FR & WHR & WHHR News

Which would explain why I missed it (being persona non grata at the time....)
Interesting to see how much the heritage train liveries have changed since then.
If it happens, that'll be a must-do for me (and of course next year has - hopefully - the long-awaited Baldwin run to look forward to as well). Gelert's Farm is definitely punching well above its weight in interesting and varied NG locos.....

Next project after Russell - Peckett Karen (joking, -I think - but she's a powerful loco and would, I believe, cope well with the "main line") James

 

For a small organisation we have achieved so much over the years. The locos and heritage train are a real credit to everyone who has been involved both past and present.

Gelert will follow Russell through the works as boiler cert will likely expire before Russell is back in traffic.

 

Is it too early to get any idea of what locos might be running over the August bank holiday weekend? We are staying in the area and will have time for a trip, but what option we choose could be influenced by likely motive power...

 

Probably 2 out of 3 double engines on the FR with Linda on the Quarryman. An England engine on the Boston Lodge shuttle. Quarry Hunslet on footplate rides.

If you're after 134 it seems to do Mondays and Fri days at the moment on the Gelert Explorer. It only works this service currently. Otherwise it's an NGG16s. Lyd works Tuesdays and Thursdays out of Caernarfon too.

Looks like there are also Footplate rides at Caernarfon as well as Porthmadog that weekend.

 

Thank you, this is super helpful! I would love to catch up with 134, but sounds like we'll miss it as we'll arrive late Friday and will need to leave earlier than the gelert explorer returns on Monday. Fingers crossed it unusually runs on Sunday too!

Are the Caernarfon footplate rides a pre book thing or pay on the day?

 

134 could possibly be running the Sunday. I'll be able tell you closer to the date. At the moment Sunday seems to be used to swop Boston Lodge based Garratt over though.

There's no booking or charge for footplate rides. Just queue up and there is donation bucket which usually goes into the fund for the loco doing the rides.

 

Thank you, that would be hugely appreciated! Good to know about the footplate rides, we'll make sure we arrive with plenty of time to spare.

 

Details of WHRS trains over the AGM weekend are on https://www.facebook.com/events/1300441205205287

Members trains.
13th September
134 set formed of 6 carriages and 4 wagons.
11:10. 134 Caernarfon - Rhyd Ddu - Dinas. Swap over to NG16 & K1 Dinas - Caernarfon.
13:05. NG16 & K1 Caernarfon - Dinas. Swap over to 134 Dinas - Rhyd Ddu - Caernarfon.

14th September
13:55. Lyd Caernarfon - Porthmadog (can swap over to the Gelert Explorer at Rhyd Dhu to travel back to Caernarfon).

Public trains.
13th September
Harbourmaster - NG16 & K1

14th September
Gelert Explorer - 134

 

Sadly it looks like footplate rides at Caernarfon are cancelled due to crew shortage. They are still on at Porthmadog. 134 is out on Friday but it's Garratts 87 and 130 all weekend.

 

Ah that's a shame, I'll just have to plan another North Wales trip to catch up with 134. Thanks for making the effort to provide the updates!

 

Two attempts to catch up with 134 on Fridays but without success! But here's a collection of captured moments of 130 in action on the Gelert Explorer on a couple of Fridays in August together with services on Saturday 23rd, inc 87, Merddyn Emrys on The Woodland Wanderer and the diesels (Upnor Castle, Vale of Ffestiniog).

 

Being a bit of a fan of Karen, I have heard all sorts of rumours over the years about why she is stuck in the museum. The last one was that she needs a new Boiler. Can anyone on here say what is happening to her? I would love to see her returned to steam if that is possible over the next few years. PM me if the reasons are just too sensitive to be published on here, thank you

 

Hello Lynbarn - I cannot give any official answer, not being (nowadays) involved at the Farm - so the follo9wing is a personal view only - but (though agreeing with you emotionally) - realistically, there's already a great deal to do in the loco dept. over the next few years by a very small staff - Russell to get back into steam, the Baldwin to be eased into traffic, Gelert's boiler relatively soon to be out of ticket. Not to speak of Glaslyn, Emma and (now) Kinnerley to keep in fettle - and Emma's stablemate Kathy to complete.....

