How a small Welsh railway became world famous by chance - Talyllyn Railway
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- Опубліковано 20 лип 2023
- In today's video, we take a look at the Talyllyn Railway, a small, Welsh railway that became the first in the world to be preserved
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Imagine being preserved for over 150 years and still having a square cab
That might be something to be impressed about.
*t h e y a r e t h e n a r r o w g a u g e e n g i n e s r u n n i n g o n t h e n a r r o w g a u g e t r a c k*
Hmmmm
Come to talyllyn I’m here for Awdry extravaganza
Lmao
The preservation of the Talyllyn Railway feels like the sort of idea you come up with in a pub with mates after a few pints.
"You know what I wanna do?"
"Tom what idea do you have?"
"Theres this lovely little railway in Wales, and we should save it!"
"YES!!! THAT'D BE AMAZING!"
The brilliant thing is that is exactly what it was. Many of the original society meetings of TRPS was done over a pint!
That's literally how trains were invented...
Sort of
Peter griffins million dollar idea
pretty much the same for the Middleton railway in Leeds, a bunch of uni students went, why not
I’m actually a member of the Talyllyn Railway so seeing all this history of the railway posted online makes me very happy to see. I usually go on the railway every summer. 😊🚂
What an amazing experience that must be! I'm from the states and have been a big fan of Thomas and the Reverend Awdry's work since I was little. It's always been a dream of mine to visit that little railway. I did however get to visit the narrow gauge railway of New Romney Hythe and Dymchurch or the RH&DR? It was a gorgeous line in itself and it made me think of you guys!
It would be awesome to visit The Talyllyn Railway, let alone work on it!
A few years later, the Puffing Billy Railway near Melbourne, Australia was preserved after members of the public drew inspiration from Tallylyn and not long after Tallylyn started operating on a voluntary basis. So you could say it didn't take long for Tallylyn to impact people on the other side of the world.
Just had lunch at a pub right next to the PB tracks yesterday and saw it passing by!
@xr6lad I think I know the one you're talking about, we've both Tallylyn to thank for that view!
Used to live in Cockatoo, Puffing Billy went past my back fence. Two of the four VR 2'6" lines are preserved and expanding.
This must have been one of the best moment in Awdry’s life
I managed to see this Railway for myself last year. After growing up with the Railway Series and Thomas, I can’t begin to describe how amazing it was to see it for myself
They Talyllyn Railway is hosting the Awdry Extravaganza this weekend.
@@joshuaW5621 they are indeed and someday I’d love to see that as well
I can’t believe this inspired the narrow gauge engines stories
@@sukottotsukeshi. it’s amazing, isn’t it?
@@MyNameIsNigel very
Real-life events for Awdry's Skarloey and Mid-Sodor stories as well as for mountain engines:
* Skarloey remembers - How Talyllyn was retired in the shed, Dolgoch left for an overhaul, and life on the Talyllyn before new engines arrived.
* Sir-Handel - Sir-Haydn's derailments.
* Peter-Sam & The Refreshment Lady - Awdry once caused a train on the Talyllyn to leave the driver's mother-in-law behind.
* Old faithful - Talyllyn being worned-out yet used for emergency tasks.
* Trucks! - Possibly the 1902/1904 Abergynolwyn quarry accident.
* Home at last - When Talyllyn returned from being overhauled and Douglas's cab scraping against roofs.
* Rock-n-roll - Douglas's rough-riding and derailments, and Minlander's maintenance work.
* Little old twins - The BBC TV visiting the Talyllyn.
* Special funnel - The 1948 washout on the Corris, and Edward-Thomas's brief Gisel injector.
* Steam-roller - An Irish steamroller collied into a train.
* Passengers and polish - How Douglas was said to have once stalled on a bridge.
* The gallant old engine - How Dolgoch saved the Talyllyn from closure.
* Mountain engine - Snowdon's #5's inspection trial before the Snowdon opened to the public.
* Bad look-out - Snowdow's opening day accident with #1.
* Danger points - Snowdon's #6 derailed at summit.
* Devils-back - Snowdon's #6 rescued people and changed names.
* Crosspatch - When Talyllyn was first built and had steaming problems.
* Bucking bronco - Talyllyn bouncing as a 0-4-0.
