WHR/FR news

In other news, NG/G16 143 is currently on the WHR for further running-in tests. More pix at http://tinyurl.com/6etqys9

 

Ever so slightly tangentially off topic, but for your info several austerities survive with at least the Kylpor exhaust still in place. see here for info on 'Fred' & a full history of the NCB modified locos.:

http://www.martynbane.co.uk/modernsteam/ldp/austerity/portaausterity.htm

Also here for the Yorkshire Dales fleet which includes a couple of modified austerities, a modded 50550 & a couple of Hunslet 16" locos with Kylpor exhaust. Also at Embsay is Peckett 'Annie' with a Kylpor fitted:

http://www.embsayboltonabbeyrailway.org.uk/locos.html#locomotives

Austerity 'Antwerp' has recently left Grosmont for, I believe, Folkstone; this loco is also modified. There are also a couple of modified Austerities at Quainton.

There may be others that I can't place at present. Of the above mentioned locos, most are non-runners at present, although some are under overhaul. 'Wheldale' at Embsay had a working stoker for a while, but I think that this is now removed. I don't think that there are any working stoker engines now.

I well remember Austerity 'Hurricane' at Bickershaw Colliery in the 70's, a very appropriate name for an engine. 'Hurricane' would storm away from the screens up the bank, accelerating all the way with safety valves lifting at the top, hauling half as much again as the other engines; I've never seen another Austerity make steam like it - of course, it had a Kylpor fitted.

Keep an eye on the locos mentioned, I'm sure that one or more will be working again in the next year or so.

Cheers

Alan

 

Kylpor of course! Sorry for my earlier incorrect use of Lempor. I wait in hope for the restoration of the above locos, however the signs are not good in that two former GPCS Austerities (Norman and Lord Phil) have been returned to service in 2011 with GPCS removed (don't know about the Kylpor). Apologies to FR/WHR readers - we are drifting too far OT so I'll say no more about Austerities on this thread.

 

I'll say it again.....

My god but that green is the best livery yet, and I don't care weather its gwr green lincon green or camberick green

 

The FR appeared on the BBC last night, with Matt Baker riding the gravity train on 'Countryfile'.

For those that missed it, the link is here (from about 04:00) - http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b012mjv2/Countryfile_10_07_2011/ .

Cheers,

Phil.

 

That was a 'best of', but it did have added helicopter footage at the end taken when Coast visited twice last year. The Coast footage is from the latest episode and is up on the iPlayer until next Sunday.

The Michael Portillo Great Railway Journey ep on the FR is repeated on BBC2 tomorrow or Thursday (can't remember which off the top of my head)

 

Ex-Penrhyn Quarry Hunslet Hugh Napier's boiler was unloaded at Minffordd on Tuesday July 12. The rest of the loco will arrive in the next few days in a deal which will see the 107 year-old, owned by the National Trust, returned to steam by engineers at Boston Lodge Works.

Hugh Napier was named after the fourth Lord Penrhyn, Hugh Napier Douglas-Pennant, who was actively involved in the community, as a magistrate and farmer, in politics and Eisteddfods and as a patron of the Penrhyn Male voice choir until his death in 1949.

After 50 years of hard work in Penrhyn Quarry, Hugh Napier was worn out and in 1954 it was dumped on a siding until it was given to Penrhyn Castle Industrial Railway Museum in 1966.

Now F&WHR engineers have taken on the task of restoring this historic locomotive to steam, after which it will become a roving ambassador for the National Trust, visiting other locations around the UK including the F&WHR where it will be used for light duties and on special occasions.

Hugh Napier weighs in at around 7.5 tons and in power terms fits neatly between other resident Hunslets Britomart and Lilla.

 

Great news to hear that she is going to be completed at last.

That restoration was started some time ago if I recall?

Charles to follow once HN is completed then. . . . . . . . . . . .

In original condition of course!

Rich.

 

I actually believe that it has gone t Spa Valley Railway in Tonbridge Wells

 

Good to hear about Hugh Napier! I have been looking forward to seeing this loco complete, not only because Hunslets are lovely anyway but because I work in the National Trust Head Office in Fundraising and I have been watching the odd donation coming in for Hugh Napier!

