HPA Wins Contract for Talyllyn Railway
HPA are delighted to have been awarded the contract for the Talyllyn Railway, which was the world’s first Narrow Gauge Railway to be preserved as a heritage railway.
The Talyllyn Railway has appointed HPA following their successful application to the National Lottery Heritage Fund (NLHF), from which they received initial funding of £110,000 towards the re-development at Tywyn Pendre and Tywyn Wharf, under the title of ‘Preserving our Past, Building our Future’.
One of HPA’s significant achievements has been the restoration and expansion of the South Tynedale Railway. Established in 1983, this narrow-gauge steam railway has become a beloved heritage and conservation attraction and the plans for the Talyllyn Railway will see HPA’s expertise put to use once again. At Tywyn Pendre, the existing works will be restored for continued use, whilst also creating an accessible heritage display. Tywyn Wharf will undergo a remodelling to the station building, providing a main entrance at street level and a large café and shop. There will also be a new heritage facility and interpretation centre.
Key elements of the bid are to increase the engagement and accessibility for different groups, particularly those with autism, as well as increasing the number and range of volunteers at the site. The project aims to achieve this by creating a safe space for those with autism and their families and by providing additional volunteer accommodation.
Andrew Walters, Project Architect says “After our work at Crich Tramway and South Tynedale Railway were delighted to be building our portfolio of heritage railways. It’s hard not to be inspired by Talyllyn’s volunteers and long-standing history”. The team working on the Talyllyn Railway also includes the Headland Museum and Interpretation Specialists.
The Railway will be launching an appeal to help raise additional funds to facilitate the project, with hopes that the development will be underway for the Railway’s 75th Anniversary as the World’s First Preserved Railway in 2026.