As far as operations are concerned, I guess that Russell will always be the flagship, and subject to most effort - and hopefully '590' will gain a similar following (many of us are still holding our tickets from 2023, which will entitle us to a Baldwin-hauled trip up the main line at some stage). Gelert is an ideal loco for the WHR Ltd.'s own line (and also my personal favourite), being classically-styled, easy to drive and fire, economical on coal, with a nice roomy cab for staff training and footplate rides/steam experiences.

So it's hard to see how the Peckett could be justified, really, unless (and it's a very big "unless") the ongoing thaw between WHR Ltd. and FR ultimately extends to regular Gelert's Farm trains on the main line, for which Karen's power would be very useful indeed. Meanwhile, as the centre-piece of the museum, it is under cover and doing a useful job - and another display loco would need to be provided if it left the building. But - never say never - in my experience Pecketts are built like bridges (including the boilers), so a repair could still at some stage be done (bearing in mind the above facts). Karen was the first WHR Ltd. loco I saw in steam (I guess that might have been in about 1986) and I do have a massive soft spot for her......

(From a heritage POV, given endless funds and endless volunteers [neither being the case...], probably the choice for a possible large new future effort might be Moel Tryfan, of which enough remains for that to be a restoration rather than a replica - and that would complete the triumvirate of ex-WHR locos [well, stretching a point a bit with "590"!]} James

 

Thanks, James, for that. I guess that the current operation at the farm does not require Karen to be restored, which is a pity, but understandable.

My personal favourite on the WHR has to be Beddgelert, if I am honest about it, this is mainly down to my research I have done on the proposed L&BR Hunslets, the more I looked, the more it appears that Beddgelert was going to be an influence on them, if they had of been built. So, if for no other reason, I would love to see a replica of her.

I know I am not the only one who would like to see it happen, but some of those contacts I have think that she would be too big for the farm or on the other hand, they don't think she could find any work on the new WHHR either, as not being up to what would be required.

Sadly, before he died, I was in contact with Shaun McMahon, and we discussed the possibility of setting up a project to make it happen, but build her with the same standards that the L&BR used for building LYN (some see that as controversial to say the least).

Due to other things happening, this has to go on hold for now, but I would like to return to this one day.

Regards

Colin

 

When it was withdrawn from traffic (I think in 1993), it was said to need a new firebox, I've not heard that it needs a new boiler, but the main issue is that it just doesn't fit with current needs.

 

I think I read somewhere that a small consortium owns her

 

According to the last annual report on record at Companies House (up to 31/12/23, the accounts for 2024 are due to be submitted by 309/25), "Karen is owned by a consortium of members and the company, and is currently an important exhibit in the museum. Karen was the first steam locomotive operated by the company in 1983." So the WHRL company has some share in its ownership, but I believe that's a minority share. As I said previously, I think it last ran in 1993, which would be about right for a 10-year boiler certificate expiring after first use in 1983.

As at 31/12/23, the company held a 'restricted fund' of £4,477 for the locomotive, unchanged from 1/1/23. I doubt this would go far towards getting the locomotive operational again and, to be honest, as James has said, there are far higher priorities in terms of locomotives, with Russell already out of traffic, the Baldwin not yet in traffic (though well over 2 years through its 10 year boiler ticket) and I believe Gelert's boiler ticket expires in 2017.

As regards Karen, I believe it has a copper firebox and, as I say, when it was withdrawn from service over 30 years ago, it was deemed that it needed a new firebox - at that time it was presumed that a new steel box would be the best option. Nowadays it may be considered that a repair of the copper is possible, but I very much doubt that anybody is even looking at the matter. From recollection of when it was in use, it also needed a LOT of work on the running gear - I think everything was a bit sloppy.

 

It sounds like she will need a heavy overhaul, and things being tight, I don't suppose anyone would be willing to throw the money at her right now

 

Has "590" been out this season yet- when we visited earlier in the season one of the volunteers said it was still recieving a bit of fettling.