Vale of Rheidol railway

Evening All

I have added 4 photos taken by Alan Costello of number 9 Prince of Wales on the Vale of Rheidol railway which had just been painted in its original livery on the 22nd & 24th July 1982

9 Prince of Wales Aberystwyth 22-7-82
Vale of Rheidol Railway - Railway-Photography's Photos | SmugMug
9 Prince of Wales Devils Bridge 24/7/82
Vale of Rheidol Railway - Railway-Photography's Photos | SmugMug
Vale of Rheidol Railway - Railway-Photography's Photos | SmugMug
Vale of Rheidol Railway - Railway-Photography's Photos | SmugMug

Neil

 

Interesting movement on the VoR today

 

I see on the recent Facebook page for the VoR that the 2 Lawleys are going to be part of the new museum (does anyone know when it is due to open?). They will be great to see, known as a "Gentleman's Hunting Engine", can't pull a skin off a rice pudding, but lovely looking locos. I managed to have a ride behind a couple of these, a few years ago at Sandstone. It will be very interesting to see what else appears at this museum

 

Could you perhaps provide a link to that posting? I've had a good look back at the VoR fb page for *anything* about the museum and not found any posts.

John

 

Not Facebook but there's a list of all the museum locos on the VoR website.

http://www.rheidolrailway.co.uk/museum.htm

 

Interesting post and collection. First official reference I've seen to the ex IMR carriages which hopefully means they will be on display in the museum .

 

Interesting indeed. I presume that train was heading up the valley rather than being propelled down? In which case, destination the storage shed at Capel Bangor perhaps.
Not sure where that pair usually reside on the VoR nowadays. I can remember when they were in open storage at Aberystwyth but don't recall seeing them there last time I visited.
Would be nice to see that Bagnall being the next project to enter the works!

Chris

 

I seem to recall seeing photos of the 2 Lawleys when they were returned to the UK a few years back.
Certainly at that time, "Rough" would have been a bit of an understatement!

 

Just noticed on a BBC news article that Loco No.8 has now got its Air pump hidden away.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-mid-wales-40497169

 

The original post dates from 2013.

Four years ago Bagnall No 2228 (18BG ) and Hudswell Clarke D564 were moved from Aberystwyth where they had been stored in the open to the storage shed at Capel Bangor.

Will
VoR

 

It looks like SAR Garratt NG60 is at long last on it's way to the VoR. It seems to be at Trowell services at the moment, as the lorry has broken down.
Certainly interesting times at the VoR in the next few months.

 

Wikipedia describes this NGG13 (one of three now in the UK) as in 'excellent condition', noting curvature on it's previous home line in Switzerland put the kybosh on it's use there. I wonder, how long are the headshunts on the VoR?

 

The headshunts were never long enough to fit anything more than the GWR tanks but this has recently changed. Last year at Devil's Bridge the platform road was extended further east. A gate is positioned where the buffers originally were to restrict 'normal' loco movements and create an informal sort of level crossing - access would otherwise be restricted for cars which still need to park around the station cafe on busy days. It would appear this was all carried out specifically for the SAR loco.

 

OK... now I'm officially intrigued!! baramd14 is quite right.... interesting times indeed at the VoR.

 

NG13 No 60 safely arrived at its new home.

 

Lots of pics on the VOR's Facebook page. Apparently needs an overhaul but it also states she has run recently so hopefully not too long before she runs.

With the VOR and the Ffestiniog/Welsh Highland railways having shared locos in the past, sure she will put in an appearance on the WHR as well.

 

A useful addition to the fleet. You've got to wonder... Will it be the perhaps even encourage Mr Rampton to consider returning his own NGG13 (SAR/ZASM NG82) to steam too, some day?

 

Will it be a coal or oil burner ?.

 

I wouldn't get your hopes up if "you know who" has bought it. Hes not really that friendly with the FR. When Palmerston visited, the VofR paid a fee to avoid sending anything back in return. Also the WHR railway already has 3 with another on the horizon so why bother.

I imagine coal like the rest of the fleet.

