FR & WHR & WHHR News

I'll second that.

 

This made me chuckle… presumably he was called 'Casey' because his initials were 'KC', no…?

Whatever, how nice to find an unexpected link to someone from your past.

Simon

 

Same reason as an old railway mate from my school days was always known as Chinese Pete. He wasn't Chinese, his name was Peter King. P King, get it ?

 

Bygones Weekend info https://www.festrail.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Bygones_Weekend_Information_Sheets.pdf
WTT https://www.festrail.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Bygones_Weekend_WTTs_and_Graphs.pdf

Tickets go on sale tomorrow 9am. Book by phone.

Public trains to Tan-y-Bwlch
Fri: Lilla & Welsh Pony
Sat: Linda & Blanche
Sun: Blanche & Linda

Members Trains:
Fri: Merddin Emrys (to Blaenau Ffestiniog)
Sat: Welsh Pony (to Blaenau Ffestiniog), Prince (to Beddgelert)
Sun: Prince (to Blaenau Ffestiniog), Welsh Pony (to Beddgelert)

Palmerston on goods trains all weekend. Merddin Emrys hauls the Slate train on Saturday & Sunday morning.

 

I appreciate it is a scaled back event but I do worry about the optics of running a special event under the current circumstances, especially with cases rising in the UK. I am sure the FR will ensure it is Covid "safe" but I am just not sure what impression it gives to a wider audience who are in a lock down area, restricted to groups of 6 etc.

On a similar point the FR always seem to have a policy of only shunting the carriage stock for the first train of the day fairly late on, often less than 10 mins pre departure as it was today. As an avid webcam watcher watching the throng of passengers on the platform all waiting to board the train probably makes the accountant smile but again I am not sure it gives the best impression at present. It only takes one person with a bit of an issue to spot and you potentially waste a lot of time having to deal with something totally unnecessarily.

 

The angle of the webcam makes it look like there is a "throng" of people. In reality they are usually well spaced out. There are staff there you ensure that happens too. There is no policy saying that the train should be shunted in as late as possible. In my experience it was in the platform usually 20 minutes before departure. I'm not there every day though, and sometimes there are delays.

The bygones weekend isn't much different than the every day timetable. There is one extra train each morning. Two trains carry on to BFF rather than waiting at T-y-b for an hour. There are two extra trains Saturday and Sunday to Beddgelert. These depart in between the FR service trains and are not at Beddgelert at the same time as the WHR service train. In between the goods train shuttles to Rhiw Goch and back. It's not going to attract massive crowds, but it will help to extend the season slightly. The extra trains are also only available to society members.

The same rules will apply as have been enforced all summer. Only passengers for that specific train will be allowed on the platforms. You have to travel out and back on the same train in the same compartment, and so on.

Outside of the platforms Wales is quite a spacious place. I'm sure even railway enthusiasts can be trusted to keep their distance.

Tim

 

My video when Welsh Pony goes to Beddgelert on the Welsh Highland Railway

 

Which railway will the C2 be most suitable for when completed? Could it pull full length trains on the WHR? Is there any rough estimate of completion date? (Nothing on that could find on their website.)

 

Good question ..... and I'll be intrigued to learn the answer too. I doubt it'd look too out of place visiting Devil's Bridge either.

 

Estimated haulage capacity is on the website under FAQ's:-
http://c2project.org/index.php?page=home&sp=2#Q4

As a new boiler is now required, I doubt it will be completed any time soon.

 

Ok I will ask - what are the issues with the old boiler - worn out or does not meet with UK specs springs to my mind but would be interested to know.

 

Full details are on the C2 website:-
http://c2project.org/index.php?page=news&sp=15

Although in good condition, the existing boiler falls foul of the 2002 EU Pressure Equipment Directive. From that year all imported non-EU manufactured boilers must have a proven paper trail of materials and manufacture. The C2 group are unable to obtain these.
The directive is unlikely to be over-ridden by a UK only regulation post-Brexit, so a new boiler is the only option.

 

The c2 is privately owned and funded by a group of FR volunteers. They are doing a great job but completion depends on their finances and availability. They have probably passed the biggest hurdle which is the re-gauging.

Covid has made things difficult as volunteers are not currently allowed in the main workshop or machine shop. Although they can work in their own shed, there are no machine tools in there. So they are rather limited in what they can do.

Progress is being made on various home work projects. Work is being done on the new boiler design as well as designing the super structure. Hopefully the old boiler can be sold. It is in good condition and there are a few railways in Europe but outside the EU using similar locos.

Tim

 

When the loco was first imported there were conversations with both the FR boiler inspectors British Engineering Ltd, and various insurance providers. At that stage there seemed to a be a way to get the boiler through the PED legislation and CE marked.

Unfortunately since then people have moved on or retired making that a much more difficult proposition. Of course even if that were still possible there is always a chance insurance could be denied in the future. Like a lot of things the PED legislation is enshrined in UK law. It is unlikely to change after leaving the EU.

Building a new boiler is expensive but in the long run it puts the group on safer ground.

Tim

 

Some interesting viewing on the FR webcams this morning. Was this a rehearsal for next weekend?

 

The railway isn't running a service today. Instead there is some schmoozing for the Heritage Lottery Fund going on. So there is a special to Bleanau and two Gravity runs. It's also being used as an opportunity to maintain Gravity train driver competency. We have three drivers but there is only two gravity trains running at the bygones weekend. This way they all get to have a trip and an assessment.

There was a test run yesterday to make sure all was well with the train. It hasn't been out so far this year.

Tim

 

Thanks for the update Tim. Let's hope the HLF are suitable impressed. When I buy my lottery tickets I'll ask them to add it to the FR's grant. (unless I win the jackpot, of course, in which case I'll add it to the FR's grant!)

 

Let's hope so. This is still only stage 1, but if the full amount is released then it will bring some much needed investment during these difficult times. Hopefully we will find out in the spring.

Tim

 

Fingers tightly crossed...

 

"Gravity train driver competency."
I'm surprised you need to do this. After all the drivers use the same traction every day...