The Vale of Rheidol Railway - News

Yes indeed Felix, that kind of speculation will open up a completely different jar of tadpoles. Moving things on to the next stage, what colour(s) will they be painted in? or, for those armchair "loco aesthetes" populating these fora that have deep opinions, or should I say knowledge of engine liveries - what colour{s) should they be painted? I wonder if any of the aforementioned "experts" will find their way to this thread and start a livery war? For the "unknown engines"? I bet they will not be able to resist. Can't wait!!

Cheers,

Alan

 

Red on the left, blue on the right, and green on top

 

Here is the Vale of Rheidol's June and July 2015 Newsletter for you to enjoy!
http://us6.campaign-archive2.com/?u=6ccaa7a53d486e854cc0b1902&id=c748d4f512

 

Again, great to hear all the exciting goings on at the VoR!

 

I called in and had a very good trip on the VoR yesterday after spending Saturday at the W&L gala (a thoroughly excellent event as always).

A question however for those "in the know", (assuming I'm not breaching any "confidentiality" rules re the forthcoming "Forgotten Engines" event! - Something I dearly wish I could get to but looking very unlikely at present)

Parked in the siding fairly close to the workshops is a pair of flat wagons with a fair sized boiler sat upon them. It's obviously not from one of the 2-6-2's and from the chimney, smokebox door and what looks like an air pump mounting bracket on the smokebox side, appears to be of continental origins. From my recollections of the group of locos that used to be stored at Aberystwyth adjacent to the station area, it doesn't however ring a bell as being from one of those either.
Whilst pretty rusty, it did have evidence of a few greased ground off patches where ultrasonic thickness testing had obviously been done. I did wonder therefore if it was another contract job being done in the new workshops.

So, can anybody throw any light on what it's origins may be? (And is the rest of it stored there somewhere?)

 

Could it have been from the Hong Kong Bagnall 0-4-4T? That must be one of the few engines currently on site from Collection X that might be capable of running on the VoR. Just a guess on my part, though!

 

If it is a bracket for an air pump then I don't think it's off the Hong Kong loco. I saw both in service in the Philippines and am pretty sure they didn't have air brakes.
Ray.

 

I had initially thought of the Hong Kong Bagnall myself but a quick look at a couple of photos eliminated it as a candidate.
Courtesy of a bit of info from somebody and a bit more digging however, I think I've an answer to my own question!
The suggestion is that it's the boiler from Maffei Brigadelok 4766 of 1916, part of the Rampton collection. (Ex Mozambique?)
I must admit that I thought it looked too big to be from a Brigadelok but it does seem to be the most likely candidate.

Update - having rechecked a photo of that boiler found on Flickr versus one of a Brigadelok boiler, it definitely isn't off one of those and looks to be from something larger.
So the mystery still needs solving!

Updated update - After a little more detective work I think I have the answer this time!
It is the boiler from the Resita 764.423 that resided at the Welshpool and Llanfair. In fact the chassis is still there as I'd seen it in the carriage shed at Llanfair the day before I saw the boiler, but didn't put 2 and 2 together at that point. As to why the boiler is at the VoR, that's still a mystery!

 

Yesterday, "Margaret" moved under it's own steam, for the first time in 65 Years. After spending the past few years under restoration here at the Vale of Rheidol Railway.

The Vale of Rheidol Railway would like to dedicate this event, as "Margaret" pulls out of the shed, to Mr Alastair Lamberton, who passed away in 1999. As one of Margaret previous owners, he would have been delighted to see this locomotive running again. Mr Lamberton spent a lot of time restoring the locomotive, creating patterns and casting and restoring the frames before he passed away.

Here is a short video of Margaret's first movements...

 

Just seen Margaret depart hauling a test passenger train.The first time she had ever hauled coaches I was told.

 

For anyone intending to visit for the Steam Festival or maybe thinking about it, the timetable with engine allocations is available on the website http://www.rheidolrailway.co.uk/Steam Fest Timetable - V2.pdf.

Weather looking promising too!

 

It is the boiler from the Resita 764.423 that resided at the Welshpool and Llanfair. In fact the chassis is still there as I'd seen it in the carriage shed at Llanfair the day before I saw the boiler, but didn't put 2 and 2 together at that point. As to why the boiler is at the VoR, that's still a mystery!

A mystery indeed - I thought that the W&LLR had given up on its Resita in favour of the German tank.

 

Looks like it should be a good day tomorrow. First time I've been to the line for about 12 years. NYMR today, VoR tomorrow. I must be mad!

 

Not really a mystery. The W&L has two Resita tanks 764-423 (#18) and 764-425 (#19). Only the latter has steamed, the other has been gradually disappearing as source of spares for the other. The boiler off 764-423 has been sold to a group who are undertaking experiments in locomotive boiler treatment who has transferred it to Aberystwyth. The chassis is still at Llanfair.

 

Just enjoyed an excellent day in the company of Diana on the pre-gala photo charter. Weather just about perfect and the loco performed impeccably. A credit to the VoR workshops.
Although I don't believe they will be running there are also a couple more unadvertised visitors lurking in the workshops but I won't spoil the surprise!
Weather looks to be set fair for tomorrow as well so looking forward to another good day.

 

Not really my weekend should be NYMR tomorrow, VOR Sunday.

 

Another excellent day on the VoR today.
All those involved from the railway deserve congratulating on a job well done as everything seemed to be very well organised and the crews and other staff all seemed to be doing an excellent job and just as importantly, appeared to be thoroughly enjoying themselves.
Certainly there was some very "enthusiastic" runs to enjoy!
I did hear a couple of people comment that there could have been more trains run during the day which may have been possible but personally I think it worked pretty well. Trains were well filled but not ridiculously so and I've done too many galas previously where over ambitious timetables have gone pear shaped in the first hour, whereas today all seemed to run pretty much to plan and time.
As the first serious gala held on the VoR I really hope it proves a commercial success and encourages more in the future.
But as today, as someone pointed out, they set a record for the most locos in steam at once on the railway in it's entire history, they will need to go some to beat this one!

 

a couple of pics from today

 

Very nice, I was on the second train pictured.
I may also have spoken too soon in my last post with the comment that every thing went to plan today as I understand that the Air compressor van failed on the last return shuttle.
Hopefully something that can be sorted for tomorrow.

 

Evening All,

Not exactly hot news I know, but a selection of my pictures of the V of R Steam Festival last month can be seen on Flickr. If anyone's interested to have a look, this is the first one in the Photostream :

RD12232. WINIFRED. by Ron Fisher, on Flickr

Clicking on the picture will enlarge it and take you to the others.

Alternatively, they can also be found in this album together with some pictures from earlier times :

https://www.flickr.com/photos/train-pix/albums/72157627940143588

Hope they're of interest even if a bit late.