Gloddfa Ganol

During a tour of Welsh NG railways in 1988, I visited Gloddfa Ganol on a Saturday. It was not until I got there, that I realized it was closed on that day, not to be deterred, I was fortunate to find an open door to the main shed. What a sight, dozens of diesel, petrol and battery NG locos. I noted the KS Joffre locos outside and 2 vertical boilered locos (one now at Dinas and the other in store on the VoR, I think). Nerves got the better of me, in case I got caught and quickly left the building after a quick look around the area). In my haste to leave the site, I didn't note down the other steam locos there.

Can anyone out there point me in the direction of where I can find a list of the steam locos that were there at the time?

Thanks in advance

 

Well, you could get hold of a copy of "Industrial Locomotives" edition 8, (aka 8EL) published by the Industrial Railway Society in 1/1989 .... but I'll save you the trouble.

The following steam locos are listed there (whether they were on display or not I don't know):
DeWintons LLANFAIR and KATHLEEN
2'6" gauge AB 984 THE WEE PUG (nowadays 2ft gauge called DARENT at Hampton & Kempton Waterworks, London).
STEAM TRAM, a conversion of Lister 14005
KS 3114 (Wren class) (nowadays at Vale of Rheidol)
WB 1568 DOROTHY
Qty 3 KS Joffre class, 2442, 3010, and 3014 (now at respectively The Richmond Light Railway, Kent; Statfold Barn; Moseley Museum.)

I think that's it.

 

Thanks very much for your prompt reply!

 

Where's this to now?

 

It was sold to Rich Morris who played a big part in setting up the Gloddfa Ganol collection. Last I heard it was still at his private site in Bleanau, however I believe nothing has run for few years due to ill health.

Tim

 

Photos of the former collection here https://www.flickr.com/photos/trainsandstuff/2934808238/in/photostream/

 

Are there any photographs of it anywhere?

 

It appears to be at the Tanat Valley Light Railway which is where Rich Morris's stuff is now according to the NG Enthusiasts Group Facebook page.

Link in post above yours - arrow backwards in the photostream.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/trainsandstuff/2934808898/in/photostream/

 

Thanks - I scrolled forwards not backwards in a bid to find one! That's quite a fab little piece of kit!

 

Does anybody know what this is? - https://www.flickr.com/photos/trainsandstuff/2933955105/in/photostream/

 

Looks like the ex-Fairbourne Whippit Quick?

 

Unless you mean the Autotruck in which case it's the FR's Monster which Rich Morris aquired but was was bought back by the FR from when Gloddfa Ganal closed.

 

Yes no the ex-Fairbourne Whippit Quick

 

Some of the Loco's ended up at the Steeple Grange Light Railway http://www.steeplegrange.co.uk/locos.htm

 

If you can find a copy of The Narrow Gauge No 64 (Spring 1973) there is an article about it running on a contractor's railway in the Darent Valley in Kent.

 

I have a copy of that magazine, am in Arizona right now but when I get home in a couple of week then I'll try to find it and scan the article. It was quite entertaining.

 

Recent photos of 'Steam Tram' and the rest of the ex-Rich Morris collection including the steam monoloco and the rail mounted Heinkel (or is it an Isetta?) can be found here: http://ellesmere-modelrailwayclub.weebly.com/tanat-valley-railway-visit-9th-sept-2017.html

 

It's a BMW Isetta 300. Used to inspect old cars for DVLA many moons ago!

 

Found!

 

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