FR & WHR & WHHR News

What is the latest on K1?

 

One of a number of TV and radio items from today:
http://www.itv.com/news/wales/story/2013-06-03/welsh-engine-set-to-go-on-display-in-ireland/

The BBC's take:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-north-west-wales-22759392

 

http://www.festrail.co.uk/content/publish/news/Welsh_Pony_to_steam_again.shtml

 

Good news, but shame it's not the other 2017 birthday loco!

 

According to the WHRS K1 web page it should be back in steam soon, following various repairs.

 

I look forward to seeing this lot in steam, however personally I would still like to see Mountaineer in steam for her 100 year anniversary in 2016.

 

Send us £100K and we'll see what we can do.

 

Hi Andrew, I didn't win the lottery tonight, but if I do Paul's email will be hot if that happens.

 

Hi Andrew, I don't want to step on anyone's toes so to speak, but we do get a number of people on this and other lists, that like me, would contribute to a fund for Mountaineer say a £5.00 per month? I was just wondering who if anyone in the FR family may be taking this task on?

I understand that you guys are still working on the project details, but if and when this happens, could you let me know thanks.

Colin Rainsbury

 

I have to confess I find it hard to get excited about another operational steam loco which will no doubt be sidelined. I don't know how much is being invested in Welsh Pony but any amount would strike me as a waste when Linda and Blanche have spent more than a year sat in the sheds at BL doing precisely nothing.

 

Maybe you should have come up here to ride behind them. They've been out on a number of occasions, including a couple of runs double heading to Caernarfon and back. They'll get a lot more use when they're converted to burn coal.

Video from last month:

 

How many times have they been used on normal service trains? I've seen them out on charters or driver experience but not actually work on a normal timetabled FR train.

 

They have seen limited use because of the cost of oil/

 

Err, yes, I know that.

 

Your point being?

 

All I can say is that the use of Palmerston on the CSS weekend last year was wonderful and seemed to be appreciated almost as much by the loco crew as the participants. Had an absolute ball!

Foxy

 

Can't you just answer the question?

 

The 1015 and 1335 departures from Port are up to 12 cars headed by a double engine. The 1140 and 1600 are usually more lightly loaded with 7 or 8 cars and are within the capabilities of one of the medium-sized locos Lyd, Taliesin, Linda and Blanche. Lyd and Tal are the front line medium locos as they are coal fired and cost less than a third as much to run as the oil-fired Hunslets. On busier days a double engine is used for the 1140 and 1600 which are extended to 12 cars and beyond the capabilities of the smaller locos.
Today, for example, all service trains are being handled by Earl of Merioneth and Merddin Emrys and no medium-sized locos are in steam.

Until the Hunslets are converted to coal firing - which is in the pipeline - they will remain lightly-used, coming out for special occasions, rail tours, private charters, guest driver turns etc, as are the smaller Hunslets and Englands.

Linda and Blanche do seem to have found their niche as Queens of the Hill, double heading trains on the WHR.

 

Thanks for your contribution Ralph. However as Andrew hasn't quite answered the question perhaps it's not worth telling people on this forum to travel to North Wales in the hope of riding behind Linda and/or Blanche when they're not used very often unless you're willing to pay for them on your own private train.