FR & WHR & WHHR News

That's a first! Normally you look at models and from time to time are moved to say "that looks realistic, only [X] gives away that it is a model." And now we have "That looks like a model, only [X] gives away it is real!"

But I see what you mean; that sequence really does look like a model passing in front of a painted backdrop.

Tom

 

There are a few complications with timings for testing and fitness to run examinations etc… to get it all complete before boiler certificates expire.

The most likely time to see them both in steam together will be Saturday 19th April. I make no promises or say this is a certainty, just that this is a possibility.

 

Tickets are still available for the runs to Beggelert with Russell and the heritage train on Saturday 5th and Saturday 12th April. The afternoon trains are your best chance of getting a ticket.

https://www.eventbookings.com/b/event/russell-hauled-vintage-train-to-beddgelert

 

In which case why not ask your boiler inspector for an extension? It’s allowable in law and , in my experience, inspectors are usually amenable to such things You can only do it the once in any given ‘ticket’ though. A phone call will usually answer the question.

 

Russell has already had an extension due to not being used during covid.

 

I’m not on about an extension to the 10 years but an extension to the (usually) 14 month certificate allowable under clause 9(7) of the Pressure Systems Safety Regulations 2000.

 

Once Russel bows out, will the overhaul begin straight away? Will it be done in house or put out to contract?

Sent from my SM-A125F using Tapatalk

 

Russel looking fantastic on home turf

 

A couple of shots of Russell yesterday:





The second train seemed to be about an hour late, I presume because of a couple of confliciting trains that did not seem to be in the timetable. One of these, hauled by a Garratt, seemed to have caused a massive lineside fire near Rhyd Ddu, which was attended by a large number of fire engines that pretty much filled the station car park when I passed by later.

https://richardstevens.smugmug.com/

 

There were two charters running in support of the UK Railtours Snowdonian

 

Likely to be a short delay before anything visible happens. As much as possible will be done in house.

 

UK Railtours (who chartered the two extra services over the line) posted that around 300,000 sq yds of Beddgelert forest was set alight.

 

Not good. Just seen on Fb that Sunday's Gelert Explorer ran diesel-hauled--probably the correct decision in the circumstances.

Sent from my SM-A125F using Tapatalk

 

I'm booked on the 1050 trip with Russell on Saturday and looking forward to it. Given the recent fires and ongoing dry weather does anyone know if is this still intended to run as advertised please? A diesel banker or pilot would not personally be a problem for me.

 

All trains still running as advertised. Crews have been out spraying the lineside with water on the WHR especially in the grassy/gorse areas this week and will be doing on Saturday morning too. Merddin and the diesel went out today as 130 was having it's ashpan repaired.

I'm not sure there is an airbraked diesel that is fast enough to assist Russell anyway so I expect it would run solo.

 

Is that a viable way of mitigating the fire risk? I'm wondering just how much water you'd have to spray to make a difference? Would be interesting to know the logistics of how you do it.

Tom

 

There is a large bogie water tanker and spraying wagon I have seen out and about including Saturday. That fire was a bit concerning. Storms earlier on in the year felled thousands of trees in the forest between Beddgelert and Rhyd ddu and everywhere is tinder dry, even places normally pretty wet under foot up on the hills are crunching. Today’s train from Caernarfon was diesel only (the other an unusual mix as described above).

 

I am booked on the same train. I never thought I would have to do a rain dance in Wales.

Sent from my SM-A356B using Tapatalk

 

Some years ago, I visited a steam railway in NZ, with a climate somewhat hotter and drier than we are used to.

Their fire mitigation was to follow each train through section with what they called a “bush jigger”, a kind of road - rail conversion of an old truck / ute, capable of going at line speed. The bush jigger would follow the train, in section, a few hundred yards behind but in line of sight, such that it could stop if required. (Presumably they allowed for it in their signalling regulations). If the steam loco set any fires, the jigger and its occupants would be on hand to beat out the flames much more quickly than is the norm in this country, where typically if one loco has set a fire, it is the one returning the other way that discovers it, and a considerable time may have passed for the fire to become established.

It seemed to work quite efficiently, at least in terms of passing the traffic on a busy gala day without undue delay, and presumably they found it an effective mitigation of the fire risk.

Tom

 

It seems to be a very common way of controlling fire risk on steam railways overseas. I've seen it in use in Colorado and Australia. Here an RRV (road/rail vehicle) is ready to follow oil burning J541 as it sets off from Castlemaine on the Victorian Goldfields Railway in 2009. Not sure who carries the token in this instance.

Peter