Member of the Association of Independent Museums
Affiliate Member of The Transport Trust
Member of the Heritage Railways Association
Founded 1974
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How does the Group differ from the new Trust in substance?
The President of the Glyn Valley Tramway Group is His Honour Judge Geoffrey Kilfoil, a local historian and prominent resident of the Valley who is also President of the Ceiriog Memorial Institute. Our Vice President is Gwilym Hughes, a retired solicitor whose grandfather was a Driver on the GVT. Our Archivist is the noted local writer and historian, John Milner, whose books on the Tramway and local Industries are definitive. The Group has a worldwide membership of over 200 supporters and is a full member of the Heritage Railways Association, the Association of Independent Museums and an Affiliate Member of the Transport Trust.
By contrast, the Trust is believed to comprise some dozen or so individuals and has no significant national membership base.
What has the GVT Group done towards delivering its Aims?
The Glyn Valley Tramway Group has commissioned from consultants, Capita Symonds, a detailed Scoping Study as the basis for our future development strategy. [NB: We are aware that the Trust has been publicly claiming this Scoping Study as its own initiative – that is simply not the case.] The Study was presented to Group members in 2006 and was unanimously endorsed as a firm way forward. Thus, the Group’s priorities can be summarised as:
· as a first priority, to restore and convert the old Tramway Locomotive Shed at Glyn Ceiriog as a comprehensive Heritage & Interpretation Centre for the Ceiriog Valley;
· to create a Tramway & Industrial Heritage Trail down the Valley, designed to highlight and interpret the tangible evidence which remains of the old Tramway and of the industries that it served.
· in the medium term, to create an authentic and historically accurate operational replication of part of the old Glyn Valley Tramway on the Loco shed and Coal Wharf sites at Glyn, with all trackwork to the authentic and unique 2ft 4½in gauge. The Group already has the first of a range of accurate replica GVT vehicles - a slate wagon - and we intend to commission further replica passenger and freight vehicles, together with a replica steam tram locomotive.
· in parallel with the foregoing, to continue with research into the Tramway, publication of information and the development of an educational resource.
The Group is currently working on a full Business Plan for its Heritage & Interpretation Centre together with detailed plans and costings, as a basis for securing grant funding to underwrite the costs involved. Preparatory restoration work is also actively in hand on the Locomotive Shed building – the largest of the former Tramway structures to survive.
The Group is prepared to work alongside the new Trust. The Group has always been – and continues to be - the only organisation that is preserving the true heritage of the Glyn Valley Tramway, and already has a substantial track record of achievement.
The Group welcomes new members who support its aims and wish to help forward the conservation work. For Membership details and an application form, CLICK HERE.
