FR & WHR & WHHR News

out of interest, are train lengths reduced during leaf fall or do passenger figures naturally reduce anyway this time of year? Or do the Garrett's have a sufficient power reserve for the potentially challenging rail-head conditions anyway?

 

There's a comprehensive FR/WHR video update via Barrie's site:
http://isengard.co.uk/
This one includes a bit about Gorsaf Caernarfon (Caernarfon Stn to us Saes!) and a great roundup from Blodge, including couple of carriages (21 & 152 plus the embryonic WHR Obs carriage)

Steam loco wise, a great view of a DLG power bogie (stay for the tale of the steam leak ... groan!), plus 'state of play' about 'Blanche', The Square, The Alco and (drum roll please .... ) 'Welsh Pony' plus a short prequel to JSII

Diesels, an update on KS4415 and 'Conway Castle'

There's an interesting comment about The Alco, but should too much be read into it?

 

The video is from the official F&WHR moving pictures youtube channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC62WQrhNsPzwcLrcGh75pBA

 

http://www.welshhighlandheritage.co.uk/betws_garmon.html

 

I've been having a gawp at Festipedia recently, and I noticed a reference to the Railway having a new carriage policy, summarised in a recent copy of the Ffestinog Railways magazine. Now, while I haven't read the article, (Though if I found a copy in the mess room I would!) it seems the Railway wants a core set of 7 Superbarns for the FF, and 9 coaches for the WHR (Though it suggested they wanted 10 coaches per set, which I presume means they would want a spare.) Now, by the looks of things, the grand plan seems to suggest that they only want one pullman per set on the WHR, which doesn't bode well for Bodygellen, so I have a hunch the plan is to build another non observation Pullman, and as so to have double the number of pullman seats at peak times.

Otherwise, I presume the carriage construction plan is to build another two/three superbarns as well as the second Pullman obervation for the Ffestinog Railway in the short/medium term, as to turn the Ffestinog's core day to day coaching stock into solely 21st century vehicles while using the slightly older stuff as a third set and as booster vehicles.

 

Bodysgallen

 

A great video but the chap doing the commentary in Boston works done my head in.

 

I believe that's Jon Whalley, the FR/WHR CME. I think his explanations are very interesting (also on the Welsh Pony rebuild videos)


Keith

 

Indeed 'tis. Jon's depth of knowledge is much appreciated by me (at least) and his presentational skills are developing far better than mine, so being just as much a 'natural' in front of a camera, I'm the last person to be casting aspertions! I'm extremely grateful for in-depth commentary and give me Jon over some wittering TV 'nonebrity' every day of the week!

The day we get some mindless bimbo (or himbo) spouting on about how "this train goes both ways" when introducing a Blodge update on the Soup Dragon will be the day I take a bus to Beachy Head and gleefully hurl myself at the pebbles!

 

Yes, and isn't it great that someone so involved and knowledgeable makes the effort to share info with the rest of us. I also find it interesting to see behind the scenes into the works at Boston Lodge. Many thanks

Steve B

 

It seems pretty good to me, too. The focus on one cracked stay on DLG suggests such an occurrence is pretty rare.

 

These days yes however after it's first 10 years DLG had a significant number replaced. I can't recall if this was due to a manufacturing or material defect. The crown stay arrangement on this boiler is less than ideal and causes issues. At the time the boiler inspector was against girder stays as they restrict water circulation above the fire box. So the crownsheet is directly stayed into the curved wrapper. The new boiler will revert to the more reliable girder stays.

On the whole FR boilers are trouble free. A few have legacy issues from the days before decent water treatment. The conversion to coal has certainly made things easier on the steel fireboxes.

Tim

 

Do you need to treat soft water?

 

Yes there are still dissolved soilds, salts and oxygen in the water that you need to deal with. Some locations also have softening plants now.

FR locos typically run the whole season without the need for washouts or water changes.

Tim

 

What are superbarns?

 

See relevant entry on Festipedia:
https://www.festipedia.org.uk/wiki/FR_Carriages

 

Just saw on the F&WHR website that there are vintage trains on the WHR between Dinas and Rhyd Ddu on Sundays in August http://www.festrail.co.uk/content/publish/specialevents/548.shtml

 

When I read '150 year old locomotive' I hoped it might mean Welsh Pony, but the website has a photo of Prince, as expected really.

But certainly worth bearing in mind if we're in North Wales again this summer.

 

I expect you're reading too much into a photo. The loco could be Prince, Palmerston or Welsh Pony when it's finished. You can always check with the railway closer to your visit.

Tim

 

Seriously disappointed the 1540 ex-Porthmadog is not running on Saturdays in the summer. A group of us normally do a North Wales Circular every summer, starting at Chester using Arriva's North Wales Day Rover. Removing the 1540 means now we'd only get 90-mins vice 180-mins in Porthmadog, and we arrive in Caernarfon at 1630 instead of 1800. Much prefer spending that extra time in Porthmadog, but now not got much choice if we can only organise the annual jolly on a Saturday - and we're not the only group to do this as we know of a few others who also use it.