Chevalier

It has been posted on the W&L egroup that Chevallier was steamed today at the Flour Mill (first time in 18 years?) and a picture shows that she has been out shopped in GWR green.

It's new livery is perhaps appropriate as there is some circumstantial evidence that the GWR investigated purchasing it for the W&L in 1947 based on the deduction that it was the only large 2ft 6in loco available in the UK at that time. The W&L did investigate purchasing it in the 1960s however its dismantled state and the lack of any workshop facilities at the W&L at that time meant they had to look elsewhere.

Regards,
Gareth

 

Chevallier has arrived at Llanfair yestserday.

Pictures on W&LLR Website:
http://www.wllr.org.uk/news.htm

Looking Vey Nice

 

Shame it ever has to go - swap with Ryvita maybe...

 

What a crazy cab!

 

porthole certain looks different, mind you she was used by the navy!

 

Shame the Bowaters livery could not have been retained along with smokebox wheel and original style chimney, even if she looked more strange. She certainly looks massive in comparison to Countess. A few observations. She has had Welshpool/SLR couplings fitted and vacuum ejector mods so it looks like she may stick around. I wonder what happened to her bell? Did Bill McApine keep it?

 

Greetings all,

Just a note to say that Chavallier performed resonably well over the W&L Gala, certainly considering that she was in component form with only 2 weeks to go.

We certainly had a few problems over the weekend, which resulted in her being pulled from revenue trains on the Friday, unfortunately some remedial work was required on the axle boxes following Thursdays training runs.

Saturday she performed quite well, even hauling one of the larger trains of the day on her own.

Alas, Sunday she had to be pulled again in the afternoon with a hot box issue, this time in the rear truck. All the hot box issues appeared to be down to water ingress in the axle boxes during the day, I guess the lid's don't seal as well as they might.

I have to say, I have nothing but praise for the guys at the Flour Mill and our own guys who helped pull it off. Most people who saw her seemed to be impressed and although some further work would be needed if she was to be used on a railway like ours again, she certainly proved to have much potential!

Saturday night also saw the end of #19 once again, this time further boiler problems, with a broken stay were to blame!

All in all, it was a most entertaining Gala, we don't often run with quite so many timetable issues and failures ! ! !

I hope those who were theyre enjoyed it despite the problems!

All the best,

R.

 

I called in on my way home from a week fireing Garratts and finally saw her in steam having first seen her in the shed at Whipsnade as an 11 year old. Superb noises from her leaving Welshpool and on the Golfa, shame the reverse curves and rain got to her a few times....were the sanders in use? A couple of pictures and more at http://www.chappers.fotopic.net/

 

Looks like Richieboy is enjoying himself.

http://www.chappers.fotopic.net/p67003729.html

 

Chevalier certainly provided some interest and the morning departure from Welshpool (in the rain and a stall just off the platform) was impressive once she got going

 

I thought it really looked the part at the W&LLR - I hope it stays there!

 

Interesting to note that as well as W&LLR couplers and vacuum brakes, there is also a steam heat hose, W&LLR style.....
Winter services?

 

If that is a Sunday morning pic of Chevalier, Chappers, you must have been standing next to me!



Picture shows Chavalier having a blow-up at Cwm Lane after the run up from Welshopool that morning

 

Some more photos of the W&L gala at

 

Ah, the chap in the blue rain coat here http://chappers.fotopic.net/p67003728.html will be you then. You followed me up the road and turned down Cwm lane and I went streight on to Sylfan. Wouldn't mind seeing how your video turned out. Hope to be at Statfold next week. Possibly see you there.

 

Yep, sorry, you must have come after I set up the camera!
Thought I would provide some 'fatherly advice' to my son, who is showing worrying signs of suffering the same affliction as me!!!

Yes will be at Statfold- on 'Max' I gather!

 

Chev was still at Llanfair last weekend. No info. forthcoming about its future movements. 19 has been found to have a further broken stay on having the previous one repaired. Still, no complaints about the glorious weather and trips with the ever reliable 822!

 

Looks quite at home with the Zillers. Would be nice to think it could stay at Welshpool for a bit.

 

Any more news on the loco - where it is, future plans?

 

It left Llanfair back in October I believe, so I assume it is back at the Flour Mill.

As for her future, no news as yet unfortunately.

R