FR & WHR & WHHR News

Go the LSWR route with a duplicate list and call one “Mountaineer” and the other “the old engine Mountaineer”.

Tom

 

Sometimes in printed documentation you might need to differentiate. For example a gala timetable featuring both locos. But, as I say, that can easily be done by using numbers.

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Or call one "mynyddwr"

 

I was wondering if he was OK as well as he always announces when he's going to be absent.

 

"Mountaineer A"

A for Alco. That should do the trick

 

Me too, I’ve followed the website for years, I do miss the regular updates.

 

Isn't this all moderately irrelevant as everyone calls it "The Alco" anyway?

 

So? Many FfR locos have familiar unofficial names .... some of which are even OK to utter in mixed company!

 

I'm sure I'm not the only FRS member whose love of the railway was born in the preservation era, with green locos and red carriages.
It was a wonderful breath of fresh air when the more heritage oriented policies came along: those wonderfully intricate Victorian liveries are marvellous. Seeing ME and Palmerston in red was really exciting.
But that doesn't mean completely ignoring the preservation period.
Along with the Ladies, Mountaineer (Alco) and the Earl are my favourites, so I'm a bit sad to see them both sidelined for so long.
While I perfectly understand why the new Fairlie is being built, I'm afraid that as conceived it does nothing for me. The name is unimaginative and confusing, given it's not a replica of the original JS. I still think Charles Easton Spooner deserved the honour, or pick a name with more general appeal. And another red Fairlie only distinguishable from ME and DLG on close inspection isn't going to be very interesting.
Likewise while I do like Taliesin and Lyd, and I'll be interested to see Welsh Pony in service (presumably only occasionally, but nevertheless) I am really hoping that Mountaineer will get her time back soon.
The new original England replica looks quite a fun toy, but personally I'd have given it a new name.
Why not honour Henry Holland, George England, or any of the others associated with the early days?

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I can't see any problem with the locos carrying the same names. The Alco, when restored, will be a part of Ffestiniog Railway stock, working service trains. The England will be an independently owned loco that will be a welcome occasional visitor to the line it was designed for on special occasions but won't be used on ordinary timetabled service trains and may well have a 'permanent ' home elsewhere.

If it wasn't so far from where it's owners and supporters are based I think the England one would be an ideal loco for the Launceston line, hopefully it will at some time at least make a guest appearance there.

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After James Spooner is finished, maybe the next two should be Charles Easton Spooner and G. Percival Spooner!

 

I find myself wondering how long one might expect a loco named England to remain pristine in Cymric Gwynedd, if not kept under lock and key when unattended!

 

Or you could call it Reverend Spooner - and recognise that what started in 1950 as a half-warmed fish to run the town drain could only happen because years ago the deviant tons of soil dug out sons of toil, even when the weather was roaring with pain!

Tom

 

I had to think about that a bit, but very clever!

Steve B

 

Got an email back this morning and I'm glad to report Barrie is fine. He's up to his armpits digitising shedloads of old images (Phase 1, pre-dating the website) and will be updating his Isengard site 'in due course'.

goes for me too. It took a while to separate the Spooners.

 

I don't know if it should be here or in the obituaries thread. I was sad to hear of Eileen Clayton's death. https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2020/jan/24/eileen-clayton-obituary

She was a real visionary when it came to involving young volunteers and also in recognizing that parks and gardens were not just a nice addition but vital to the railway.

Although I have not been back to Wales for many years, I am proud to have been one of the kids on the first kids week in 1992.

 

Likewise, as one of the first round of kids (and the son of the author of that obituary) it was terribly sad, if not unexpected, to hear of Eileen's passing. She had been a family friend, and a massive supporter of anyone who was willing to listen, and learn, my entire life, and one of the people I always looked out for whenever I went back to the railway. I will miss her immensely.

Here's a memory of that first Kids' Week back in 92. Me, 3rd from left, back row...


John

 

Regarding naming convention of the new England, it should surely be either a) a dead liberal politician, b) a welsh bard, c) royalty.

If they’ve had Little Giant, Little Wonder, then surely it should be Little Replica.

 

I agree about the name. Persoanlly though, I would argue that a new-build loco ought to honour one of the railway's modern heroes. And who could be more deserving of a steam loco named after them than Alan F. Pegler?

Especially as you could then turn it out in full GNR livery as a tribute to him...that would look fantastic on a traditional double-Fairlie

As regards liveries though, once the new JS enters traffic why not repaint Merddin or DLG into green? They've both been carrying the same liveries for something like twenty years, surely it is time to shake things up a bit? We haven't seen a traditional double-Fairlie in steam in green since 1970 so it would give some welcome variety and perhaps generate some photo-charter revenue too.

 

Alternatively, why not re-name the ALCO Woodrow Wilson? As a politician's name it would form a good match with Palmerston and DLG, and also gives a nod to the engine's WWI US origins.