FR & WHR & WHHR News

Depends what you want, particularly welded vs traditional construction, but I'd think you could realistically spend somewhere between £40-80k on a boiler that size. We did a major repair to the French Alco and IIRC it came out around the lower of those numbers, but we did keep a number of original bits.

 

Damn'd straight!

 

This is very much my view. The loco has various flaws, but performed perfectly adequately for more than two decades, bewitching many of us in the process.
We don't need a super loco. We've arguably already got some.
We just want to see the one we loved back again!
(Although I acknowledge I'm very much an armchair member as far as FR is concerned).

RPSI, FfRS, TRPS, RERPS, RHDRA, WLLRPC

 

The new boiler for Blanche was about £40000 but that was at least 10 years ago. Since then the FR has developed its own boiler making capability which helps to keep the cost down.

The ALCo may just need the cracked firebox tubeplate replacing. In which case it makes little sense to throw the boiler away. If it needs large portions of the firebox replacing though that would be a different matter.

Apart from being too long, the boiler does have some unusual features. Particularly the tube layout and size, and the rather small dome.

Tim

 

An appeal for a loco many of us have fond memories of.

http://www.ffestiniograilway.org.uk/full_article/linda-appeal

Also, as Paul Lewin talked about in the recent video, money donated will ensure work for Boston Lodge staff and prevent redundancies. I would strongly encourage everyone to donate because not only is this about getting a popular loco back, it will help keep our friends and colleagues in work, paid and help them get through this tough time.

 

This is only tangentially related, but I often looked at the Porthmadog webcam for a little relaxation when the line was running.

However, it is no longer pointing down the line as before but at the building on the opposite side of the road to the station - which seems to be missing its end wall. What's the story there?

 

New hotel:

https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/plans-unveiled-new-porthmadog-premier-16940298

 

Ah, thank you!

 

Something to watch while there are no Trains I would presume.

 

Yes its been moved slightly so you can watch the demolition of the old tax offices and construction of the new Premier Inn. There isn't much to watch train wise at the moment.

Tim

 

I did wonder if that was the reason - the movement hopefully got rid of the cobwebs near the lens that were illuminated by the IR LEDs at night! (edit - not all of them, I note). The tax office building looks what - 1970s?

Looking forward to the day that I can watch the little trains again

 

Yes mid 70s. Demolition of Britannia Foundry to make way for it started November 1972. The building has been mostly empty for years now. It was sold to a company registered in the Caymen Islands and has steadily deteriorated. The handful of staff still there who provided the HMRC Welsh language service have moved to another office in town.

The new hotel isn't much to look at. But it is set a bit further back and has a flat roof. So hopefully you'll be able you see more of the wonderful view from the station.

Tim

 

Some 'Moments with Linda'

 

That's a super video of the LINDA in action. Let's hope that the required funds roll in to enable BL to get her out and abut again soon.

In the meantime, I recently added another FR video to YouTube; I've been spending my lockdown time digitalising some of my old VHS tapes and the FR ones date back to 1991. So here's a ride up the line behind MERDDIN EMRYS - there's been a change or three since then!



It's the third part of my FR video from 1991, but if anyone missed the previous episodes, you'll find them in this Playlist:

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLFsbViNeGSHmYslMKQrJ5qyJ7k9n8_xf_

TTFN.

 

Afternoon All,

I had a look at the Porthmadog webcam this afternoon and was just in time to see something white disappearing over The Cob. A few minutes later I switched to the Minffordd camera and saw a large white box being delivered to Minffordd Yard. Is anyone able to say what it is?

Ron.

 

Yes.

It's a Big White Box.

 

If you're interested in something other than a white box. NGG16 No130 was steamed at Dinas for the first time today. Sadly the internet at Dinas is very sketchy at the best of times so no live stream this time. No doubt there will be pictures and videos on the usual channels soon.

Also if you're looking for that perfect Valentine's gift for an ALCo lover. 1265 t-shirts are now available fromhttps://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Exclusiv...LCO-1265-Mountaineer-Polo-Shirt-/114634649441 for £25. All proceeds to the Mountaineer fund of course.

Tim

 

The tax office wasn’t an object of great beauty, but the designs for the Premier Inn (linked from Barrie Hughes’ site) are insipid at best. Nothing says welcome to the capital of narrow gauge railways than a bit of trading estate vernacular!

 

The S&T polytunnel was re-skimmed this week I think, could well have been this.

 

The perfect foil for the architecturally bankrupt dross over on South Snowdon Wharf.......