LYD2s

Is anybody knowledgeable about the status of the Lyd2s at the WHHR? The seem to be really seldom photographed for such an impressive machine, even intensive Googling only turns up a couple of pictures. Do they not get out much?

I read on here a long while back that two of them are broken and have missing parts, what's up with them?

They're definately on my fantasy loco shed wish list when I've finished what I'm working on now.

 

https://www.whr.co.uk/stock/diesel/eryri/
Looks like they were imported by WHR members in 1995 to work on the proposed restoration of the WHR line. However the FR finished the line and used steam locos rather than diesel locos.

The Lyd2s under private ownership stayed on the WHHR.
They had good Maybach designed engines, but perhaps not powerful enough to provide a thunderbird function?, and were neglected?.

 

Pretty powerful - rated at over 400hp.... But expensive to run and (at least as built) taking almost as long to get going in the morning as a 'kettle'. Serious beasts though - pretty much a Class 08 on NG wheels. An Lyd has run on at least part of Rheiffordd Eryri - several times to the loop at Traeth Mawr during the WHHR's two-year service north of Pen-y-Mount - it was also used to consolidate the track when it had been ballasted and Kango'd, making multiple runs.
It's a bizarre experience looking down on those tiny tracks from the high cab and wondering if the loco will ever turn into a curve! (the wheelbase is quite short)
Would be nice to see one running to Beddgelert (although it'd have to be carefully structure-tested) with the WHHR heritage train at some stage. Perhaps as part of the 2023 WHR opening centenary celebrations?
Hunslet Emma is a more appropriate Thunderbird and has in fact acted as such on RhE, being held in reserve, but not required.

 

How come they take so long to get going? Is it time taken to build air or just to get the engine going? Is it fuel consumption that makes them expensive to run?

 

I think the engines are normally downrated to about 350hp aren't they? They are pretty similar to the Funkeys power output wise. However the Funkeys are much more suitable for passenger work having bogies and a higher top speed. I imagine the engine is somewhat more thirsty than the Cummins one too.

Ideal for lots of heavy shunting.
They fit into a niche that makes them a bit useless for the preservation scene. Too big for the little slow railways, but too slow and poor riding for big fast ones. The one at Whipsnade ended up being scrapped.

Still wouldn't mind seeing one thrashing up WHR once in a while though.

Tim

 

I heard about the Whipsnade one, it sounded like it got caught up in one of the perennial preservation situations of someone buying it that then didn't know what to do with it. According to one of the magazines it sat at Whipsnade for years then in a haulier's yard. They said it was advertised for sale, it's a shame it didn't find a buyer.

 

I am afraid that, given the owner of the LYD2 ex Whipsnade, its fate was almost inevitable. There seem to be very few photos of the loco, either at Whipsnade or later.

 

I'm not normally one for railway gossip but I'd love to know the story behind that

 

Not much really to be said beyond the scenario Mrcow outlined; buying things then having no idea what to do next. I understand it was evicted from Whipsnade, and then ended up dumped in a yard; the owner of the yard (entirely understandably) eventually lost patience.

 

It should be said that the engine did work passenger services at Whipsnade for a time - perhaps a year or two? But I gather that it proved too damaging to the track.

 

Re Whipsnade.
My childhood was in Buckinghamshire. I have a memory of seeing a diesel hauled train, I'd guess about 1976. It must have been narrow gauge, from the size of vehicles compared with people. Yellow painted bogie carriages, open sides with a canopy roof. The diesel locomotive was reminiscent of an EMD SW1- two two axle bogies, a long low bonnet with exhaust "chimney", and a single glazed cab at one end. The bonnet was painted purplish/blue, and the cab yellow.
There were a lot of people about, families with children, and it was a park setting. Trees, grass, sunshine, so not Leighton Buzzard.
I have no idea where it may have been, and as with childhood memories, it is a snapshot or brief film. I may have "re-touched" the snapshot, superimposing later knowledge onto it. Could it have been at Whipsnade?

 

The terminous of the LB is in Pages Park so it could have been?

 

A further snippet about the Whipsnade loco;

https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url...ved=0CAsQjRxqFwoTCKCzx7u_9_QCFQAAAAAdAAAAABAE

Hmm, that link looks a bit challenging....... alternative is to google 'Whipsnade Railway' and select the 'Images' option. A few screens worth down is a picture of the loco and a link ( like that one above) to a short article on 'PressReader'

 

Such an impressive beast, what a shame it ended up as bean cans.