WHR/FR news

Thank you!

 

NG/G16 number 143 was rolled out this morning and a small wood fire lit in the firebox to dry out the brick arch before running-in trials towards the end of next week.

 

Doesn't that look good!!

Ian

 

I think its the best livery yet.

 

What, a traction engine? But seriously it does look rather good

 

143 visits Harbour Station for the first time since 2009 on its first running-in turn.

 

is this by chance the same green that prince and others where painted in the earlt days of the FR?

 

No... The grapevine has it that this is Craftsman Paint's GWR Green - apparently the same shade as used on 'City of Truro'.

 

As usual, a credit to all those who have worked on her.

 

Looks stunning, just perfect

 

NG/G16 №143 has been rostered to enter service next week - see the F&WHR Loco Roster for details.

Although not shown specifically as such, №143's first duty will be to pilot the 14:15 departure from Porthmadog on Monday - so this train will be double-headed by NG/G16s №143 and №138...

 

NG/G16 №143 was withdrawn from traffic in January 2010 - so she's been out of service for 18 months...

 

An historic moment this evening, and one that bodes well for the future - the first train from the WHHR to operate on the completed WHR headed to Nantmor for braking trials, double headed by Gertrude and Gelert.

Chris

 

First WHHR test train runs on completed Welsh Highland Railway

Porthmadog, Saturday June 25, 2011: The first Welsh Highland Heritage Railway train has run on the challenging gradients of the Welsh Highland Railway. The test train, double headed by WHHR locos Gelert and Gertrude, was run in conjunction with Ffestiniog & Welsh Highland engineers to test braking systems. The WHHR operates air-braked stock, while F&WHR trains are exclusively vacuum-braked.

The train left WHHR metals at around 1800 and headed for the foot of Nantmor Bank - the start of the almost continuous 1 in 40 six mile climb to the summit of the line at Rhyd Ddu which makes the WHR the toughest railway in the UK.

After the satisfactory completion of brake tests from speeds of up to 20mph to measure stopping distances on the level and on Nantmor Bank, Gelert proceeded through the Aberglaslyn Pass and tunnels to Beddgelert to take water, before returning to Hafod y Llyn to rejoin Gertrude and the train for the run back to Porthmadog, arriving back at around 2230.

This is the first time a WHHR train has travelled beyond the site of Traeth Mawr Loop - the end of the section of the railway laid by WHHR volunteers as their contribution to the rebuilding of the whole 25 miles of the Welsh Highland. The location is now marked by one of the 'Tin Tunnel' accommodation bridges built for farm access.

"This is an historic moment for both railways," says WHHR Chairman Martyn Owen. "At times it seemed that it would never happen, but the wait has definitely been worthwhile."

Further tests are planned over the coming months and the next movement from Ffestiniog & Welsh Highland to WHHR metals is likely to be the visit of historic de Winton vertical boiler locomotive Chaloner on its way from Caernarfon to Porthmadog in July.

"We're very pleased to be working with our colleagues at the WHHR," adds F&WHR General Manager Paul Lewin. "The new spirit of cooperation can only bring benefits to both our organisations and to tourism in the area."

/ends/

For further information contact:
F&WHR - Andrew Thomas 01766 516072 andrew.thomas@festrail.co.uk
WHHR - Martyn Owen 01766 513402 martyn.59@btinternet.com

Pix will be done tomorrow morning. Too wet and knackered to do them this evening when I got back to Port at 2230.

 

More good news. I do hope that when WHHR 'heritage trains' do eventually run on RhE metals they will be using either Russell or the regurgitated Baldwin 590. Gelert, Gertrude and the like have no 'heritage' vis a vis the WHR.

 

Gelert sounds great going up the hill and Gertrude is cute.

Pix up on www.facebook.com/festrail

 

Great news and all the best for the rest of the trials.

Regards

Duncan

 

Great to See the two companies seeing eye to eye again,
Taliesin