43021HST
Established Member
Probably the best time I ever had on a preserved was when I went to the Gwili Railway last Friday with my Dad and my Brother. Firstly the steam engine had failed so they had to use their class 03 much to annoyance of the steam fans and much to the joy of the diesel fans like my Dad and I. We also got a 10% discount on the fares. I was looking foward to a bit of 03 thrash. We boarded the trian at Bronwydd Arms.
It went to Danycoed pretty uneventfully but on the way back it had to stop at Llwyfan Cerrig for half an hour. Most of the passengers got off the train and headed straight for the Miniature Railway. Dad had noticed a complete class 117 set in BR Blue & Grey sitting in the siding opposite to the station. The Guard saw we had taken interest in the DMU and offered to take us on a guided tour. My brother being the shortest one out of the lot of us had trouble climbing up the steps into the DMU. But he got in eventually with some help. The rest of us got in without any stress. It was great, a complete 117 set to ourselves. We had a look around and I got to sit in the cab. We discovered it was a set that worked in Reading from the amount of Reading Route maps stuck on the walls. We got down and joined the train back to Bronwydd Arms.
When we got back to Bronwydd Arms I decided to have a look around the gift shop. They were selling second hand train posters for 10p each. Best Bargain ever. I also bought myself a guidebook. They were also selling Genuine wagon plates and shed plates for under £3, They looked very tempting but I was on a tight budget.
We went back to the car for a spot of Lunch. I had a look around the signal box. I went back to the station to see the class 03 arriving. Lots of people got off but only Dad my brother and I got on. We had the train to ourselves. Apart from the Guard and the Driver. The train once again set off for Llwyfan Cerrig. It had to wait there for 20 minutes so we had a look around the sidings and took varous pictures. The Driver let me in his cab, he even let me start up the engine. We boarded the train to Danycoed and watched the train runaround. We then made our Journey back to Bronwydd Arms and then home. It was a very satisfying day and the best time I had at a preserved railway.
It went to Danycoed pretty uneventfully but on the way back it had to stop at Llwyfan Cerrig for half an hour. Most of the passengers got off the train and headed straight for the Miniature Railway. Dad had noticed a complete class 117 set in BR Blue & Grey sitting in the siding opposite to the station. The Guard saw we had taken interest in the DMU and offered to take us on a guided tour. My brother being the shortest one out of the lot of us had trouble climbing up the steps into the DMU. But he got in eventually with some help. The rest of us got in without any stress. It was great, a complete 117 set to ourselves. We had a look around and I got to sit in the cab. We discovered it was a set that worked in Reading from the amount of Reading Route maps stuck on the walls. We got down and joined the train back to Bronwydd Arms.
When we got back to Bronwydd Arms I decided to have a look around the gift shop. They were selling second hand train posters for 10p each. Best Bargain ever. I also bought myself a guidebook. They were also selling Genuine wagon plates and shed plates for under £3, They looked very tempting but I was on a tight budget.
We went back to the car for a spot of Lunch. I had a look around the signal box. I went back to the station to see the class 03 arriving. Lots of people got off but only Dad my brother and I got on. We had the train to ourselves. Apart from the Guard and the Driver. The train once again set off for Llwyfan Cerrig. It had to wait there for 20 minutes so we had a look around the sidings and took varous pictures. The Driver let me in his cab, he even let me start up the engine. We boarded the train to Danycoed and watched the train runaround. We then made our Journey back to Bronwydd Arms and then home. It was a very satisfying day and the best time I had at a preserved railway.