FR & WHR & WHHR News

Thanks.
Pat

 

The FfR webacam reveals carriage 15 is seeing some significant use at the moment. Given it's customary mollycoddling (for very good reaons!), this must indicate some decent passenger numbers.

It's high time I booked an eye test.

 

Really? It was used on Tuesday for a special and then put back in the shed!

 

Seemed surprising to me too, which is why I mentioned it. I saw it then and again, on what looked like an ordinary working, today (at T-y-B). Double checked and the sides still looked straight. Admittedly, my eyesight isn't the best these days.

 

15 is definitely in the Old Loco Shed as walked past it about 30 minutes ago

 

Damn my eyesight! So, no need to worry about fitting seats into the DZs quite yet then?

 

Lovely trip with the family on Wednesday morning. Finally got to use my membership privileges!
It is really rather wonderful to have such an intensive service with the smaller engines: Blanche and a Double Fairlie were also running (passed the Fairlie at Rhiw Goch and didn't spot which one it was).
Everyone encountered, staff and volunteers, was professional, friendly, helpful and a great advert for the railway.

Sent from my Pixel 3a using Tapatalk

 

Prompted by seeing a photo of a model VoR engine alongside a Fairlie it reminded me many years ago when the ALCO visited the VoR (1980s?) there was a discussion about a return visit, it was pointed out that VoR engines wouldn't fit under Rhiw Plas and Garnedd, it was also said that they wouldn't go around Boston Lodge curve. I have a question - 'in theory' could a VoR engine fit on the WHR?

 

There's always lots of talk of height restrictions on the FR, but width is also a major problem. The Alco and Lyd are pretty much an interference fit with the landscape. I don't know the exact dimensions of a Rheidol tank, but I expect that even if they did fit past Rhiw Plas they would get stuck somewhere near Minffordd weighbridge.

The WHR is less of an issue but the NWNGR section is probably very tight on width through the bridges.

Boston Lodge curve isn't that tight and certainly not as tight as some that are on the Rhiedol. You can comfortably get an NGG16 round it.

The two railways are a lot closer these days than they used to be, and I expect one of the major obstacles to this happening has now passed away. However a Rhiedol tank being available to loan out is probably the biggest issue. They are air braked now as well which is another issue.

Tim

 

Wasn't there some question about the width over the cab handrails on the VoR tanks putting them out of gauge for the remaining NWNG overbridges? If so, it'd be a shame, as the sight of one of those beauties attacking the ski slope would be something to behold!

 

I think all the locos have the original style handrails now, rather than the scaffolding poles on the bunkers.

I wouldn't get too excited about this happening. The Rhiedol have a year of not running trains to make up for and No9 is out of ticket. I expect that now they have another W&L loco to work on and the Baldwin to finish, we won't see the NGG13 anytime soon either. Personally I think taking Merddin to the Rheidol would be much more fun.

Tim

 

I'll just leave this here....

 

The NGG13 had been advertised for photo charters this autumn, so hopefully will be out this year.

 

Oh don't spoil the fun. @30854 had already lined up a 2-6-2 gala in his mind with loco tests between the VoR tanks, Alco, Lyd, Russell and Saint Teresa from Brecon.

 

Or DLG ..... I'm not fussy. Of course, sparing a double engine isn't vaguely likely to be on the cards before JSII comes to life!

Thinking about the design genesis of the VoR locos, giving Lyd a week or two's holiday, at some point might prove interesting too. Pity the exchange sidings both ends are history, what a brilliant piece of publicity for the CCL (plus photographic types) workings like that would've been crossing Barmouth Bridge. Ho-hum!

 

Looking at this drawing it is about 5 inches (2.5 inches each side) outside the loading gauge for the WHR on straight and level track. So you'd definitely have to check it first. It may fit over some but not all the WHR.

Theoretically it should fit under Rhiw Plas bridge BTW. At 8ft wide though you'd probably need new drainpipes on 3 and 4 Boston Lodge afterwards.
Tim

 

But there again, unless the VOR issues a diagram of the locos in their current form, we are all clutching at straws.

 

I've often had thoughts along these lines, but with the VoR as the host railway. Hopefully loading guage shouldn't be an issue!

If you really wanted to go the extra mile, of course, you could bring Felin Hen over from France as well...

 

It wouldn't be on the current length of the L&B either, though quite where you'd shed that lot might be an issue!

With the massive improvements to intermediate stations since I was last there, I agree the VoR would make a first rate venue. Even so, I can't help feeling if it were well publicised, an event like that stands a good chance of producing visitor numbers which may prove a stretch for the seating capacity of their home carriage fleet (wouldn't that be a nice problem to have to solve?) and you'd definitely need defibrillator trained first-aiders on hand for the hoards of photographic types up 'heart attack hill' .... and a dog warden too, I suspect!

 

If you are going that far then in for a penny and in for a pound, unmodified Alco as well. Are there some beefy tank engines from Borsig, O&K, Decauville, Krauss, Franco-Belge, Kerr Stuart, Resita etc we can test at the same time.

Maybe the WLLR will let us re-gauge Joan and Sir Drefaldwyn for the weekend.

Also, I can hear the 'but what about the vac' locos - simple solution - borrow a set of 8 coaches from the WHR

*None of these suggestions are actually serious, or are they....