FR & WHR & WHHR News

Isaac with Gelert at rear passing Gelerts Farm Works​

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Actually they haven't been 'mainstays of the fleet' for a good number of years, and when they were the FR didn't have much else. You have to remember, too, that FR trains are much longer now than they used to be.

 

Linda has now been steamed on coal. No date yet set for return to service.

 

Thanks for the update Andrew.

Really interested to hear that news and more so looking forward to seeing her out and about on the black lumpy bits!! Superb.

I assume there will be some load testing etc to see how she performs in comparison to oil fired, it will be interesting to see how she goes.

More great work, as ever.

Best regards,

Rich.

 

One of the advantages of having the long tunnel on a 1 in 40 gradient at Nantmor is we can test spark arrestor efficiency without having to wait for it to get dark.

 

its also difficult to set fire to rock!!!! unless its black carboniferous rock

 

A spark arrestor test took place on Saturday night. Sadly it seems more work is required. The loco is quite capable of pulling the same load as on oil the difficult bit is making it do it without burning the forest down.

Tim

 

Linda has been turned to face Blaenau again. The loco - now coal fired - was turned on a wagon turntable at Boston Lodge this afternoon after securing its pony truck clear of the track by the use of a large chain.

 

At Harbour today, saw both Ffestiniog and WHR services departing, more or less fully loaded. Waiting at Beddgelert with "Vale of Ffestiniog," saw two more services pass, also full. On the way back to Boston Lodge with VoF, we passed "Gertrude" and a WHHR service inbound from Pen - y - Mount, also fully loaded. Good to see.

 

New FR platform road now extends beyond the signal box.

 

And looking the other way...

 

Looking good!
A quick tech question Andrew, will the points/signals be mechanical or electric operation?

 

Main line and loop points will be electric, siding points manual. Signals electrically-operated semaphores and discs.

 

Ta muchly

 

Don't they just look the business? Having spent Monday and Tuesday there, I can readily testify what a class job this is. I may also have had the accidental honour of driving the first steam engine over both the new bits, when my mate Colin and I, under supervision, performed a shunt to remove two, now empty, bolster wagons, with "Hugh Napier." Unfortunately I was too busy to take a photo.(story of my life)

 

Does anyone know any details for the WHR "Great and Small" weekend as its only a month away and there seems to be no details anywhere

 

Below taken from Barrie Hughes' www.isengard.co.uk, Festrail is quite deficient in details...
This is an unofficial comment (before Andrew T says anything about an inaccuracies in this)

Great and Small Gala 6-8/9/13
This year's SuperPower event which occurs over the weekend of the WHRS AGM (Saturday 7/9/13) features many new photo opportunities. It is hoped K1 will be in steam thereby allowing 4 Garratts available for traffic for the first time. The longest freight train will be run with the six new B wagons along with the existing wagon fleet and the recently refurbished ex-SAR brakevan. Smaller engines that have been used in the past on the WHR will appear on additional workings. Several F&WHR themed model railway layouts will appear including Moel Hebog, featuring the very latest features of Beddgelert station. There will be a 16mm live steam model with F&WHR locos. A model of Dinas in NWNGR days will be placed at the rear of the extended loco shed which will be open for visits. It will model the area between the two railway bridges, showing the original Loco Shed and Carriage Shed in 1:38 scale. There will also be a cafe and bar at Dinas station.



This is an unofficial comment (before Andrew T says anything about any inaccuracies in this)

 

http://www.festrail.co.uk/content/p...and_Great_and_Small_-_September_6th-8th.shtml

Official comment...

 

I can't seem to find the booking form for the tickets though

 

http://www.festrail.co.uk/content/p...and_Great_and_Small_-_September_6th-8th.shtml
Front page of the website. Talk of K1 appearing is speculation.