FR & WHR & WHHR News

A YouTube clip has surfaced, by Andy and Dandan Fisher, of the C2's chassis (loco and tender) being shifted a week ago, by Hunslet diesel Moel y Gest, from it's covered and decidedly luxurious shop at Blodge to covered storage at Minffordd. Even devoid of boiler and superstructure, it already looks a million miles away from the archetypically grimy working industrial loco the team went to China to inspect a few years ago.

The clip also contains an excellent shot of one of the oddest pieces of pointwork this side of a Lartigue Monorail within Minffordd yard and a 'human point locking mechanism' at it's entrance! There's also a comparatively rare view of PW Mess Coach 1111 and the stored Princess (complete with tender). A rear view of Palmerston is just about visible in a different shed at one point.



Until I realised the purpose of the move, the clip's title had me wondering if it was a case of 'let's test it ..... and if it won't derail in Minffordd Yard, it probably won't derail anywhere else' .... there's some savage curvature down there!

The C2's compensated tender chassis is very evident in the clip, as is the reason the boiler sits so relatively high on the frames and looking at the frame detail, I wouldn't be in the least surprised if the C2 spawns some 31/2 or 5 inch gauge versions .... it looks just the sort of challenge a miniature loco builder relishes.

Does anyone please know ...... Do the C2 team get to keep all that space for now? From what I've seen, Blodge abhors any empty siding, let alone half a well lit workshop!

 

Did I spot a flangeless driving wheel set?

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That shed is, currently, a dedicated space built by and for the C2 project. I suspect the move to Minffordd was more to do with display (along with KS4415) at Hunslet 125 this weekend, than with any longer term move away from BLodge, though it could be feasibly to make space to either build the new tender tank, or to start on the boiler. I suspect however that little things like cylinders, motion, brakes etc will be assembled onto the frames first.

John

 

I sincerely hope so .... or my eyesight is even worse than I thought!

That computes.... thanks John. Given an earlier post stating the finished loco will fit on both lines, I'm guessing the new cab will be a different design to the old one, which rather reminded me of the operator's cab suspended high on the back end of a gantry crane .... I'm told inland regions in northern China can get a bit parky in winter! (There's a fair bit about the different flavours of cabs fitted to these locos on the C2 website)

Did the tender chassis originally feature brakes? I was trying to spot (on the clip) where they may have been mounted .... without success.

 

The C2 was moved for display at the Hunslet 125 event. It will going back in the shed at Boston Lodge. The shed itself will be used by the c2 group until it is running. Once it is in service the shed can be used by the FR.

The curve into the C2 shed is actually sharper than the access to Minffordd yard.

The tender only had a handbrake originally. It is now being fitted with a steam brake too. Much of the loco brake gear was re-designed because there is less space. A lot of it is now complete ready for fitting but the main focus has been getting the tender chassis wheeled.

Tim

 

I'm increasingly taken by the C2, it's an impressive beast! Are there many more left in China?

 

About 1000 were built in China and a further 4500 in the former Soviet Union. All to the same basic design although there are variations between manufacturers and various different designations. So yes there are plenty left. No 4 is thought to be the last one built. The works plate is actually dated after the works at Harbin closed.

Tim

 

Dare I say it, the sort of loco that might be well suited to the S. Tynedale as it expands.

 

Mmmmm..... interesting notion. If the Chinese 2ft gauge is contracting (seems the case everywhere, more's the pity), I wonder what other recently built stuff might be up for grabs at a manageable price? Bogies, wheelsets, point sets (or at least the 'vees' for same).....

 

The problem with both of those notions is that the locos are 2’6” gauge as built.


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So ..... Just the points 'vees' then?

 

Thanks for posting this. Even an hour of video still only gives you a snapshot of everything that happened at this amazing weekend.

It is definitely the biggest and best event the FR has ever staged, and it was great to see so many happy faces over the weekend.. Hunslet 150 will have a lot to live up to

Tim

 

Hmmmm. Not 100% sure about that. Depends on your point of view of course but Hunslet 100 probably edged it in terms of activities going on at both BL and Minfford, and had additional supporting events such as the model railway exhibition as well. (And "Driver for a Fiver" cost you nothing in those days, but that's inflation for you!)
But 125 obviously had the WHR available to add some extra opportunities and a wider spectrum of hunslet products on offer.
Personally I'd describe it as an "honourable draw" between two superb events, and offer congratulations and thanks to all involved with last weekend.

Whilst I think I might struggle to make it to "Hunslet 150" the memory of the two trips up to TyB behind the pairs of small hunslets on Friday afternoon/evening is going to stick with me for quite a while and would take some beating!

Chris

 

Hunslet 150 has already happened, it took place at the Middleton Railway and on the original Hunlset works site in 2015

 

Having watched half a dozen clips (so far), this looks like yet another superb event I've managed to miss ..... dammit!

FfR/WHR staff must've had JGF marshalling and remarshalling all those consists over the event, quite a few of which reminded me of the line I first knew in the early 70's ... and all that work by the heritage waggons group has certainly paid off. Seeing so many quarry locos with various slate waggons and looking for all the world as if they were back doing what they were designed for (well, almost!) was a real treat.

Of interest, did today's Hunslet Engine Co. have any sort of presence?

BTW .... if anyone producing videos manages some digital jiggery-pokery to nullify the noise of those ruddy 'wig-wag' alarms on recordings, they'll have my eternal gratitude!

 

"Statfold" was there from the present incarnation of Hunslet

Steve B

 

.... and wasn't it great to see it?! I'm aware both it and Jack Lane (plus at least one 'Wren') are very recent products of Hunslet Steam - wasn't that pretty much an 'authorised offshoot'? - I was wondering about the main (Wabtec owned) commercial outfit which still produces locos today.

 

Finally had time to sort through my photos, album can be found here... http://preservedrailway.weebly.com/ffestiniog…