RUSSELL returns to WHHR

OK the title may well be a bit premature, but the day is drawing close



Details of how you will be able to travel on the first public RUSSELL hauled train since overhaul will be released in the new year.

RUSSELL will return 3rd/4th/5th May...

 

But how long until we can travel behind Russell on the WHR(C), I wonder..

 

Never, said the Christmas Pedant, since the WHR(C) and (P) titles are no longer used. However a number of WHHR special trains have run onto the WHR main line in recent years and there will no doubt be a strong desire from all parties to see some more once Russell is ready.

 

We need to get RUSSELL back on site, tested, run in and relaunched before we can even think about excursions elsewhere, but as has been mentioned before there is a strong desire from all involved to see RUSSELL run on the original WHR so lets not rule it out, but probably not in the next 12 months...

 

"probably not in the next 12 months"

Why not?

 

Marketing reasons, I would guess.

 

I am marketing.

 

I thought you were the spokesman ?

 

For the WHHR?

 

No. For the F&WHR.
We have run a number of WHHR specials on the WHR with Gertrude and Gelert and see no problem with Russell doing the same once it has been passed for use by our CME.

 

Sounds like something from Monty Pythons.

 

Now there's a thought

 

The TLC of Wales has more recently been the home of wonky pylons rather than monty python...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-north-west-wales-24421232

 

Something to think of when they start electrifying the WHR.

 

Everyone will be delighted to hear that! I haven't asked them but WHHR might well, however, have good reasons for wanting to do this later rather than sooner. Their 2014 leaflet includes a Welcome Home Russell weekend on 3/4/5 May so I would guess it is unlikely to be ready for service much before then. I wouldn't blame them if they wanted to use Russell's return to promote their own line as much as possible in 2014 before venturing further.

 

Can I ask anybody at the WHHR if the work being done at Keef's includes the fitting of a spark arrestor? Or is that a job for when the loco gets back to Wales?

 

If her half sister "85" is anything to go by, a spark arrestor is "de rigeur". As these tend to arrest draught as well as sparks if they are effective, then Lempor exhaust arrangements are advisable.

PH

 

I am told that RUSSELL will be spark arrester fitted at Keef's, returning completely finished and ready to use.

Interestingly the spark arrester fitted to GELERT made very little difference to the way she steamed, it was still very hard to stop her blowing off!!!

 

How did she steam on her trips to Beddgelert?

 

I did not fire the beddgelert trip so can not comment first hand, but I believe she was easy to handle and required very little 'extra' fire to get her up the hill.

I did the H-Y-L AGM train which was her first trip with the spark arrester fitted and I would suggest it was very difficult to judge a difference from her pre arrester, I think she was slower to raise steam, but once on the move she was as free steaming as ever, the modifications to the damper made her slightly easier to control. I was amazed at how little fire was needed to keep the pressure up with the longer sustained running, had I not spoken to the crew who did the brake test train I think it would have been very easy to have over done it.

I look forward to firing and driving RUSSELL both on the WHHR and the WHR and learning his habits and temperament. We had been spoilt with GELERT, I think GERTRUDE came as a bit of a surprise to many as she is very different to handle. RUSSELL promises the same learning experience...