The Cambrian Heritage Railways (CHR) is a heritage railway company, trust and society based at both Llynclys and Oswestry in its restored Oswestry railway station, Shropshire, England. It operates trains on two stretches of line: between Oswestry–, and between –.

Formed after the 2009 merger of the Cambrian Railways Society (CRS) and the Cambrian Railways Trust (CRT), it aims to reinstate the infrastructure required to operate trains from Gobowen to Llynclys Junction (for Pant) and to Blodwel.

Cambrian Heritage Railways also operates the Cambrian Railways Museum in the Oswestry railway station's former goods depot. Displays include photographs, signs, lamps, signal box fittings and artefacts related to the history of the Cambrian Railways.

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Beginning in 1864, the Cambrian Railways (CR) was formed through the merger of a series of regional railway companies on the England/Wales border. Following LNWR sponsored connection with the LNWR station at Gobowen, it enabled CR and LNWR trains to run from the northwest and North Wales into Mid Wales and beyond. This enabled the LNWR to have an alternative route to the GWR mainline, enabling it to run trains between the coal and steel industries of South Wales, into the industrialised Midlands and North West England.

Merged into the GWR on grouping by 1923, it closed its old Oswestry station and ran all services from the former CR/LNWR station. Initially on nationalisation in 1948 it became part of the Western Region of British Railways, but in 1963 moved to the London Midland Region. This brought about a sharp decline in services, with the final DMU-powered passenger service running in 1968. Occasional quarry trains ran until 1988 to Blodwel, after which the track was left in place but abandoned by Network Rail.

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All operations of the Cambrian Heritage Railways are located within England, albeit close to the Welsh border. However, the historical Cambrian Railways company operated from the Welsh/English border territory into Wales, with more than 95% of its permanent way located in Wales. A number of currently operational Welsh heritage railways were also part of the historical Cambrian Railways, or linked to it, including the Vale of Rheidol Railway, the Welshpool and Llanfair Railway, the Ffestiniog Railway, the Welsh Highland Heritage Railway and the partially preserved Penmaenpool railway station. Cambrian Heritage Railways are widely publicised throughout Wales and despite their English location, are preserving elements of significant English and Welsh railway heritage.

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History

In 1972, a group of enthusiasts established the Cambrian Railways Society, which obtained a lease from BR over the former Oswestry goods yard and Oswestry South Signalbox. The CRS established a museum in the former CR goods shed and acquired either directly, or through members, a number of steam and diesel engines plus associated rolling stock. In 1997, BR agreed to allow CRS to run trains under a Light Railway Order to Middleton Road, over a track of in length. The CRS then purchased the freehold of Weston Wharf goods yard and shed with the help of the Heritage Lottery Fund. After quarry trains finished in 1988, the CRS obtained further agreement from BR to run occasional works/inspection trains (i.e. non-passenger carrying, non-revenue earning) over the line to Blodwel.

Through a ballot at an Extraordinary General Meeting held at Oswestry railway station on 20 November 2009, members of both the CRS and CRT agreed that:

  • Every member of the CRS and CRT automatically becomes a member of the recently formed Cambrian Heritage Railways (CHR) Ltd
  • The CRT and CRS work towards transferring assets from the CRT to CHR Ltd.; and
  • Various functions of both groups be combined to avoid duplication of costs and efforts.

The first steam passenger services ran on the CHR on 24 August 2007, with a DMU trailer coach worked by ex-Hams Hall Peckett No. 1738/1928 on loan for two weekends from the Kingfisher Line. It was the first steam locomotive at Llynclys since the closure of the Oswestry-Welshpool section of the Cambrian in 1964.

T&WA Order

The CHR applied for a Transport & Works Act Order for transfer of Network Rail's residual rights to itself and this was granted on 28 February 2017. This permits the CHR to reopen the route from Gobowen to Blodwel Quarry, subject to level crossings of the A5 and A483 being replaced by a tunnel and overbridge respectively.

Stations

Cambrian Railway (Oswestry)

  • (future interchange for commuter services to the National Rail network)
  • Llynclys North (located at the exact site of Llynclys Junction, this will be the replacement station site to the former station site as well as the future junction station towards Blodwel)

Cambrian Railway (Llynclys)

  • Gobowen (future interchange for commuter services to the National Rail network)
  • Park Hall Halt
  • Oswestry
  • Weston Wharf
  • (current northern terminus)
  • (current southern terminus)

Locations and map

Not Open Yet

Closed

Closed

Closed

Locomotives

The locomotive fleet currently based on the line is listed below.