Tim

 

For those who don't frequent FB and therefore the VoR news pages, here is the official press release:

NG G13 GARRATT PRESS RELEASE

Aberystwyth’s Vale of Rheidol is pleased to announce the arrival of NG G13 Beyer Garratt locomotive No. 60 “Drakensberg”
Arrival of the locomotive this week signalled the completion of 3 years of careful negotiations and an 800 mile journey from Switzerland to Mid Wales.

The move started on 12th July including a police escort through the centre of Basel, continuing through Germany over night arriving at Antwerp on Friday ready to board a ferry. The locomotive arrived in Hull at 7.00am on Saturday before continuing to Birmingham then onto the Vale of Rheidol arriving on Monday 17th.

The locomotive is privately owned but is to be on loan to the railway for a prolonged period of time. After some restoration work, No60 will be available to bolster the operational fleet if required, offering extended service periods for the current locomotives. Vale of Rheidol is rightly proud of the reliability of its steam engines and No 60 will only enhance this offering new opportunities.

No 60 will not be replacing the iconic Rheidol tanks but just spreading the load on the existing fleet. Many readers will be aware the Vale of Rheidol has an extensive museum collection consisting of a variety of steam locomotives from all over the world. No 60. It is most likely No 60 will operate some heavy summer trains and special charter trains.

Keep an eye on the Vale of Rheidol web page www.rheidolrailway.co.uk or check out our Facebook page for updates and news on the restoration progress.

The first chance to see the locomotive on display will be at the railway’s Roaring 1920’s and 30’s weekend on 14th/15th September.

Llŷr ap Iolo, Vale of Rheidol Railway General Manager said: “We are looking forward to having another locomotive join our fleet, it will offer more flexibility and back up in our operation and something different for those who are interested. It has been a long time in the making and our work begins over the next 12 to 18month preparing her to work the VoR with a 10 year ticket on the boiler. We are very grateful to the owner for allowing the VoR to have a long term loan of the locomotive on the railway.”

Robert Gambrill, CEO Vale of Rheidol Railway said : “A very big thank you is in order to firstly the guys at Schinzacher Baumschulbahn who have helped in every way, especially Urias von Meyburg who really has gone the extra mile to make sure everything went to plan. Our Haulage contractors Allelys have proved brilliant at organising and faultlessly executing the move of the engine to the UK. I am only too aware just how tricky this was especially with the Swiss road authorities! Finally the team at the railway who have safely landed the engine on the railway. All have worked really hard to see No 60 welcomed to the UK. We are now all looking forward to seeing her climb the 1 in 40 to Devils Bridge enabling everyone to enjoy the spectacular views from our railway. Offering yet another excuse to come and see us if one was needed!”

Locomotive No 60, works No 10551 was built in Germany in 1927 by Hanomag. It carries the name “Drakensberg”

Between 1927 and 1929, the South African Railways placed an order for twelve Class NG G13 Garratt articulated steam locomotives. The initial order was for three Class NG G13 locomotives, numbered in the range from NG58 to NG60, which were delivered and placed in service in November 1927.

The locomotives, including No 60 were built in Germany rather than by Beyer-Peacock owing to the strong anti-British sentiment in the wake of the second Boer war amongst Afrikaners, thus a German company was chosen for the order.

The first five locomotives, numbers NG49, NG50 and NG58 to NG60, were used almost exclusively on the narrow gauge lines in Natal. No 60 was retired from service in 1973 having spent its last years hauling limestone traffic from Loerie.

Bought by enthusiasts along with an NG 15, No 60 was shipped to Switzerland to Schinznacher Baumschulbahn a Swiss narrow gauge railway round a very large garden centre, arriving in 1986
Restoration to working order took over 20 years, steaming for the first time in 1998. The loco ran regularly until the track layout changed and it wasn’t able to work the whole railway. In 2014 the engine became available and thus over a number of years a member of the Vale of Rheidol railway’s management negotiated a deal to acquire the locomotive.

The engine was not straightforward to move as it had to be moved in one piece rather than in parts that has meant a lot of careful planning and various haulage companies to insure a safe transfer of the engine.

Although in great condition No 60 will require a 10 year hydraulic boiler test as the Swiss paperwork will not be good enough in the UK even though the engine is already in ticket. In addition to this some wheel work and air braking together with a revised ash pan and spark arrester are required.