Welshpool and Llanfair Light Railway

Oh no, really?

 

There is now an announcement to this effect on the WLLR website.
Not quite sure then how they are going to cope on the gala weekend with only Joan and Countess available, unless it’s going to be a seriously pared down timetable versus previous events.
Ironically, yesterday I was at the Moldovita tourist railway in Romania watching the Resita rebuilt from the derelict remains that the WLLR sold working quite happily. (And 2 days before that, watching 5 similar class members hauling heavily loaded 8 and 9 bogie coach tourist trains on the Viseu de sus line.)
Maybe the WLLR should have persevered with theirs?
Chris

 

Not with its record of serious mechanical failure despite testing for metallic flaws. People always underestimate what a demanding route the W&LLR has and stuff has to be good quality.

 

The comment I heard was the maintenance staff were fed up with trying to engineer the Romanian out of it.

 

I read that the WLLR were misled about the "overhaul" it had had in Romania. I saw a report that the cab floor was packed out with a window frame.

 

I think the fact it sheared off one of the crank webs was the final nail in the coffin. It had all sorts of other expensive failures before that, not to mention all the modifications to get it working properly. The money wasted on it would have been better spent on existing assets. The fact it is now pottering around in Romania doesn't change that.

Tim

 

Not unlike the first batch of Class 56s then.

 

"30 locos, each one individually hand crafted..."

 

I can assure you that most of the locos operating in Romania are definitely not “pottering around “! Trains at Viseu de Sus are probably at least double the weight of anything operated on the W&L and are being operated 7 days a week on a route and track that is far tougher on the locos than the excellent track of the Welshpool. Even the trains at Moldovita were loaded to 6-7 coaches and the route there is a constant and undulating 12km uphill.
The problem with the crank webs is a known design issue and many of the locos in Romania have had this addressed by the simple addition of a strengthening strap around the weak area.
The W&L example did appear to have far more than it’s fair share of issues so I can understand why they let it go but I remember having some excellent runs behind it and was sorry to see it leave.
Chris

 

The U had been reassembled and tested and it’s hoped will play some sort of active role in the gala this weekend. Probably on the Cyfronydd services provided nothing untoward was found on the tests. Info from The Earl, the W&L newsletter.

 

Nicked from facebook - hope the photographer won't mind, but worth sharing

 

Announcement here

https://www.wllr.org.uk/steam-gala-2019

And a photo on the WLLR facebook page.

 

A video of the first departure ..

https://www.facebook.com/109476715927837/posts/1158277051047793?sfns=mo

 

Great whistle!

https://www.facebook.com/groups/narrowgauge/permalink/3213067822038557?sfns=mo

 

sorry double post

 

I understand Zillertal only passed a boiler inspection at 9.00 this morning and Joan, which had been declared a failure the day before, was back in service by late morning after some overnight engineering. So the day advertised as two locos in steam potentially started with one and ended with three! A big thank you to everyone involved.

 

Hearing it would be out on trains this afternoon, just had to steal some time to go see the Austrian guest:






Watching the ascent of the bank up to Castle Caereinion, I go the distinct impression that "Zillertal" had lots in reserve and was ready to run up the bank at twice the speed, this engine could be a bit of a racehorse methinks......


Cheerz,

Alan

 

A couple more photos.......




....Looks like the Gala is going to be very enjoyable....

Cheerz,

Alan

 

Very nice and the only thing that could be better is to have no green coaches in the rake.

Hope they have a good gala, I wish I could be there.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

Struggling with Golfa, lost 30 mins on the 1820 departure today.