* Stick-in-the-mud - Possibly if there was ever a mudslide on the Talyllyn.
* Duck and dukes - The Talyllyn's centenary.
* Grand-puff - A locomotive as a stationary boiler at Ffestington, and the Corris' closure.
* Bulldog - Linda's leap on the Ffesington.
* You can't win - Possibly an event on either the Corris or the Ffesington.
* Sleeping beauty - An abandoned steam locomotive rediscovered in Amazon.
Holy shit I forgot how much narrow gauge content there was! Thanks for writing these all down :)
Damn talk about inspiration
I was literally just coming to say that this is basically the Skarloey railway
@@lawrencerutherford4260 Awdry was incredibly inspired by the Talyllyn and other Welsh Heritage Narrow Gauge Railways because he wrote most of his books at the Talyllyn and worked there as a volunteer so most of his stories probably come from him being told the actual events by other volunteers and then deciding to write about them.
I wonder if some Arlesdale railway stories are inspired on happenings of the ravenglass and eskadale railway
Hearing the Rev. Wilbert Awdry mentioned in a trains of thought video warms my heart
It's quite uncanny just how much the narrow gauge stories in The Railway Series paid homage to the trains and events on the Talyllyn Railway.
Awdry may have not helped it get preserved, but I’m sure we can all be thankful for him helping to get the word out and getting people interested in railways like this one.
As the story began I said to myself "Those two engines look exactly like Skarloey and Rheneas!" Then as the story progressed I realized it was exactly like The Railway Series! Number 1 breaking down, Number 2 keeping the line runinng by itself, Number 3 and 4 joining the railway(and looking exactly like Sir Handel and Peter Sam I must add)! By the time you said they acquired a diesel engine, I said to myself "Show me a picture! I bet it looks exactly like Rusty!" The final "I knew it moment" was when you explained about "Duncan"! From the shape to the name of the engine, it confirmed my theory! But what I didn't know was Wilbert Awdry got his inspiration for those stories by volunteering on the T.H Railway himself! Thanks to you I learned many new things today and I thank you for that! Keep up the amazing work!!!🚂🚃🚃
We just need a boulder related incident
The Railway that started it all
Hey its the guy who uploaded the original thomas episodes
@@weird1012 the rws episodes
@@scotsleader8304 yea the model series is pog
In terms of order, the first four preserved lines would be the Talyllyn, followed by the Ffestiniog, helped by Alan Peglar, while the latter two is a bit of a debate on who was the first, that being between the Bluebell and the Middleton
True.
The wonderful Welsh weather! In Wales, there are only two seasons of the year, August and Winter.
Don’t you mean Autumn? August is a month.
@@ciarangleeson2880 No August is Summer! The rest of the year it's raining, if it's not raining, it's overcast, and it's bloody cold all the time.
You can keep your English weather. It's sunny in tywyn
As my late father, who came from Wrexham way, said many a time, "If you can see the Berwyn mountains, its going to rain. If you can't see the Berwyns, it IS raining.
I’m Irish! The weather in my country is the same as in yours!
I read "Railway Adventure", it's such a wonderful book. These first generation volunteers really must have felt like they were in a Wild West film. Also so fun to see were "Titfield Thunderbolt" and Wilbert Awdry got their inspiration from
The Talyllyn Railway, the real life Skarloey Railway.
"Passengers are our coal and water" - skarloey from thomas and friends
Skarloey and Rheneas were my childhood. I hope I get to visit the real Talyllyn Railway to pay respect to the inspiration for the Skarloey Railway.
People forget just how much of a renaisance man Lionel Thomas Caswall Rolt was, not only through his efforts in helping to form the preservation society along with others that helped save the Talyllyn Railway, but also through his writing of Narrowboat detailing his journey with his then wife in their narrowboat Cressy through England in 1939 which became the catalyst for the Inland Waterways Association.
he also wrote a book on journeying through the Irish Republic by canal and river as well as his histories on train accidents (Red For Danger) as well as history books and biographies of famous engineers.
Going to this railway tomorrow for the Awdrey Extravaganza! It's a lovely line, well worth a visit from any railway lover
As one of the many volunteers of the railway I love seeing videos like this ! My Grandpa joined the society in 1957 and was a volunteer for a few decades. Me and my Dad now volunteer on it and we both love it ! The railway is unique is ways that can’t be described and it will forever be an absolute treasure !
