Valley Veteran TVR 28 needs your help!

By Robert Lloyd

The cosmetic restoration of Taff Vale Railway ‘O1’ class 0-6-2T No. 28, the last surviving Welsh-built standard gauge steam locomotive, is set to go ahead thanks to a unique three-way partnership between the National Railway Museum, and two of Wales’s leading standard gauge preserved railways.

The Gwili Railway-based Gwili Vintage Carriage Group (GVCG), and the Llangollen Railway have agreed to work together to cosmetically restore the locomotive to showroom condition and display it with the only Welsh-built standard gauge railway carriage to survive into preservation, Taff Vale Railway Brake Third No. 220.

James Buckley of the GVCG explained: “As custodians of No. 220, this project reflects a long-held aspiration to display the carriage within an appropriate context, and uniting it with the sole-surviving Welsh-built standard gauge steam locomotive in South Wales is a fantastic proposition.

“This project has three major benefits in that we will move a step closer to creating a train that consists solely of Welsh rolling stock; the Llangollen Railway will get to re-assemble No. 28, and the locomotive will be out on public display for the first time in over two decades. We look forward to working closely with both the Llangollen Railway and the National Railway Museum to achieve this aim.”

An appeal for £10,000 to complete the cosmetic restoration and transport the locomotive to the Gwili Railway is launched today by the GVCG on behalf of the other two partners.

Neil Evans, from Llangollen Railway, said: “It will be great to get this loco back to ‘showroom’ condition. Llangollen Railway’s workshop is the largest standard gauge steam loco workshop in Wales, so we’re very happy to be involved with the project. Since No. 28 arrived at Llangollen we have already worked on some parts of the locomotive, and a successful fundraising exercise will help us to complete the job.”

Anthony Coulls, of the National Railway Museum, said: “It has long been our ambition at the National Railway Museum to get No. 28 looking in tip-top condition and it’s great to have such enthusiastic partners in Wales to help us achieve this aim. Although Wales is well-known for its narrow-gauge lines, perhaps No. 28 will help remind everyone of Wales’ standard gauge railway heritage; the coal hauled by this engine helped to develop Britain.”

Cheques in support of the restoration fund should be sent with a covering letter to:

Gwili Vintage Carriage Group c/o, Gwili Steam Railway, Bronwydd Arms Station, Carmarthen, SA33 6HT

Or online via:

Donations

Gift Aid forms will be sent to everyone who donates.

TVR No.28 Historical note

Taff Vale Railway ‘O1’ class 0-6-2 No. 28 was built in 1897 at West Yard Works, Cardiff to a design by Tom Hurry Riches. It was designed to pull passengers and freight on lines in the South Wales valleys and Cardiff docks, and represents one of a series of similar locomotive types that would influence the development of the GWR’s 56xx class 0-6-2T.

No. 28 was withdrawn from mainline service by the GWR in 1926. The locomotive saw further use with the Army and the National Coal Board, which enabled it to survive into preservation, becoming a part of the National Collection in 1960.

Briefly returned to working order in Caerphilly in the 1980s, No. 28 was moved to the Dean Forest Railway in Gloucestershire after the group looking after it disbanded. It is currently stored at the Llangollen Railway in a dismantled state awaiting restoration, initially to non-operational condition.

For further information please contact….

Thomas Spain, Gwili Vintage Carriage Group.

Public email: taffvale28@gmail.com

Address: Gwili Vintage Carriage Group c/o Gwili Steam Railway, Bronwydd Arms Station, Carmarthen, SA33 6HT

Office Telephone: 01267 238213