On the Footplate at Talyllyn Railway
- Cambrian Railway Partnership
- May 17
- 2 min read
On a very damp and windy day I caught the train to Tywyn as I had been invited to meet with Liz Porrett, General Manager (Operations) on the Talyllyn Railway. I was met at the station by Lorriane Simkiss, General Manager (Commercial) and we walked down to Talyllyn Railway. We sat in the very busy cafe at Wharf Station with a cup of tea to wait for Liz who was in another meeting that had overrun. We had a really good chat about Lorriane’s life with the railway.
Once Liz joined us we chatted about Talyllyn Railway and their thoughts and hopes for the railway going forward. It was very busy with people in the cafe and on the platform getting ready to go off on an adventure on the steam train. Liz and I sat in the carriage that Princess Diana had used, and we set off. Although it was drizzly and damp the landscape was magical. I wondered to Liz how the other trains knew there was a train travelling before mobile phones, in the olden days and she explained that when the trains get to a certain point they have a stick with the station and the station they are going to. If they haven’t got the stick they can’t go. Really simple but effective.
Liz spoke at length about their fantastic young members volunteer group and the under 14’s volunteers and we saw them as we were travelling doing lots of different things along the railway line. I was very impressed to see and hear about all the women who take part in the Talyllyn Railway, drivers, fire people and guards to mention just a few roles. The drivers were happy for me to stand on the footplate whilst they were reversing and pull the cord on the horn. The enthusiasm and passion was infectious and I surprised myself how exciting I found it. I would totally recommend going there. Liz also took me on a whistle stop tour of Tywyn before I caught the train back and I saw the Quarry Slab Wagon which has been made to reflect the local area's link with the slate industry and to celebrate The Slate Landscape of Northwest Wales World Heritage Site UNESCO status.
Thank you to Liz and Lorriane and Rob the driver and Anthony the fireman. I will be back soon.
Do you know? What Ealing Comedy film was inspired by the Talyllyn Railway?
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