Talyllyn Railway has gained a Nationwide Rail Heritage Award for the reconstruction of an unique locomotive watering level on the road.
The railway was collectively awarded the Hendy and Pendle Belief Volunteers Award by The Duke of Gloucester at a ceremony held in London.
The Tŷ Dŵr watering level, initially put in when the railway was inbuilt 1865, transferred water from a close-by waterfall to the primary locomotive shed by a collection of troughs supported on slate columns.
The shed was located on what was then the mineral extension between Abergynolwyn station, the unique passenger terminus and what’s now Nant Gwernol station.
After the railway was preserved in 1951, the watering level fell into disuse and was demolished in 1954 in order that the slate may very well be used to assist construct a retaining wall following a landslip close to Dolgoch.
Nonetheless, it was long-held ambition to see it rebuilt and the primary steps had been taken in 2019. Some archaeology was wanted to dig out the stays earlier than the brand new construction was designed.
Following a profitable enchantment and sponsorship from PTG Excursions, native contractors had been employed to rebuild the slate columns whereas volunteers constructed new water troughs from regionally sourced larch.
The brand new watering level was used for the primary time in March this yr by locomotive No.4 ‘Edward Thomas’, the final recognized locomotive to make use of the previous one.
Ian Drummond, chair of the railway’s heritage working group, mentioned:
“To obtain this award is a superb honour and a incredible reward for all those that labored so laborious to make this doable.
“Specific credit score should go to Mike Christensen who designed the reconstruction and supervised the constructing, as nicely to our contractors, Rhys and Tomos of Celtic Masonry.
“Thanks additionally to all those that contributed to the enchantment and to PTG Excursions for his or her sponsorship. It’s nice to know {that a} lacking piece of our heritage has now been restored.”
