Talyllyn Railway and John Bate

Early day motion 23, tabled 10 May 2022 by Liz Saville-Roberts (Plaid Cymru). Signed by 8 members.

That this House congratulates the Talyllyn Railway Preservation Society who, on May 14th 2022, will celebrate 71 years since the society ran the first train on the Talyllyn Railway; recognises that this marked the start of heritage railways as they are known now, with the Talyllyn Railway being the first volunteer run railway in the world; further recognises that railways are nothing without the people who run them and that John Bate has been invaluable in the work of transforming the Talyllyn railway into the world-class tourist attraction it is today; notes that John started volunteering at the railway in 1951, became the railway’s first full-time Chief Engineer in 1963, a post he occupied until his retirement in 1994, and has continued to support the railway as an active volunteer; commends John for leading the effort to save the railway after a major landslide near Dolgoch damaged the line in 1957; and celebrates the positive impact John has had on both the Talyllyn Railway and on the wider Heritage Rail Sector.

Signatures by party: Plaid Cymru 3, DUP 1, Independent 1, Labour/Co-operative 1, Liberal Democrat 1, Scottish National Party 1.