THE Glyn Valley Tramway Trust (GVTT) has announced that the track it is about to lay at Chirk station (The RM, November) will be to 2ft 3in (686mm) gauge. The original Glyn Valley Tramway (GVT) was laid to 2ft 4.25in (718mm) gauge while it was horsedrawn but increased to 2ft 4.5in (724mm) upon the introduction of steam locos.
There has been much debate over the years about the gauge to be adopted for the revival of the GVT, hitherto largely centred on whether a totally authentic gauge should be replicated or adopting the compromise of 2ft 6in gauge. The latter is employed by Welshpool & Llanfair, Sittingbourne & Kemsley and Whipsade Railways. It was the gauge of MoD lines from which equipment is still available on the second-hand market.