BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//Talks.cam//talks.cam.ac.uk// X-WR-CALNAME:Talks.cam BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Talyllyn Railway - 21st Century Engineering on a 150 Year Old Rail way - John Scott\, volunteer on the Talyllyn Railway DTSTART:20150119T183000Z DTEND:20150119T210000Z UID:TALK56261@talks.cam.ac.uk CONTACT:Publicity Officer\, IMechE Beds &\; Cambs area DESCRIPTION:John Scott will describe the work that is being done to mainta in and upgrade the Talyllyn Railway\, the world's first preserved railway. John's talk will cover the problems and fun of running and maintaining a heritage railway using modern engineering resources and the potential conf licts between progress and preservation.\n\n*The Talyllyn Railway* (www.ta lyllyn.co.uk)\, built on a gauge of 2 feet 3 inches\, is one of a number o f narrow-gauge lines in north and mid Wales built in the 19th century to c arry slate\, in the Talyllyn's case from the Bryn Eglwys quarries near Abe rgynolwyn.\n\nOpened in 1865\, the line runs the seven and a quarter miles (11.8 km) from Tywyn (on the Cardigan Bay coast) through the beautiful Fa thew valley to Nant Gwernol\, from where a series of horse-drawn tramways once continued into the mountains. The slate traffic ceased in 1946 follow ing a serious rock fall in the quarry.\n\nIn 1950 the line's owner Sir Hen ry Haydn Jones died\, and the future for the TR looked very bleak\, as it had been losing money for some years. A group of enthusiasts\, led by the engineer and author L.T.C. Rolt\, sought to prevent the railway's closure and scrapping and\, thanks to the generosity of Lady Haydn Jones\, the Tal yllyn Railway Preservation Society (the first such organisation in the wor ld) was allowed to take over the running of the line. By then the railway was in a very sorry state with the one operable locomotive\, in very poor condition\, struggling to pull the trains along an overgrown and perilous track.\n\nSince 1951 great improvements have been made\; volunteer members of the TRPS now provide most of the train crew and station staff required to operate the line\, and assist with maintenance work and with many othe r activities. The track has been relaid\, locomotives have been acquired a nd rebuilt\, additional carriages have been constructed\, a safe and flexi ble signalling system has been installed\, and the many other improvements needed to cater for the much increased number of passengers have been car ried out.\n\n*John Scott* MIMechE has had a long career in mechanical engi neering. Sponsored through Oxford University by the Central Electricity Ge nerating Board he went on to work for various engineering companies before arriving in Cambridge to join Cambridge Consultants. John then had a seni or appointment in a drink dispensing company utilising his own invention f or a water carbonating device. The pull of consultancy was too great\, how ever\, and John left to become a self employed consultant\, accumulating a few patents on the way. John has had a lifelong interest in railways\, pa rticularly concerning steam locomotives\, and has been involved in a numbe r of projects to measure and improve their performance. John is currently a volunteer engine driver on the Talyllyn Railway and a member of its Engi neering Committee. He also plays the trombone. \n\nJohn's talk will cover the problems and fun of running and maintaining a heritage railway using m odern engineering resources and the potential conflicts between progress a nd preservation.\n\nTime: Refreshments served from 18.30. Talk starts at 1 9.00. Ends by 21:00 following questions and discussion.\n\nVenue: Lecture Room 4\, Cambridge University Engineering Department\, Trumpington Street\ , Cambridge CB2 1PZ ("directions":http://www.eng.cam.ac.uk/visitors/)\n\nF ree to attend. Booking not required. All welcome.\n\nThis talk is open to the public and is suitable for students and engineers. You are encouraged to bring with you colleagues\, friends and family who are interested in en gineering and railways.\n\nA poster to advertise this event can be downloa ded "here":http://nearyou.imeche.org/docs/default-source/Beds---Cambs-Area /talyllyn_poster.pdf. \n\nThis event is organised by the Institution of Me chanical Engineers Beds and Cambs area. LOCATION:Lecture Room 4\, Cambridge University Engineering Department\, Tr umpington Street\, Cambridge CB2 1PZ END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR