W&LLR Resitas

That's a great shame. Are they not being used because No 85 isn't running?
Surely as unique vehicles they could make at least a gala appearance?
Who paid for the restoration?

 

I can't help wondering whether perhaps No. 19 just happened to be a particularly bad example, or came from a bad batch? That can happen sometimes, you know - think of the difference between the UK-built class 56s, and the Romanian built batch.

Oh, wait...!

 

If some one wanted to buy a big 2ft 6ins gauge loco why not look at Java while you can?

 

Drifting the thread a bit, I wonder if the Luttermoller 0-10-0s at Preston Services will ever find a buyer.

 

What kind of state are the engines out there like?

 

Just to answer some questions. Scrapping Resita no 19 has never been considered an option here at Llanfair. If nothing else we have spent too much money on it! No 18 came from the abortive Ystwyth Valley Railway project near Aberystwyth and subsequentially had already contributed parts to replace those broken on no 19, such as motionwork wrecked when the axle broke at the Gala in 2008. No 18's tanks and cab were in very poor condition and the decision was taken to scrap them. The boiler was sold to a specialist company to aid research into improving water treatment for loco boilers, so serving a useful purpose. The bottom end has been retained at Llanfair as a potential future spares donor for no 19 which is stored in Tanllan shed with no decision at present on its future.
Regards
Andrew Charman (with W&LLR press officer hat on!).

 

Andrew, can you shed any light on the SL coaches?

 

I was out in Java in August and whilst some appear to be in better condition than others, "tired" would probably be the most charitable description for most of the locos still working.

There are also a large number of oou/dumped locos at several mills varying from those which are effectively stored complete as withdrawn to others which are missing everything that is easily removed.

There are certainly some useful sized O&K 0-8-0's that would complement the international collection at the W&L but even assuming you could get them out of the country, they would need a lot of work.

 

They are currently in store in our Welshpool carriage shed. Doesn't help of course not currently having a Sierra Leone locomotive to run with them!

 

Does that matter? The Earl and Countess run with non-WLLR coaches most of the time!

 

Yes, it's not quite that simple. The SLRs don't have balconies which are a very popular part of our train sets and there seating is not exactly the most efficient for regular use, especially the first-class one with its 16 white leather armchairs! Speaking personally I agree that we could make more of them on special occasions, and perhaps that may happen in the future.

 

Incidentally, there were two other SLR coaches imported from Sierra Leone: one was broken up and the other has made its way to the South Tynedale as a buffet coach. https://www.south-tynedale-railway.org.uk/locomotives/

With my Sierra Leone NRM hat on, I do hope the coaches get to see more use in the future. The team very kindly let us have one of our stands at the recent gala, where we gained some new members from the WLLR ranks.

 

Speaking personally, me too. With my Narrow Gauge World magazine hat on I'm a big supporter of the Sierra Leone National Railway Museum and help with publicity where I can.

 

When the regime change has happened I presume?

 

First test run (before the gala at which it first appeared) I think got as far as Mill Curves before the brasses ran hot, but after we had spent the night take the motion apart to scrape them it ran fine for the rest of its' visit. Lovely little engine to trundle up the valley on with a couple of wagons in tow.

 

I'd forgotten that it had some bearing problems. Just about every visiting locomotive must have run hot or not produced enough steam or both! It does put the problems with the Resita in a bit more perspective I suppose and shows what a demanding route this is.

Paul H.

 

I think it's the same on any line where the locos have to work hard when a loco comes to visit from a short demonstration style line. We have had locos in for galas from shorter, easier lines and they often develop some deficiency when asked to perform the work required of them at Foxfield.

 

My experience of the Resita was only brief, I travelled from Llanfair to Castle Caerenion behind it. The loco jostled the train the whole time, it made little exhaust noise and when coasting made a loud clattering noise presumably from the valves. I had been told earlier in the day 'don't bother travelling behind it' and it was good advice, a most unpleasant travelling experience.