On the topic of Thomas and Friends major influence on the Talyllyn Railway, maybe you should do a video focusing on Thomas and friends and the Railway Series and its influence on real trains and railways
I remember seeing the,”Railway with a Heart of Gold”,and being so shocked at them mulling over a part falling off of Dolgoch that I actually laughed out loud and said to myself,”a heart may be all that’s left if they reach the last station”,and that started my love for the Talyllyn,and I have made a promise that I will one day go and volunteer at the railway.
1:25 I've Might Go To The Talyllyn Railway In Towyn In North Wales Near Holyhead One Day. Thanks Mate. X
It’s amazing how the railway series author Reverent Wilbert Awdry once volunteered on Europes most historic railway.
I was wondering if you'd do a video like this. Very interesting to hear the history of what inspired the Skarloey Railway
Just lovely. Thank you - I enjoyed seeing some old photos of the early days which are new to me. When I first visited Towyn they had 'Cambrai' , a French metre gauge Corpet 0-6-0 sitting outside, and I fell in love with little engines like that. Nowadays (60 years later) I model them, and my efforts turn up occasionally on youtube films of shows - so that was a far reaching event too.
I am a volunteer on the talyllyn railway and this weekend we celebrate rev.w.awdry and the locomotives will be in their skarloe characters
As a lover of steam engines since I was a tot and reading about and loving the Skarloey Railway in Wilbert Awdry's books, this railway never ceases to amaze me. This is such a lovely inspirational story that just makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside! I do hope to someday be able to travel this railway. Have made plans with my cousin to do so the next time I go to see her in the UK.
Another thing is that if it hadn’t been Reverend Wilbert Awdry writing the Skarloey Railway Stories, the Talyllyn Railway wouldn’t be as much of a crowd drawer as it is today.
Was this the reason Wilbert Awdry decided to make a few books based on it?
Absolutely, yes.
Well given that he was known as a railway enthusiast, I say most likely
Yes... Tot said it in the video.
Yep it was. Those stories in the books broadly happened on this line in real life 😊
@@mikesanders5433 specifically the entirety of "Four Little Engine", most of "Little Old Engine" (except Trucks), most of "Gallant old Engine" (except Steam Roller and the first part of Special Funnel) and most likely all of "Very old Engines"
Its such a cute little railway , i hope to one day see it for myself!
I look forward to seeing the Glyn Valley Tramway operating steam services again. 88 years since it originally closed, it had its first horse drawn passenger services in preservation a couple of weeks ago
I'm so glad to finally see this railway on hear
I love the talyllyn so much because if it did not exist, most of my childhood would not have been the same, and hell most of my current interests are those exact same things, so I owe the railway so much! I wish I could be there!
My number one want to visit destination on the planet… and it looks like I will get the chance soon…
I’ve been to it’s twin railway, puffing billy in Australia (because I live down under) but I am extremely keen on visiting Talyllyn!
Awesome work as always! I'm not sure if you've covered it yet, but the narrow gauge RH&DR? It's also a very neat little railway with fascinating history behind it!
I managed to acquire 2 original Talyllyn Railway photographs, from 1939 and 1949, one with No.1 in and one with No.2 in - the smell is phenomenal!
Gosh memories flood back to the fifties. Being next to a driver on the cab step for a photo and smelling the steam coal! Good to see it thriving today alongside so many more.
This railway is on my bucket list of places to go to if I'm ever able to visit the U.K. again, mainly because it's probably the easiest way to see the real-life counterparts for Thomas the Tank Engine characters that I spent my childhood watching on TV.
I was waiting until you mentioned the Rev
Glad to hear him
As someone who became a train enthusiast from Thomas the tank engine books and old tv episodes. This is a trip I want to go on ASAP.
Another Amazing Video that lets my Heard for the old Steam Trains Go faster. Thanks for your Good Videos that helps to preserve the History of Trains from all around the Globe!
With best regards from Germany 🇩🇪👍
This is such a great story! Thanks for sharing it.
It was nice to meet you at the extravaganza! Love your videos!
