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Railway which inspired Thomas the Tank Engine marks 75 years since becoming world first

Chris DeardenBBC Wales, Tywyn, Meirionydd
News imageGetty Images A red train is seen climbing through the woods on the approach to Nant Gwernol with a Tywyn - Nant Gwernol service. April 2004Getty Images
The Talyllyn Railway has been operated by volunteers since 1951

A Welsh railway where the creator of Thomas the Tank Engine volunteered as a guard is celebrating 75 years since becoming a world first.

In 1951, the Talyllyn Railway in Gwynedd became the first railway to be operated by volunteer enthusiasts.

Among the first was the children's author Rev Wilbert Awdry, creator of Thomas the Tank Engine, who based some of his stories on his experiences while working there.

Railway historian and broadcaster Tim Dunn said the Talyllyn Railway had made its way into a number of Awdry's beloved books, adding that it was now the "spiritual home" of Thomas the Tank Engine.

News imageTalyllyn Railway collection An old picture from 1951 of a small green steam locomotive with a rake of carriages standing on some track in a yard. A ribbon is stretched in front of it, and a man in a suit is preparing to cut the ribbon while a sizeable crowd watches. All are dressed in styles typical of the period.Talyllyn Railway collection
The Talyllyn Railway, seen here in 1951 with the late Duke of Edinburgh, becomes the first in the world to be operated by enthusiast volunteers

When volunteers took over 75 years ago, the railway's owner had just died and it was about to close.

The seven miles of track from Tywyn to Abergynolwyn was in a poor state and the one working steam locomotive was almost completely worn out, with no working brakes at times.

"For volunteers to take over and run a public railway was a completely new thing," said Ian Drummond from the Talyllyn Railway Preservation Society.

"There had been volunteering before in other areas, but this was something bigger and something new.

"It attracted attention across the globe.

"We are the world's first preserved railway and the start of a movement which began here in Wales."

News imageTalyllyn Railway collection Three people standing on a platform next to a red steam engine. On the left is Reverend Wilbert Awdry, who wrote the Thomas the Tank Engine books. He is an old man with white hair who is wearing a jacket and tie with v-neck jumper. His son stands next to him, a slightly younger man with a beard, also wearing a jacket and tie. The third person is Rev Awdry's grandson, a child who's looking at the steam locomotive. The adults are carrying copies of the Thomas the Tank Engine books, while Rev Awdry's son puts a protective hand on the grandson's shoulder.Talyllyn Railway collection
Rev Wilbert Awdry, creator of Thomas the Tank Engine (left) with his son and grandson at the Talyllyn Railway

Under volunteer control, the railway carried a record number of passengers and made it through the 1951 season – though only just.

On one occasion the steam locomotive ran out of water, leaving the crew sprinting to a nearby farm to borrow buckets and top it up from a stream.

The following year, a new volunteer arrived at Talyllyn - Rev Wilbert Awdry.

Already famous for writing the Thomas the Tank Engine books, he offered to help as a guard on the train.

News imageTalyllyn Railway collection A close up picture of part of a model railway layout with a bright blue steam engine on the track, pulling two orange-brown carriages. The locomotive has a number "1" on the side in the style of Thomas the Tank Engine, but does not have a face. A model station is in the background.Talyllyn Railway collection
One of Rev Awdry's own model railways, including a miniature Thomas the Tank Engine, is now in the Talyllyn Railway's museum

Stories from Awdry's time working on the railway found their way into his books, such as the time he managed to leave the refreshment lady behind at Abergynolwyn, the far end of the line.

Tim Dunn, railway historian and TV presenter who is also a volunteer at Talyllyn, said the railway had become the "spiritual home" of Thomas the Tank.

"Awdry created new characters in the Thomas the Tank Engine books, based on the locomotives of the Talyllyn Railway.

"He wasn't just inspired by the locations, the locomotives and some of the things that had happened to him.

"The whole ethos of a friendly little railway made its way into his books, the sort of place with a quirk and a charm that children could warm to."

News imageNathan Spence Tim Dunn sits on the front buffer beam of a small green steam locomotive looking at the camera. Tywyn Wharf station is in the backgroundNathan Spence
Railway historian and broadcaster Tim Dunn said the Talyllyn Railway is now the "spiritual home" of Thomas the Tank Engine

Some doubted whether the Talyllyn Railway could succeed, but the volunteers saved the railway from closing and inspired others to do the same elsewhere in the UK, Europe, America and Australia.

The Talyllyn Railway now has around 450 active volunteers, including 18-year-old Isabel Richmond, who said that working on the railway in her spare time had inspired her to take up a career in engineering.

News imageIsabel Richmond is on the footplate of a small red steam engine, backing its way into a station. She's wearing a grey t-shirt under dark navy bib-and-brace overalls, and concentrating on the loco's progress before getting down to couple it up to the train
18-year-old Isabel Richmond started working at the railway as a hobby, but now plans to take up engineering as a career

"It's fun – when the weather is fine, it's nice to be outside and keeping busy," said Isabel.

"There are loads of amazing people here, it's like a big family.

"I want to follow engineering as a career path, and there's loads of people here I can talk to and learn so much from – it's really valuable for me."

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