 

The Boston Lodge Paint Shop team continue to be busy...

Latest output can be seen here - more to follow shortly!

 

So how much is left to do on Hugh Napier before it completed again?

and when completed will it be based on the Ffestiniog?

Cheers

 

Mainly boiler work, there may be other stuff just gotta see how it goes.

I think the idea is it will visit some other railways but make regular visits back to the FR.

 

Super Power Weekend 10-11 September 2011

Ffestiniog Railway's Hunslet sisters Blanche and Linda - both newly painted in matching green livery - double heading a full Welsh Highland service train between Porthmadog and Caernarfon.

I can't wait!

 

Mayor of Caernarfon to flag off historic steam loco on marathon trip Saturday July 23

An historic steam locomotive is returning to the Caernarfon factory where it was built 134 years ago, before undertaking the toughest journey of its life.

On Saturday July 23rd, diminutive De Winton locomotive Chaloner will travel from Dinas on the Welsh Highland Railway to Caernarfon, where it will pose for photographers outside what was the the erecting shop of De Winton and Co, where three of the original buildings still survive.

The Mayor of Caernarfon will be in attendance to flag off the little loco as she then heads south from Caernarfon bound for Porthmadog 25 miles away - by far the longest journey she has made in her life, but owner David Fisher has no qualms about her abilities. Since thorough rebuilding at the Ffestiniog Railway's Boston Lodge Works in 1987, she has been fine-tuned and is now in as good mechanical condition as when built, despite bearing the scars of a long hard life.

On arrival at Porthmadog, Chaloner will stay at the Welsh Highland Heritage Railway for two weeks before moving to the Ffestiniog Railway on Saturday August 6th.

Saturday July 23rd Timetable
1300 depart Dinas
1320 arrive Caernarfon
1345 depart Caernarfon
1400 arrive Dinas
1530 Dep Dinas
1615 arr Waunfawr
1640 dep Waunfawr
1715 Rhyd Ddu
1755 Beddgelert
1830 Pont Croesor
1900 arr Penymount for access to WHHR

Saturday August 6th
Transfer from WHHR to Ffestiniog Railway via Welsh Highland cross town link and Britannia Bridge.

 

In that case, be in Porthmadog this Saturday for the 10:15 departure to Blaenau Ffestiniog..!

:cool1:

 

Thank's Roger, I'll be there.........

 

Better make certain you bring your camera with you - it's going to be rather busy around here...

Ffestiniog Railway

Merddin Emrys rostered to haul a private slate waggon train to Dduallt, leaving Boston Lodge at 09:30

Linda & Blanche rostered for the 10:15 and 13:35 service trains to Blaenau Ffestiniog

Earl of Merioneth rostered for the 11:40 and 16:00 service trains to Blaeanu Ffestiniog

Gravity slate train from Dduallt to Porthmadog at 11:20

Linda is also rostered for a private train to Blaenau Ffestiniog - departing Port at 19:15

Welsh Highland Railway

Green Garratt No.143 is rostered for the 09:30 Porthmadog-Caernarfon, 12:30 Caernarfon-Pont Croesor and 15:05 Pont Croesor-Caernarfon

Blue Garratt No.87 is rostered for the 10:00 Caernarfon-Pont Croesor, 12:35 Pont-Croesor-Caernarfon and 15:00 Caernarfon-Porthmadog

De Winton Chaloner is undertaking a Caernarfon-Porthmadog run (timing as shown earlier in thread) - shadowed by Upnor Castle

...and it's not even a Special Event !!!

 

Thanks again for the detailed info Roger.

I'm so glad that Linda will be in F.R. green again after all this time, she is my favourite Hunslet.

Here is what may be a little known fact.........Allan Garraway once pulled "TWELVE" bogie coaches up to Dduallt with Linda in the early seventies. The front two as I remember where the Toastrack Hudsons. The end of the "Obs" was sitting just under the footbridge at Tan Y Bwlch while they took on water.