The Talyllyn Railway has enjoyed its “busiest weekend for five years”, according to general manager Stuart Williams.

The 14 and 15 August weekend generated great interest.

Billed as the Awdry Extravaganza, the two-day event was a celebration of the books by Rev Wilbert Awdry, creator of Thomas the Tank Engine.

Rev Awdry was an Anglican priest and railway enthusiast who became an enthusiastic member and volunteer guard on the Talyllyn Railway in 1952.

Awdry’s experiences on the Talyllyn inspired him to create a fictitious railway which became the subject of a series of children’s books.

The museum at the railway’s Tywyn Wharf Station has a reproduction of Awdry’s study in which he wrote his famous series, with the original furniture and contents given by his family.

The weekend extravaganza included an exhibition of Rev Awdry’s work, including some original artwork.

His own model railway layouts, ‘Ffarquhar Branch’ and ‘Ulfstead Road’, were displayed together for the first time in over 20 years, along with some of Awdry’s own models of Thomas and other locomotives he used to take around the country to illustrate his talks.

The exhibition was opened on Saturday morning by the Bishop of Bangor, the Right Rev Andrew John, a frequent and supportive visitor of the railway.

Bishop Andy took a tour of the Awdry Extravaganza, and was given the opportunity of controlling both of the exhibited Awdry model layouts. He then met Talyllyn staff, volunteers and members of the public before travelling on one of the timetabled trains.

TV presenter and railway historian Tim Dunn conducted interviews with staff and volunteers which were livestreamed on Talyllyn Railway’s Facebook page.

On Saturday evening, Tim read Rev Awdry’s original History of Sodor to a packed audience. It was also livestreamed to over 200 people with virtual tickets.

In addition to the Awdry extravaganza, visitors to Wharf Station also enjoyed a three-day beer, cider and gin festival, featuring Welsh products.

Society chairman Jonathan Mann said: “The Awdry connection is something we are very proud of, and it takes us right back to our roots. Indeed, the Skarloey Railway stories feature a number of incidents that actually happened on the Talyllyn Railway.

“We are very fortunate to have Wilbert Awdry’s study and many model railway items in the museum. The displays and layouts were viewed eagerly not just by members of the public, but also by members of the family.

“I would like to express my sincere thanks to everyone who worked so hard to make this event the great success that it was. After a very difficult period, it was really encouraging to see so many visitors enjoying themselves again in a more normal - but still careful - manner.”

See more pictures from the event in our Meirionnydd and Arfon/Dwyfor papers, on sale now