I grew up in nearby Aberdyfi and rode the Tal-y-llyn most weekend during my childhood. Its; the source of my love of steam and I adore visiting the railway every time I head back down there
I wish someone did the same with the railway that used to pass through my hometown...😢
Skarloey, Rheneas, Peter Sam, Sir Handel(originally Stuart and Falcon), Rusty, Duncan, and Duke
The tallylyn railway, I still can't pronounce it correctly.
I gotta ask, but was it really a trendsetter or was it just the earliest examples of rail preservation
It was the very first. You tell me!
First rode the TR summer of 1961 , started my love of Welsh narrow gauge railways which prevails to this day last visited the TR 2018 last rode Festiniog Railway 2022. Hoping to visit both again someday whilst I can. Not so agile at 82!
When I saw the pictures of the two engines, and heard they worked for a quarry, my first though was "That's Skarloey and Reneas!"
5:13 And there's Sir Handle and Peter Sam! :D
6:50 Aaaand there's Rusty :D
6:59 And Finally Douglas.
This is literaly the skarloey railway from the Railway series / Thomas the tank engine.
The story about this railway is truly wholesome and sweet.
Random people came together to save the railway…a little help goes a long way lol
I just came back from a trip to this Railway. It's something special to experience firsthand. Awdry Extravaganza was something fun all day, even if the weather tried to disagree. Even got a personal favourite shot of Sir Haydn pulling the up-service across the viaduct from the viewpoint
GOOD TO HEAR ! -- I'd love to see it!
Enjoy the weekend, Miss working with you man
Fascinating I never knew many of those connections thank you
there is an annual event, in which you can run alongside the rail way (through fields and roads) called race the train, over several distances
Im amazed on how Talijyn and Dolguch (Rheneas and Skarloey) are in working order after so many years. Their builders must've did a great job constructing those two with thr best materials known to man. What do you guys think?
They did a very, very good job because both engines kept going for some 80+ years before needing total rebiuilding. You'd have to ask the folks at Pendre shed just how much of the original engines is left though - probably the wheels and a few other bits.
@@JohnDavies-cn3ro Wheels are pretty common to replace on engines that have been in service for a long time, I'd expect they have been replaced. That said if any engines could get away with not replacing them for 50+ years, it'd be these tiny wonders.
Wheel centres on the driving wheels of both engines are original. The tyres, crankpins and axles will have been replaced multiple times as they are subject to mechanical wear but the wheel centres are big lumps of cast iron that aren't subject to mechanical wear nor a great deal of corrosive wear. Other original parts on No.2 Dolgoch are the cylinders (bores lined out), coupling rods (the original coupling rods were replaced earlier his year), various buffer housings, top of dome and various other components I can't think of right now. There are fewer original parts again on No.1. One curious fact is that the valve rods on No.1 are made from the original marine-style coupling/connecting rods from No.4. Having said that, even lots of the non-original parts are pretty old and ultimately make up the remarkable history of these two engines. From a Talyllyn volunteer :).
They did a good job, though the degree of rebuilding needed in the 1950s/60s to put them in good order would probably not be done nowadays - you'd be more likely to conserve the original locos as historical artefacts and build replicas to be the working engines.
train just started blowing its three chimes not ten seconds after clicking aon your excellent video.
Lovely !!
What is great is they have a UA-cam channel.
As I’ve travelling to the TR, you upload this video! What are the chances!
I know that one of the stories that Awdry wrote was the result of him causing a minor incident.
Yes, he was the guard of the last train of the day and departed a station without a volunteer who was working at that station.
Who also happened to be the driver’s mother in law!
This video feels so wholesome.
Very good presentation. I've volunteered on this railway, but the initial over-gauge problem is one that I'd not heard of before!
If I lived closer, I'd turn up and just start blasting your videos and watch people's reactions. We'd soon find u😊
What a excellent presentation
so amazing
Perfect timing since the Awdry Extravaganza is this weekend.
Man Awdry took alot of inspiration for the Skarloey railway
Was just there in June, my buddy got a cab ride in Douglas
Honestly a beautiful story. Seriously
Talyllyn Railway had also Inspired many railway Preservation including USA or Australia such as the Zig Zag Railway, Richmond Vale Railway or in Victoria Puffing Billy
Amazing!
I actually plan on going to the Talyllyn Railway next year for my 18th Birthday
what a great heartwarming story😀
I've travelled on this line. A very enjoyable day.