Oswestry–Weston Wharf section

Steam Locomotives

  • Andrew Barclay Sons & Co. 0-6-0ST no. 885 of 1900. Not in service.
  • Hudswell Clarke 0-6-0T "Gothenburg" no. 32 of 1903. On loan and in service.
  • Peckett 0-4-0ST "Adam" no. 1430 of 1916. Stored awaiting restoration.
  • Andrew Barclay Sons & Co. 0-4-0ST "Fife Flyer No 6" no. 2261 of 1949. Not in service.
  • Beyer Peacock 0-4-0ST "Oliver Veltom" no. 2131 of 1951. Not in service.
  • Hunslet Austerity 0-6-0ST "Norma" no. 3770 of 1952. Not in service.

Diesel Locomotives

  • Hudswell 0-4-0DM no. D893 of 1951. On display in the Cambrian Railways Museum.
  • FC Hibberd 4wDM "Cyril", works no. 3541 of 1952. Not in service.
  • Ruston & Hornsby 0-4-0DM "Scottie", works no. 412427 of 1957. Previously carried the number 1. Not in service.
  • Planet 0-4-0 Diesel hydraulic "Alpha", works no. 3953 of 1962. Operational as a yard shunter.
  • Ruston and Hornsby 165DE 0-4-0 "Alun Evans" no. 11517, works no. 458641 of 1963. In passenger service.

Diesel Multiple Units

  • BR unit nos. 51205+51512 of 1957–1959. Not in service.
  • BR unit nos. 144006 (55806+55829) and 144007 (55807+55830) of 1987. In passenger service.

Electro-Diesel Locomotives

  • BR "City of Winchester" no. 73129 of 1965–1967. In passenger service.

Llynclys–Penygarreg Lane Halt section

Diesel Locomotives

  • BR 0-6-0 Class 08 no. D3019 of 1953. Not in service.
  • Vulcan 0-4-0 "Telemon" no. 295 of 1955. Operational for passenger and shunting duties.
  • Hudswell Clarke 0-4-0 no. D1288 of 1967. Not in service.
  • English Electric 0-6-0DH "Jana" no. D1201 of 1969. Not in service.
  • English Electric 'Stephenson' Class 0-6-0DH no. D1230 of 1969. Known as 'Kimberley' by previous owners but no plates carried. Operational as a shunter and permanent way locomotive.

Diesel Multiple Units

  • BR unit nos. 51187+54055 of 1957-1959. Not in service.
  • BR unit no. 142055 (55705+55751) of 1986. 142055 is operational. Owned by the 142055 Group.

Electric Multiple Units

  • BR no. 28690 of 1938. Stored at Llynclys. Owned by the Heritage Electric Trains Trust.

Miscellaneous

  • GP-TRAMM (General Purpose Track Repair and Maintenance Machine) no. 98205 of 1985. Stored at Blodwel.

Carriages

Passenger carriages are based at Llynclys, Oswestry and Weston for use, storage or future restoration to be carried out. Most of the British Rail Mark 1 variety had already seen service in preservation prior to being brought on site, as most of these vehicles were originally based at the Great Central Railway in Loughborough. The carriage fleet currently based on the line is listed below.

  • BR Mk 1 TSO W3950 of 1955. In restored condition but not in use at Weston, Oswestry.
  • BR Mk 1 TSO E4610 of 1956. Undergoing overhaul with the bodywork receiving attention.
  • BR Mk 1 TSO E4965 of 1961. Operational at Oswestry.
  • BR Mk 3 SLE 10722 of 1984. Ex-Caledonian Sleeper. Stored at Oswestry.
  • BR Mk 1 CK 15632 of 1956. Undergoing overhaul, bodywork receiving minor repairs and roof being repainted.
  • BR Mk 1 CK E16025 of 1957. Undergoing overhaul.
  • BR Mk 1 BSK E35334 of 1962. Operational at Oswestry.
  • BR Mk 1 BSK 35342 of 1962. Stored awaiting restoration.
  • BR Mk 1 35444 of 1963. Stored at Oswestry.
  • BR Mk 3 40751 LNER Buffet Coach of 1981. Used as a station shop and café at Weston.
  • BR Mk 1 E43145 of 1955. Operational at Oswestry.
  • BR Mk 1 81423 of 1958. Stored at Oswestry.

Llynclys–Penygarreg Lane Halt section

  • BR Mk 1 RMB 1850 of 1959. Non-operational and used as a station shop and café at Llynclys.
  • BR Mk 1 BSK 35316 of 1962. In restored condition but not used at Llynclys.
  • BR Mk 1 E43046 of 1954. Stored at Llynclys.

See also

  • Railways of Shropshire

References

  • Cambrian Heritage Railways Trust
  • Old Cambrian Railways Society page – historic information