12th June 2025

We set out from home for Abergwili in glorious sunshine, with clear blue skies – which continued while we ate our picnic lunch in the lush green grounds of the Bishops Park outside Carmarthen Museum….Whoa, wait a moment, let’s rewind! – that was our ‘recce’, a few weeks before the official PNTA day trip. On Thursday 12^th June, the allotted date of the Gwili Railway visit, we set off in our shared cars to overcast skies and ever increasing raindrops.

By the time we arrived at the station car park, a steady downpour had set in for the day. But did it dampen our spirits? – certainly not!

In an excellent introductory talk by one of the volunteers, we learned how the original Gwili Railway went from the market town of Carmarthen to the seaside town of Aberystwyth.

There was a buzz of excitement as we boarded the train and settled at our tables which were ready laid for our morning ‘elevenses’ of delicious bara brith, Welsh cakes and, of course, Welsh butter. Smartly uniformed waiters brought along as much tea and coffee as we could drink. First class service in a second class carriage – not sure what extras the first class passengers were getting in the first class compartments, though the linen tablecloths and serviettes looked snowy white through the windows. (On the afternoon journeys you can order full afternoon tea. Worth a thought for birthday presents = and there’s always the Santa Express for children at Christmas.)

The museum

Along the route there were two stops for photographs and a stroll along the platform. At the second, on the return journey at Bronwydd Arms station, we visited the impressive Gwili Railway Museum and also took a look inside the restored Mail Van. Some of us had a go at sorting postcards and envelopes with some famous Welsh addresses – Dylan Thomas at the  Boat House, Laugharne, Anthony Hopkins at Margam, Port Talbot. We could only imagine the speed the mail men must have worked at, rocking to and fro on a night express.

The Mail Van

Outside on the platform we once more ignored the relentless rain…

Back at Abergwili station where we disembarked, there was more to explore – second hand books and maps to buy, a snack bar and more.

Then we simply went over the road (well, one roundabout and car park away) to the Carmarthenshire Museum and its friendly lunch café Y Caffi – another welcome refuge on a rainy day. Run by Carmarthenshire County Council both are housed in the former Bishop’s Palace, a fine 700-year-old building, part of a group of five major county museums.  The residence of the present Bishop of St Davids is just next door. There was time to explore the history of Carmarthenshire and much of Wales, well displayed exhibits from all walks of life. A special treat was the Egyptology exhibition relating to local artist and archaeologist Howard Jones.

All in all a highly recommended day out – and if it’s sunny, you can also enjoy a walk – even a picnic – in the well-kept grounds of the adjacent Bishop’s Park. —————————-

Report and photographs Margaret Brace.