Quarry Hunslets Visit Porthmadog

Welsh Highland Railway (Porthmadog)

Spring Newsletter 2008

** THREE VISITING QUARRY HUNSLETS – the “Hunslet: Generations” Gala is now less than a fortnight away. It takes place at the WHR(P) over the Bank Holiday Weekend at the start of May (3rd, 4th and 5th), and features an intensive passenger and freight service hauled by three visiting Quarry Hunslet locos:
- Alice (780 of 1902)
- Irish Mail (823 of 1903)
- Jack Lane (3904 of 2005)

The event is the first time that Alice and Jack Lane have operated together - both are cabless Quarry Hunslets built over a century apart. The gala is in support of our project to restore the original Welsh Highland locomotive Russell, which was built by Hunslet in 1906. There’ll be a rare chance to see inside the restoration shed, and view progress for yourself.

A full programme of the weekend’s events, including triple headed train, is here: http://www.whr.co.uk/index.php?pid=37

** PORTHMADOG BANK HOLIDAY WEEKEND - Two other events are taking place in Porthmadog over the Bank Holiday Weekend at the start of May.

The Narrow Gauge and Industrial model railway show is in the Glaslyn Leisure Centre in Porthmadog, opposite the WHR(P) station. It features narrow gauge layouts in eight different scales, and a number of standard gauge layouts.

The Ffestiniog Railway has a visit from Mills Class Quarry Hunslet Jerry M. Resident Quarry Hunslet Britomart will also be in action over the weekend. Extra passenger and freight trains are being added to the timetable as well as vintage carriages and locomotives in service. There’ll be chance to see the progress on the replica Lynton & Barnstaple loco Lyd and Garratt locomotive 87 on display at Boston Lodge works.

** RUSSELL: LATEST NEWS – An anonymous supporter has set the WHR(P) an challenge: raise £9,500 by 18th June, and he’ll donate the other half of the money needed to finish restoring the original Welsh Highland steam engine, Russell. The WHR(P) is planning an extra fundraising push over the coming weeks to meet the target, including a stand at the gala over the May Bank Holiday weekend.

You can find out more about how to donate to the appeal by visiting the Russell Restoration website - http://www.russell2009.fr – it includes details of the prize draw to win a replica of the nameplate carried by Russell in industrial service.

Russell’s boiler has now returned to Porthmadog; the wheels are due to return in the next few weeks. A small crack was found in one of the driving axles during the winter, and the Locomotive Department decided that it should be replaced.

A large kit of freshly overhauled parts has now built up in a carefully locked storeroom in the machine shops at the WHR(P) works, from the dart to seal the smokebox door through to the spring gear. Some items like the cylinders and the brake shaft have already been fitted to the frames, but the whole procedure will shortly begin in earnest when Russell’s frames are taken outside and shotblasted, then painted. Once this is done, work can move towards reuniting wheels, axleboxes and spring gear with the frames.