FR & WHR & WHHR News

The Kalahari (I wonder if it'll end up with a name?) is scheduled to run, double-headed with an NGG16, on one leg of the Snowdonian on April 26th. I would expect it to be run in over the months after that, and to star at the "200-wheels" event on the Cob in June. It'll be particularly interesting to see how it behaves in reverse in challenging conditions, when there is no leading K-H truck to ease into the curves.
On steam loco matters, it's reported that the Baldwin "590" has completed repairs, has been very extensively tested on the VoR, and is likely to return to Gelert's Farm after Easter. So if all goes well, there will be only a small hiatus between Russell bowing out (April 19th), and another WHR heritage loco (or good approximation to such!) becoming available. As is doubtless true of many others, I still hold the ticket from 2023 which entitles me to a run behind the Baldwin on the main line at some stage: assuming that the scheduled Russell main line runs this spring all go well (the Caernarfon one is already sold out, despite the high cost), I would hope that that long-delayed event could be sometime this summer. James

 

This was posted on the WHR Society Facebook page a couple of weeks ago...

"
''

On Saturday 1st February, NG15 No.134 ‘Kalahari’ successfully hauled its first train since restoration. The loco hauled a train of 8 WHR Super Saloons on two test runs between Caernarfon and Dinas, including a standing start from Bontnewydd.
The engine gave an impressive performance, effortlessly pulling away on the 1:40 gradient with the train. There were a few objectives behind the test run:
– Check recent work carried out on the loco.
– Test performance whilst under load.
– Check functionality of the recently-completed steam sanders.
– Measure performance of the spark arrestor.
‘Kalahari’ was particularly sure footed which gave little opportunity to test the effectiveness of the sanders, so the engine will be run under load again in more adverse weather conditions to give better chance to test them.
The spark arrestor performed well under the load with only a few smarks emitted under enduced wheelslip for the purposes of testing spark emission. Further combinations of coal and ovoids will be used in future trials to check performance with the fuel burned on the railway.
Testing will continue whilst the stock and line are available ahead of the start of season in March.

Ben Abbott"

Load 8, 1 in 40, unfamiliar loco, and no problems encountered with adhesion. Even the videos of it on load 10 show it romping away without much drama.

 

To add to @21B above, the Kalahari has fully compensated suspension so no weight transfer to the trailing (carrying) axle. The Garratt shifts weight to the rear bogie, to the detriment of the leading bogie to do anything useful.
Pat

 

Adhesion is an known limitation with these locos vs an NGG16. So a lot of work has gone into fitting good sanders and making the regulator very responsive to combat this. Another problem is the KH truck tends to unload the front driving wheels a little as it enters a bend causing a slip. Loads on the WHR are less than they used to manage in SA though so I don't think it will really be a huge issue. These engines were fast and comfortable so tended to be used for the long distance fruit traffic on the Avontur line. The NGG16s did the pickup freights and the heavy limestone trains.

I expect given the work that has gone into making it user friendly it will become a very popular loco with crews.

 

Assuming 134 proves to be successful in service... will 133 get the same treatment?

 

How much money have you got? It would be quite a project to get that running but never say never. 133 needs a new boiler. The exterior of the ex South African boilers seems to suffer badly in the tropical weather. Then it was stored in the UK with the lagging on which also didn't help so it is basically scrap now.

 

I would guess that 120 will beat 133 into traffic if everything goes well.

 

Thank you. I note with surprise that one class is for 600 mm gauge (= 1' 11-5/8")
and the other for 2' 0", which is 610 mm. Has that difference not had to be dealt with on the WHR? How did they deal with it South Africa?

 

The Otavi Railway that the original NG15s were designed for was in German South West Africa so was metric and equipped with German style couplings. Materially it doesn't make any difference if the back to backs are OK. K1 on the WHR is still 2 foot gauge, as are the SAR wagons. 120's wheelsets are off to Boston Lodge today for gauge checking and profiling so I'll be able to give a more definitive answer on it soon. It was re-tyred by SAR so it'll be interesting to see if they moved the tyres outwards.

 

600 mm is 1'11-5/8"

 

Oops! I will correct the typo.

 

Thanks very much black5 for posting. Really sensational scenery. No Buffet Car behind Russell - imagine that's probably stuck beyond the Big Shed construction site - but 42 Hudson to compensate. Good opportunity to see the loco still facing south (looking very nice working across the end of Llyn Cwellyn) - but I do hope that he is turned during the overhaul, as most specials are likely to be Port. to Beddgelert or Rhyd Ddu - almost all uphill in one direction!
Hope that the series of specials over the next month or so will put decent cash into the coffers - it'll be good if it's not TOO long before the new boiler ticket (or some of us may not see it). Doubtless there'll be opportunities to sponsor tubes....
Understand there is a growing faction that would like to see Russell dual-braked, like the Baldwin, to provide maximum future service flexibility - but it may be a bit sensitive...... and possibly an engineering challenge too James

 

A bit of loco news.

590 arrived back at Gelerts Farm via Minffordd today following repairs at the Vale of Rheidol.

There's now a glut of locos available on the Festiniog with Taliesin and Welsh Pony back in traffic, Prince is not far behind them although someone is having a very boring time glueing dummy rivets onto the new tank.

 

That's very good news. Good timing too - one or two opportunities, perhaps, to see Russell and "590" steaming together before the Hunslet is out of ticket at Easter.
James

 

The section of the video from 10:08 to 10:25 looks like a model! Only the driver’s head moving gives it away.

 

It weirdly does look like a photo backdrop behind the train at 10.08.