Blaenavon Diesel Gala

Hi all

sorry about not posting here sooner, hols, work etc

Anyway the annual Pontypool and Blaenavon Railway diesel gala wil be taking place as planned on the 15/16th October.

Am not able to post the final timetable yet as I'm sill waiting to here on the 31 D5627 and 37421, also we're still awaiting an arrival date for 37219!

37216 and 73128 are both definites and there is a good chance the 31 will be out as well.

We won't be using the Big Pit Branch as it was only opened under special dispensation to a temporary platform and that has now been removed to allow work on the actual station to continue. We hope to run driver for a fiver down some of the branch though.

We have a web page for the gala here and we'll keep it updated as we get more info
http://www.pontypool-and-blaenavon.co.uk/pages/dieselupdates/dieselupdates.htm

regards
Alistair

 

Just to update everyone 37219 has been confirmed for arrival on Wednesday (phew) so that's now on the roster

That now gives us definites of : 37216, 37219 and 73128

37421 and 31203 are still being worked on. Thanks to information provided by Les Tappenden and Tim Moore the team have a very good idea of what is causing the outstanding issues on the 31 and so will be working over the weekend and next week to try and resolve them.

Over the weekend (Sunday as I'll be back down the SVR again tomorrow) I'll finalise the timetable for the 3 locomotives but will also put one together in case 421 or 203 are also available. I'll keep everyone posted on progress although it won't be until towards the end of next week we can confirm or not progress on 421 and 203.

As they say - stay tuned to this channel
regards
Alistair

 

latest update after the weekend work by the boys is that they have resolved all the outstanding electrical issues (including one that we didn't know about) and are down to one mechanical issue. This is believed to be just down to a valve which has ceased through lack of use. However we do have spares so they hope to swap it out this week and then fingers crossed.

37219 is still due to arrive on Wednesday and will feature at the gala but, at the request of the owner, it will not be used on full power due to concerns over the generator. He doesn't want it put under a full load and as anyone who's been to the PBR will attest even with out short trains and length of line our gradients do make the loco's work flat out! All this means is that when 219 is on the front of the train the rear loco will have to be working that bit harder.

regards
Alistair

 

Good news - valve replaced on the 31 last night and all running smoothly so should now be running at the gala 8)

This means we now have time to change the brushes on 219 when it arrives so it shouldn't be limited power wise.

Timetable will be out ASAP

regards
Alistair

 

Excellent news!

 

Thanks George

and to add to the excellent news 37219 arrived on site shortly before 3pm today - whoo hoo

regards
Alistair