I'm just glad Thomas and Friends made their way back into these videos ever since ToT did that shitpost on Thomas himself. Knowing that more love and effort was put into preserving this little railway before Rev Awdry's involvement just makes me want to visit the railway even more to pay my respects.😊😊😊
Talyllyn Railway is the the best Railway in the world!😄🚂
I have been on the Ffestiniog prior to the completion of the Welsh Highland connection and the Llangollen. I think I popped by the Tallylyn when seeing King Arthur's cave.
Unless you remember the Edaville Railroad. In which case, its the "2nd" Preseved Railway. ;)
I know. Lots of technicalities in that statement. But worth pointing out.
me sees this video my head: now playing a railway with a heart of gold and next is the skarloey railway theme
I definitely knew most of them were inspirations for Thomas and friends just from little snippets
if i ever went to The UK, this is the first thing id go to
It's a dream of mine to move to Tywyn and be a regular volunteer at the Talyllyn Railway :3
If I won the lottery I'd want an old mining steam engine. Ravenglass and Eskdale has some of the most beautiful tiny engines
Someone sent this my way, as a Welshman not knowing where you are from, can I just say you did a fantastic job with the place names
I remember as a kid, going to the Strasburg Railroad, a heritage railroad in Pennsylvania.
Nice video, likes from me !!!
Wish you'd put out the video a 2 weeks ago made plans for this weekend so cant go for a chance to meet you)(shame about the weather)
The most surprising thing about this for me, is that in the 1860s they cared about Health and Saftey. It seems like the bridge not being wide enough to let people off wouldn't have been a thing back then.
Railway safety was always developing ahead of factory safety. Today we cannot imagine the speed of railway construction in the country. One certain route from London to Birmingham and not so many places north springs to mind.
They really should do slate services again, too, and extended the line longer
What a great story 🙂🚂🚂🚂
So without this railway the Reverand wouldn't have written Thomas the Tank Engine. And therefore my love of steam trains wouldn't exist
Not necessarily, but in a way both the railway and Awdry benefitted from each other
The Talyllyn Railway is on my list if I ever make it over to the UK!
Now how about a video on its American counterparts in Pennsylvania, the standard-gauge Strasburg Railroad and narrow-gauge East Broad Top Railroad?
i went to the tallyllyn railway and i got to see Edward thomas in his red video and even took a video of it
"less of an engine and more of a self-propelled bomb"
... exactly the way I like my trains to be described.
I’ve wanted to go there since I was a child! Perhaps by the time I do, I’ll finally be able to pronounce it.
The three horsemen of little railways that could.
Talyllyn Railway. 15 ich. R.H & D.R. Ravenglass & Eskdale.
The R & E is a fabulous line.
Wow
Could you give a source on the built half an inch over gauge for Talyllyn's wheelbase thing? The way I heard it when I researched the Talyllyn for a school project was that it was built to the proper 2'3", but Dolgoch's boxing slowly spread the rails, and that, combined with Sir Haydn being half an inch under gauge compared to both the Talyllyn engines and Edward Thomas, gave enough play for the engine to drop between the rails. If it were just that the line was always a bit over gauge, you'd expect Edward Thomas and the Corris coaches to drop between the rails too, but it was only ever Sir Haydn that had the issue.
From memory of 'Railway Adventure' part of the problem was that Sir Hayden had narrower tyres than the other engines. Given the state of the track in those early days, even a half an inch was too big a difference. Incidentally, if you get chance to watch "Railway with a Heart of Gold", you see No 3 display her fondness for the ballast - the film was being shot from the leading carriage window, and caught it on camera
@@JohnDavies-cn3ro I'm familiar with both of those sources, which is why I was wondering where the contradictory statement in the video came from.
Also, a bit of a fun thing I noticed in Railway with a heart of gold: I'm about 90% certain the dude struggling with the switch and the slate cart is the Rev. W. Awdry, and the kid watching him is is son Christopher. The timeline lines up, Awdry was I think the 70-somethingth member of the society, so he would have joined around the time the film was shot, and comparing to a couple of photos of them from around the same time, I'm pretty sure that's them. The documentary didn't air until the 60s, but was actually shot in the 50s. I'd really love to find someone who knows more on the subject than me who can confirm whether it's actually him, but it seems very plausible that that particular clip was shot when he was volunteering on the railway.