges and Changes

However, a new company called Network Rail took over from Railtrack. They stopped talking to the Trust. They said they would only deal with a local council. Because of this, the Society left the Trust. They tried to talk to Network Rail again on their own. When that failed, the Society started a new base. This was at Llanddu Junction.

The people left in the Trust decided to start their own project. They were offered the land between Llynclys and Pant. With money from the European Union, the council bought the land. They then rented it to the Trust. From 2003, the Trust began rebuilding the track. Trains started running there in July 2005. More grants helped them expand. They built the Llynclys South station.

Coming Together as CHR

In 2005, the council bought the old Oswestry railway station. They fixed it up to be a visitor center. They also created a group to manage the building. In the same year, the Trust got a grant. This was to plan how to rebuild the railway. They wanted to connect Gobowen, Llynclys, and Blodwel.

After their study, the Trust suggested joining forces. They wanted to merge with the Society and the Oswestry Station Building Trust. This would combine all their resources. It would also stop them from doing the same work twice. This merger happened in 2009. That is how the new Cambrian Heritage Railways was formed.

On November 20, 2009, members of both groups voted. They agreed that:

• Everyone in the old groups became a member of the new CHR.
• The old groups would transfer their assets to CHR.
• Many tasks would be combined to save money and effort.

How the Railway Works Today

The CHR runs trains on two main parts of the line. One is between Oswestry and Weston Wharf. The other is between Llynclys South and Penygarreg Lane Halt.

The CHR moved the museum collections to Oswestry station. The old goods shed is now used to fix engines and carriages. The CHR is also fixing more of the railway in Oswestry. In 2006, they fixed the old Oswestry South Signal Box. This was possible thanks to a £22,000 grant.

The first steam passenger trains ran on the CHR on August 24, 2007. An old Peckett engine pulled a coach. This was the first steam engine at Llynclys since 1964.

Future Plans and Extensions

The Cambrian Heritage Railway is working to extend its tracks. They are repairing the line from Llynclys South towards Oswestry. This will allow trains to reach the old Cambrian Railway headquarters. Railway inspectors visited the line in September 2009. They made suggestions for improvements.

Volunteers have been clearing the line. They are working near the Dolgoch housing estate. They are also working near the A483 road bridge at Llynclys. Soon, they plan to work towards Blodwel. This will connect to a section that is already clear.

Recently, work has focused on laying track from Oswestry station to Weston Wharf. Weston Wharf has a craft brewery and other fun places. Before the track could be laid, some big jobs were needed. They replaced the Middleton Road Footbridge. They also lowered the track under Gasworks Bridge. The Cattle Creep girders were replaced too.

By December 2018, ballast was laid on parts of the track. Ballast is the crushed stone that supports the tracks. Concrete sleepers were laid near the station. Steel sleepers were used where a sewer passes under the track. Work continued to space and align the sleepers.

In early 2019, a contractor fixed the rail chairs under Gasworks Bridge. This bridge is now ready for trains. Track was also laid at Weston Wharf. New station parts for Weston Wharf were delivered and installed. The extension to Weston was finished. It opened for service on April 2, 2022.

Stations of the Cambrian Heritage Railways

Oswestry Section Stations

• Gobowen (This will be a future connection for trains to the main railway network)
• Park Hall Halt
• Oswestry
• Weston Wharf
• Llynclys North (This will be a new station. It will replace the old Llynclys station. It will also be a junction for trains going towards Blodwel.)
• Porthywaen Halt
• Blodwell Junction

Llynclys Section Stations

• Llynclys South (This is the current end of the line to the north)
• Penygarreg Lane Halt (This is the current end of the line to the south)

Locations on a Map

Locomotives (Engines)

The railway has many different engines. Here are the ones currently based on the line.

Oswestry–Weston Wharf Section Engines

Steam Locomotives

• Andrew Barclay Sons & Co. 0-6-0ST no. 885 (built 1900). Not currently running.
• Peckett 0-4-0ST "Adam" no. 1430 (built 1916). Waiting to be fixed at Oswestry.
• Andrew Barclay Sons & Co. 0-4-0ST "Fife Flyer No 6" no. 2261 (built 1949). Currently running.
• Beyer Peacock 0-4-0ST "Oliver Veltom" no. 2131 (built 1951). Not currently running.
• Hunslet Austerity 0-6-0ST "Norma" no. 3770 (built 1952). Not currently running.
• Andrew Barclay Sons & Co. 0-4-0ST "Henry Ellison" no. 2217 (built 1947). Carries passengers.

Diesel Locomotives

• Ruston and Hornsby 165DE 0-4-0 no. 11517 (built 1963). Carries passengers.

Diesel Multiple Units (DMUs)

• BR Class 144

units nos. 144006 and 144007 (built 1987). Carries passengers.

Electro-Diesel Locomotives

• BR Class 73

"City of Winchester" no. E6036 (built 1965–1967). Carries passengers.

Llynclys–Penygarreg Lane Halt Section Engines

Diesel Locomotives

• English Electric 'Stephenson' Class 0-6-0DH no. D1230 (built 1969). Used for moving trains and track work at Llynclys.

Diesel Multiple Units (DMUs)

• BR Class 101

unit no. 51187. Not currently running.

• BR Class 142

unit no. 142055 (built 1986). Runs at Llynclys.

Electric Multiple Units (EMUs)

• BR Class 503

no. 28690 (built 1938). Stored at Llynclys.

Carriages (Coaches)

Passenger carriages are kept at Llynclys, Oswestry, and Weston. They are used, stored, or waiting to be fixed. Many of the British Rail Mark 1 carriages were used on other heritage railways before coming here. Most of them came from the Great Central Railway. Here are the carriages currently on the line.

Oswestry–Weston Wharf Section Carriages

• GWR autocoach 163 (built 1927). Stored at Weston, Oswestry.
• BR Mk 1 TSO W3950 (built 1955). Fixed but not used at Weston, Oswestry.
• BR Mk 1 TSO E4610 (built 1956). Being fixed, bodywork is being worked on.
• BR Mk 1 TSO E4965 (built 1961). Used at Oswestry.
• BR Mk 3 SLE 10722 (built 1984). Stored at Oswestry.
• BR Mk 1 CK 15632 (built 1956). Being fixed, minor repairs and roof painting.
• BR Mk 1 CK E16025 (built 1957). Being fixed.
• BR Mk 1 BSK E35334 (built 1962). Used at Oswestry.
• BR Mk 1 BSK 35342 (built 1962). Stored, waiting to be fixed.
• BR Mk 1 35444 (built 1963). Stored at Oswestry.
• BR Mk 3 40751 LNER Buffet Coach (built 1981). Used as a shop and café at Weston station.
• BR Mk 1 E43145 (built 1955). Used at Oswestry.
• BR Mk 1 81423 (built 1958). Stored at Oswestry.

Llynclys–Penygarreg Lane Halt Section Carriages

• BR Mk 1 RMB 1850 (built 1959). Not running, used as a shop and café at Llynclys.
• BR Mk 1 BSK 35316 (built 1962). Fixed but not used at Llynclys.
• BR Mk 1 E43046 (built 1954). Stored at Llynclys.

See also

• Railways of Shropshire