Steel Steam and Stars 4 - March 6, 7, 8, 13, 14 and 15 2015

Unless it's had a Llan modification i hope its still got the same number of wheels as a Brit!

Good luck to all with the event!

 

Lovely weather here in the Dee valley. The timetable has already slipped a bit due to the 9F getting a bit stuck at Glyn on the way up.

There was quite a delay buying tickets at Llan this morning so if you're arriving for a specific train, give yourself plenty of time. Also, there are no timetables available so if you want to know the train times you have to buy the big A4 book or just guess what the times might be!

 

So buy a ticket to travel on the trains but we won't tell you when they leave unless you buy the glossy brochure with various errors in it-no thanks-plenty of other railways to visit over the next two weekends.

 

Or you could just look on line. All the times are shown on the web!

 

Not very handy if you want to travel all day though. The Internet isn't plentiful in the Dee Valley!

At the moment a timetable wouldn't be a lot of use anyway as everything's about 55 late. It's still enjoyable though and far better than being in work!

 

What's caused all the issues?

 

The 9F - as posted at 482 ?

 

Not sure exactly. I've overheard that they were having trouble with Deeside box early on, then the 9F got stuck at front dead centre at Glyn for about 15mins, the freight took longer to shunt at Carrog than they'd planned and everything has just been delayed slightly. Fair play to the staff though, they've changed crossing points and omitted some of the stranger moves (like 9f Carrog to Glyn on the rear of 3205, uncouple and then run light to Carrog to join the train it crossed at Glyn for the run to Corwen?!)

 

Still no timetable, I ordered one online in plenty of time, the travel tickets arrived over a week ago now.....

I've phoned and left a message on the number on the brochure so...

I'm hoping it will arrive before NEXT weekend now?

 

Or you could buy the big A4 book and then guess what the times might be!

 

A lot of people got stranded by the last train being cancelled, which wasn't announced. I made 2 trips to the camp site at Carrog with some stragglers. One more thing. Are they burning different coal this weekend? I've made the journey through the tunnel a few hundred times and I've never coughed like I did today. I noticed quite a few others doing it as well.

 

Still in welsh. Just all the locos have come with a mix in the tenders.

 

Because its the 3 subs that are split off from the first train. They are locked out of use due to corwen platform length, when they get to carrog to split off the set they are off Carrog platforms

 

Beautiful weather today. I got some great shots. I knew the black 5 wouldn't get much further when it left Carrot chuffing twice per revolution. I take it that's game over for 45231.

 

I tried to get them to remove it from the train at Glyndyfrdwy as it was obviously very sick. Others decided that it would make it back to Llangollen & we set off. We had just got into the single line section from Deeside loop when the loco became a total failure, and due to a shortage of water they had to throw the fire out. We had the 9F on the back of the train & used this to pull the coaches back into the loop . The 9F then ran round ready to take the train on to Llangollen.
We then purloined the spamcan from the following train at Glyndyfrdwy, & this ran through the loop & eventually pulled the Black 5 into the loop & dumped it there.
It then ran back to Glyndyfrdwy to retrieve its train.
I can safely say that it won't be running tomorrow, 5199 will be taking its place.

A very p****d off Bob.

 

I was on that train. It was certainly disappointing. The issue was originally thought to be a leaking drain cock which is why the loco* crew decided to continue. Possibly it was something more serious!

(*the crew on the train is said of wanted the Black Five left at Glyndyfrdwy!!!)

 

It sounded and looked like it dropped a valve to me. There was steam everywhere and the chuffs were long and weak and it seemed to be doing 2 chuffs per revolution instead of 4. Was that what happened?

 

All I know is that they removed some parts from the cylinder area before the loco was moved. It was fortunate that our C.M.E. was on the 9F.

Bob.

 

Yes. I noticed Dave Owen on the 9. They've had terrible luck in this gala. I hope things improve for them because it's a great event. It's much better in realisation than it looks on paper.

 

was 5199 turned to face west as planned please anybody ?