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Welshpool and Llanfair Light Railway

Discussion in 'Narrow Gauge Railways' started by tony51, Apr 10, 2017.

  1. SpudUk

    SpudUk Well-Known Member

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    Oh no, really?
     
  2. NGChrisW

    NGChrisW New Member

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    There is now an announcement to this effect on the WLLR website.
    Not quite sure then how they are going to cope on the gala weekend with only Joan and Countess available, unless it’s going to be a seriously pared down timetable versus previous events.
    Ironically, yesterday I was at the Moldovita tourist railway in Romania watching the Resita rebuilt from the derelict remains that the WLLR sold working quite happily. (And 2 days before that, watching 5 similar class members hauling heavily loaded 8 and 9 bogie coach tourist trains on the Viseu de sus line.)
    Maybe the WLLR should have persevered with theirs?
    Chris
     
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  3. paulhitch

    paulhitch Guest

    Not with its record of serious mechanical failure despite testing for metallic flaws. People always underestimate what a demanding route the W&LLR has and stuff has to be good quality.
     
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  4. 5944

    5944 Resident of Nat Pres

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    The comment I heard was the maintenance staff were fed up with trying to engineer the Romanian out of it.
     
  5. michaelh

    michaelh Part of the furniture

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    I read that the WLLR were misled about the "overhaul" it had had in Romania. I saw a report that the cab floor was packed out with a window frame.
     
  6. meeee

    meeee Member

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    I think the fact it sheared off one of the crank webs was the final nail in the coffin. It had all sorts of other expensive failures before that, not to mention all the modifications to get it working properly. The money wasted on it would have been better spent on existing assets. The fact it is now pottering around in Romania doesn't change that.

    Tim
     
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  7. Spamcan81

    Spamcan81 Nat Pres stalwart

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    Not unlike the first batch of Class 56s then.
     
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  8. 5944

    5944 Resident of Nat Pres

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    "30 locos, each one individually hand crafted..."
     
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  9. NGChrisW

    NGChrisW New Member

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    I can assure you that most of the locos operating in Romania are definitely not “pottering around “! Trains at Viseu de Sus are probably at least double the weight of anything operated on the W&L and are being operated 7 days a week on a route and track that is far tougher on the locos than the excellent track of the Welshpool. Even the trains at Moldovita were loaded to 6-7 coaches and the route there is a constant and undulating 12km uphill.
    The problem with the crank webs is a known design issue and many of the locos in Romania have had this addressed by the simple addition of a strengthening strap around the weak area.
    The W&L example did appear to have far more than it’s fair share of issues so I can understand why they let it go but I remember having some excellent runs behind it and was sorry to see it leave.
    Chris
     
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  10. jamesd

    jamesd Member

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    The U had been reassembled and tested and it’s hoped will play some sort of active role in the gala this weekend. Probably on the Cyfronydd services provided nothing untoward was found on the tests. Info from The Earl, the W&L newsletter.
     
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  11. fergusmacg

    fergusmacg Resident of Nat Pres

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    Nicked from facebook - hope the photographer won't mind, but worth sharing

    [​IMG]
     
  12. tony51

    tony51 New Member

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  13. tony51

    tony51 New Member

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  14. tony51

    tony51 New Member

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  15. tony51

    tony51 New Member

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    sorry double post
     
  16. Robin

    Robin Well-Known Member Friend

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    I understand Zillertal only passed a boiler inspection at 9.00 this morning and Joan, which had been declared a failure the day before, was back in service by late morning after some overnight engineering. So the day advertised as two locos in steam potentially started with one and ended with three! A big thank you to everyone involved.
     
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  17. ragl

    ragl Well-Known Member

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    Hearing it would be out on trains this afternoon, just had to steal some time to go see the Austrian guest:

    W & L Zillerthal 30-08-19 002 (1280x853).jpg


    W & L Zillerthal 30-08-19 004 (1280x821).jpg

    Watching the ascent of the bank up to Castle Caereinion, I go the distinct impression that "Zillertal" had lots in reserve and was ready to run up the bank at twice the speed, this engine could be a bit of a racehorse methinks......


    Cheerz,

    Alan
     
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  18. ragl

    ragl Well-Known Member

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    A couple more photos.......

    W & L Zillerthal 30-08-19 001 (1024x734).jpg
    W & L Zillerthal 30-08-19 003 (1024x683).jpg

    ....Looks like the Gala is going to be very enjoyable....

    Cheerz,

    Alan
     
  19. fergusmacg

    fergusmacg Resident of Nat Pres

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    Very nice and the only thing that could be better is to have no green coaches in the rake.

    Hope they have a good gala, I wish I could be there.


    Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
     
  20. garth manor

    garth manor Well-Known Member

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    Struggling with Golfa, lost 30 mins on the 1820 departure today.
     

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