News from the Welsh Highland Railway (Porthmadog)

** RUSSELL LATEST - A seven day riveting session has seen Russell’s rear buffer beam attached to the frames, recreating a look not seen since around 1909.

The new rear buffer beam is shaped the same as the originals were in 1906 – bits were hacked out of both front and rear buffer beams at an early stage of Russell’s history. It also features single link chains, something that has been absent from the loco since around 1925. One other bizarre discovery this week was that some of the stretchers which go across between the frame sides are slightly angled, rather than being at 90 degrees to the frame sides – this is something that can only have been done by Hunslet when Russell was first built.

The WHR Ltd Loco Department have also riveted a number of other components on the frames, including drag boxes (bits connected with the couplings) firebox stretcher (which goes across between the frame sides) and guard irons (which help knock debris off the track). Some smart riveting ensured that the whole job was completed a day earlier than anticipated.

Pictures (including your step by step guide to riveting!) are online at:
http://www.russell2009.fr/respics.html
The full list of Russell jobs, with details of what has been done so far:
http://www.russell2009.fr/pdf/restore1.pdf -

** ALICE VISIT – Quarry Hunslet Alice turned quite a few heads over the Bank Holiday Weekend for the Narrow Gauge and Industrial Gala, giving footplate rides and hauling trains on the main line. Visitor numbers for the gala were good, and the shop broke its takings record for one day on the Saturday, mainly thanks to the new selection of 00 gauge models now on sale alongside the books. Passenger figures for the start of the year have been good – at the end of April they were slightly up on last year, despite the traffic problems at our end of Porthmadog.

** PLATFORM GETS LONGER – A further extension to the platform at Gelerts Farm Halt has now been completed, though it still needs signing off before it can come into use. The platform now runs the length of the Big Shed, and includes a ramp down into the main yard as an alternative access to the works.

The civil engineering gang have also been working in the South Yard (the area behind the Big Shed), moving some of the wagon displays and reducing the area of jungle and thicket. Work has also continued on developing the 7.25 inch gauge miniature railway in that area; a new bridge is being built over the stream that runs past the works, with plans for a trestle viaduct in preparation.

** AND FINALLY – the latest arrival in the shop is products made from Sheep Poo Paper. This is paper allegedly made from sheep droppings – the claim is that sheep only digest 50% of the grass they eat. Lyn Seale (Shop Manager) is selling bookmarks, greetings cards and car air fresheners.