Bridging the gap on the railway
A tourist railway is hoping to close the gap on its plans to finish its extension.
The Llangollen Railway Trust’s project to open a station in the centre of Corwen is within touching distance, volunteers say.
To help completion the project has announced an appeal to fund the reinstatement of the gap in the railway embankment outside Corwen.
The infamous gap in the embankment has long been seen as the big obstruction on the track bed.
George Jones, spokesman for the railway, said that originally bulldozed through to provide alternative access to the sewage farm, the gap was further eroded in 2013 by contractors for the Corwen Flood Relief Scheme and has since provided the essential access for the road delivery of materials for the project.
"Recently it offered the only route for the station's water tank and signal box cabin to be brought in for installation on site," he said.
"With all that behind us, early in 2019. the project team will be looking for a contractor to deliver and compact the spoil to reinstate the embankment for the connection of the two
railheads and the laying of a parallel extended siding. With a length of 150 yards, the cubic capacity of the gap will require some 9,000 tonnes of spoil to be brought in at an estimated cost of £10,000.
"Help with financing this final challenge in completing the Corwen terminus is again sought from supporters following the success of the appeal which has financed the platform infill. The difference in time is shorter and the reward for supporters will be the sight of the train arriving at the new station across the final frontier, something we are all waiting for.
"With help from all sources, we will bridge the Gap and donations to support this Appeal will be welcomed by the Treasurer for the Corwen Central Railway Development project: Mr Paul Bailey, ‘Dolwen’, Bryn Eglwys, Corwen LL21 9LY."
