SATURDAY, July 8, was the first time that a DMU operated on a timetabled revenue-earning service over the Gwili Railway’s newly-opened extension from Abergwili Junction near Carmarthen to Bronwydd Arms.
The only previous known operations of DMUs on the former Carmarthen to Aberystwyth line were in the late 1960s and early 1970s when several railtours operated over the remaining sections of the by-then truncated route.
The Pressed Steel Class 117 three-car set will be operating in the daytime on Saturdays in July and August and in the evening on the Fish and Ale specials.
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The three vehicles which make up the set were not originally delivered in the formation seen today, but were all initially allocated to Southall depot in 1960. Each of them found their own way into preservation.
After being purchased from the Nene Valley Railway, the DMU set arrived at Bronwydd Arms in March 2009 and entered service at the beginning of the season.
The continuing restoration process has seen it returned to lined green with ‘speed whiskers’ and also the brake/guards area converted with a bar facility rescued from a local hotel.
➜ Gwili Railway opens new extension: report and pictures on pages 22 and 23.
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