Background Narrow Gauge Railway Museum

loco n°13 guinness brewery.

the narrow gauge railway museum collection began in 1950s when talyllyn railway preservation society (trps) first voluntary society in world take on , run public passenger carrying railway. narrow-gauge railways becoming redundant , equipment scrapped. immediately, items other narrow-gauge lines began offered trps , committee formed acquire examples of locomotives, rolling stock , other equipment place on public display. in 1964 charitable trust formed manage , develop museum , replaced present narrow gauge railway museum trust on 11 july 1994.

the main activity of trust takes place @ talyllyn railway wharf station. inside museum interactive , static exhibits illustrate diversity, individuality, technical ingenuity , charm of narrow-gauge railways. fleet of historic wagons kept outside operational , original wagon weighbridge 1865 has been restored , included in redeveloped section of wharf yard including purpose built weighbridge hut.

the dundee gas works locomotive.

the first museum displays in old gunpowder store @ wharf station. walled yard, used storage of coal, roofed on , extension added in 1964. building served had no insulation, damp , cold in winter , hot , airless in summer making difficult conserve collection. needed new museum building adequate space, accessibility , environment, , professionally designed displays.

at same time talyllyn railway seeking improve facilities @ wharf station better meet needs of passengers , operation of railway. when trps took over, there single small building served booking office, weigh house, , general office railway. museum, had been augmented various extensions , portable buildings: radical solution needed. approach of golden jubilee of trps in 2000, appeal launched funds build new station , museum. funding heritage lottery fund conserve unique museum collection plus other government , charitable sources obtained match money raised friends of railway , museum. 2 storey building houses museum, refreshment room, education room , railway offices, links shop , booking office in extended version of original building. work began in stages in 2001, , new station , museum complex opened h.r.h. charles, prince of wales , camilla, duchess of cornwall on 13 july 2005. in 2010 museum gained accredited status under mla scheme improve standards in museums.