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Here is a quick rundown of news from the CRS and projects both associated with and those in the surrounding area. Anyone requiring news items for publication should contact Press & Publicity Officer and CRS Webmaster Gareth Evans via "gaz the juro AT hot mail DOT com" . Gareth writes full-time for a national weekly & also contributes items to several national transport titles.

# Operation Clean-up

Further work has been undertaken towards improving the appearance of the society's Oswestry town centre site. In these pictures kindly supplied by CRS volunteer Alun Evans, the platform has been weeded, while more redundant material has been disposed of.

    

# The Gobowen - Blodwel branch

Negotiations are continuing towards the signing of the lease with Shropshire County Council (SCC). Further details will be announced once these are complete.

A spokesperson for the Cambrian Railways Society said: "Negotiations are currently in hand between ourselves, the Cambrian Railways Trust and Shropshire County Council for the signing of the lease. It would be premature to make any further comments at this stage in what is after all, a complex matter for all concerned."

# Neighbours work towards closer ties

As previously reported, closer working links are being forged with the neighbouring Cambrian Railways Trust (CRT) at Llynclys - the most recent example being the CRS coming to the aid of the CRT.

When the CRT's stalwart steam locomotive driver Brian Rowe fell ill, the CRT was left with the possibility of being unable to operate its regular steam-hauled service. However, CRS chairman Rob Williams duly stepped in, generating much goodwill between the two heritage railway organisations.

# The Cambrian Railways Museum, Oswestry

Efforts to improve the appearance of the CRS' Oswestry town centre site continue. Ex British Railways Mk1 BSK coach no.35342, destroyed in an arson attack on Wednesday August 30, 2006 and previously advertised for sale, has departed for pastures new. Similarly, ex British Railways Mk2 BFK (Brake First Corridor) no.14123 has now left Oswestry, along with the GWR Toad brake van. An information board detailing current society projects has also been affixed to the outisde wall near the entrance to the museum.

# The Nantmawr branch

A steady stream work has continued on the line in recent months. This has included regular track walks in addition to such tasks as ditch cleaning from White Gates level crossing to Llanddu Junction, using both manual and mechanical labour. Much of this work unfortunately lacks the glamour of some other tasks involved with railway restoration but is nonetheless vital to keeping the project quite literally 'on track'. The two pictures below have been kindly supplied by Alun Evans.

    

# The Gobowen - Blodwel branch

The story of this line has now entered a further stage. Following months of negotiation, Shropshire County Council (SCC) announced in early July that it had exchanged contracts with Network Rail for the acquistion of the Gobowen - Blodwell railway line.

The move was greeted with much enthusiasm in several quarters. However, the next stage is the completion of a lease from SCC to both CRS and CRT for operation of their respective sections of railway. The CRT will operate the line from Oswestry to Llynclys, where it will meet its existing operation to Penygarreg Lane, while the CRS will run the remaining stub of the former Tanat Valley Railway from Llynclys Junction to Blodwel via Porthywaen, where it will join the Nantmawr Branch.

A CRS spokesman said: "It would be premature to make an announcement at this stage pending the official handover, which is expected soon. All points of disagreement between the local authority and the two railway groups have been ironed out".

Much work on the project is being expended by CRS volunteers behind the scenes, principally in drawing up plans for the restoration of the line. The CRS therefore hopes there that some physical work will be able to commence once the lease from SCC has been obtained ~ Watch this space! ~ c