News from FR/WHR

What are the respective tractive efforts of these locos? I know there are many factors and TE isn't everything but I'm interested in how they compare power wise.

 

I suspect that most people will do half line trips from either end to Beddgelert, but many will be tempted to do the whole trip as a treat, perhaps paying the supplement to ride in the splendid observation car.

In a recession, it is little luxuries such as this which do well.

 

I think you are probably right with regard to the family market or couples with a bit of disposable income. As a family or just with the wife I could see us doing a trip from Port to Beddgelert several times a year for lunch or just as likely getting of on the way up at Nantmore, walking along the river to Beddgelert before an afternoon tea, ice cream, lunch at Beddgelert and return by train. I think marketed right that could be very popular as could using the train for one way walks and a pub lunch/afternoon tea arounf Snowdon Ranger etc

However I expect that the WHR is geared up for a fair bit of coach traffic that will travel one way. The only downside being that Shearings and Wallace Arnold etc do really like to squeeze you on price.

It probably is also why for the present the WHR is fairly happy to operate to or from Pont Croeseor as access is much better for coach parties

 

There is no reason why such an arrangement, with reserved carriages, should not continue for trains that start from or continue to Porthmadog.

Meic

 

Any FR/ WHR insiders got any clues which locos might be rostered for the Winter services from Porthmadog to Hafod y Llyn?
If Lyd or the K1 are likely, I'll get planning now!

 

Earl of Merrioneth is rostered baring complications for the whole series of trains, though there may be occasions when others and double heading happen as a result of failures or continuation of Lyd's burner trials. Sorry if this is disapointing.

 

I haven't seen a roster for trains beyond the 2nd of January, so I'm not sure the Earl has been rostered on all the Hafod y Llyn specials which start on Jan 8 and run through to March 20. Check http://www.ffestiniograilway.co.uk/timetable.htm for details...

 

According to The FR Society Magazine Its Meant To Be Taliesin On The Hafod y Llyn Trains. If This Is right im booking! also im under the impression that Taliesin with Palmerston and Merddin emrys are on the FR Winter Trains. Is This Right Andrew?

 

Thanks for that. Will obviously keep checking the website when planning my visit. Interesting that there is a wide opinion of the possibilities from different sources.

 

Palmerston and Taliesin are running all FR services from Boxing Day till the 2nd of Jan after which the FR is closed for the bypass works. 138 is handling the WHR Christmas services until the 2nd of Jan.

The A1 star of the loco fleet Earl of Merioneth is rostered on all the Hafod-Y-Llyn specials so far and 10 miles of level railway will be no problem for a loco used to working flat out .

Tim

 

Not thrilled at the thought of the "Earl", splendid beast that it is. Will keep checking and looking for break in Earlness.....

 

I suppose the Earl will look better when he gets the set of traditional style tanks that were made for him some years back at the same time Merddin got his new ones (according to www.merddin-emrys.co.uk ).

 

Don't hold your breath!

 

Square Tanks Look Helfire You Carn't Put Bog Standard Tanks On It!!

 

I wasn't holding my breath, checking back on the M-E site, the tanks were made 7 years ago. I should think they will probably remain "in store" until "Earl's" square ones are life expired

 

I always thought that Earl looked like a dog's dinner. It would be wonderful to see it looking like a proper FR Fairlie

 

The Earl is currently running as a coal burner - the original design had lift-out oil tanks to facilitate a conversion. But the 'new' tanks were designed with integrated oil tanks, which may be the reason they haven't been used yet.

 

The reasons for them not being fitted go something like this.

In no particular order.
1. They aren't finished, only tacked together because time ran out and so they could be converted to coal if necessary.

2. They are only a pair of tanks, the cab, pipe work, sand pots, running boards, shiny bits etc would need to be changed as well

3. The old tanks had new bottoms fitted and a very high quality volunteer paint job a few years ago. They should be good for a few years yet.

4. In it's present form the Square is an enginemans engine. The cab provides good shelter from the worst Wales has to offer, but also stays cool on rare hot days thanks to the sunroof. The tanks carry plenty of fuel and water and provide a good level platform to stand on when watering etc.

5. The boiler hopefully has at least 10-15 years more life in it. The ideal time to replace the tanks will be when the boiler expires as the boiler design will almost certainly be different so the old tanks may not fit.

The Earl has been softened over the years and is no more Square than Lyd, in fact I’d say it has sleeker less complicated look than Lyd. Some Merddin style chimneys would be an improvement though.

I think the worst thing that could happen is that the Earl becomes a poor imitation of a Spooner Fairlie like the DLG, vaguely the right shape but somehow wrong in practically every dimension.
If it was rebuilt to look just like this but a big bigger I wouldn't be too upset.

Tim

 

butbutbutbut the Earl embodied the spirit of the times, and as such Rodders fulfilled his remit in design.

 

Don't forget the biggest reason it has not had the tanks fitted. There was an outcry at the time that a 'group' who to funded the extra tanks thought they had the right to turn the square into something it never was (DLG/ME).
Much the same as the TYB footbridge saga we have today.