FR & WHR & WHHR News

The dome was moved from a forward position towards the centre as a new boiler barrel (about three quarters of the length) was required anyway. I think the "square patch" you are referring to is a rivetted strengthener for the seam on the new barrel section and is one one side only. Forward of the firebox crown is a round access "manhole" - a rather unusual but original feature on NG15 boilers.

 

FR Co have provided quite a bit of detail on the second half of their WHR 100 event, in June this year. There's a segment on YouTube, filmed overlooking Caernarfon Castle:

Last July's event was extremely enjoyable, so this one will have to be fantastic to beat that - with this evidence it seems they are having a good try at another classic enthusiast-led gala......it seems to have pretty-well everything that enthusiasts have asked for - gigantic WHR train consists, running straight through Harbour Station (as in 1923), Minffordd to Pen-y-Mount Junction shuttles (and BTW EVERY main line train stopping at Pen-y-Mount Junction Platform 3!), a horse-drawn slate train, Russell - and heritage train - negotiating those vicious double-horseshoe curves to Rhyd-Ddu, photo opportunities at Beddgelert where the classic "two trains, with Russell and an England" re-run can be seen, the inspection train with the genuine original stock, a double-header with Russell and Lyd - well - it goes on and on....
And ideally the three relevant current loco projects might appear in some form - Baldwin '590', Gowrie, and the Kalahari 134....
It seems Porthmadog has woken up to all this, with accommodation suddenly spiking in price......

 

Interestingly, a Lyd, Russell doubleheader is mentioned too. Clearly the braking issue has been overcome?

 

Yes, during the 2019 gala, Russell double headed its first train each day with Prince.

 

Yep - seems so. Last June, tests - it would seem according to the newsletter - resulted in WHR Ltd's air-braked stock having a full safety case for operation on RhE. Both organisations have lots of experience getting seemingly-incompatible stock to work together - what we used to do at Gelert's Farm with non air-braked locos was to pipe the air onto the footplate (temporary connections) and provide a clip-on brake valve and gauge. All you need. Or of course you could do as in 2019, with a vacuum loco providing all the braking. Really depends on the stock, as only the Pickering is currently dual-braked.

Still - I am sure the technical guys know what they are doing...... they are, after all, the professionals, and there's little point in anyone else second-guessing them.

I was immensely privileged to be allowed on the "going back home" train at the end of the 2022 event - Russell simply romped through the gradients between Dinas and Porthmadog (WHR), and even nicely managed an emergency stop (on a severe curve and a severe gradient) where a photographer had set up very close to the two-foot.

Let's hope that this gala is the beginning of something rather than a one-off, and that Russell et al with the heritage stock will be allowed to access RhE relatively regularly in the future - I would imagine that the demand is there, if such trips were to be well promoted.

 

Russell will be fitted with a Vac thru pipe with a drivers application valve in the cab for this event. Lyd will provide the “suck” for the vac stock they will be pulling. At other times during the event Russell will be hauling air braked WHHR heritage stock.

The Baldwin 590 when it is complete will be dual fitted and will haul both vac and air brakes stock during the event.

Knowing what is planned, I can safely say this will be a phenomenal event that you really do not want to miss!!!

More details will be released shortly.

 

Hi Guys just how close is the Baldwin to being completed?

 

I think pretty close - but I will let the WHR Ltd. answer officially. Gelert's Farm have just announced that '590' is now in their ownership.
The heritage rake is being prepped - see the last section of FR Co's latest "Moving Pictures":

 

Got to love paint that is perfect for the Ffestiniong LMS...

 

Details & bookings for this years train services are now available on the website.

Train Services - Ffestiniog & Welsh Highland Railways (festrail.co.uk)

 

The website is up and running now (09:30 hrs)

 

When might we expect details of the WHR 100 event and how to book?

 

We have a WHR100 group meeting this evening, we have a few more details to iron out but I would expect something to be released in the next couple of weeks about ticket prices and booking options.

 

It's been a good while since Barrie Hughes updated his blog. Is he OK?
Pat

 

Unfortunately, he has been quite unwell including needing a hospital stay recently.

 

I'm sorry to read that. I do enjoy his daily peek at the railway.
Pat

 

Tickets are now on sale for the WHR Centenary event:
https://www.festrail.co.uk/whr-centenary/
Those who complain about the eye-watering costs of galas these days should look away now.... plus only a 20% rather than 50% discount for FR/WHR Soc members!

Already got my accommodation booked and am looking forward to, hopefully, some notable firsts!

 

Is the Members / Friends event on still at the end of the month? No mention of it on the website.

 

There are certainly gravity trains scheduled for that weekend and a couple of visiting engines coming in time for the snowdonian charter. Nothing wildly spectacular planned but there are a few extra bits and pieces on.