Welsh Highland Railway (Porthmadog) - Spring Newsletter

In this edition
– Amazing loco lineup for May Gala……
– New auction in aid of Russell restoration……
– WHR(P) daily service from 15th March

** Quarry Hunslets Alice, Irish Mail and Jack Lane for WHR(P) Gala

Three of the oldest and newest Quarry Hunslet locomotives will operate together for the first time in history at Welsh Highland Railway (Porthmadog) at the start of May.

The newly built Jack Lane (3904 of 2005) will join veterans Irish Mail (823 of 1903) and Alice (780 of 1902) to operate an intensive train service for the “Hunslet: Generations” gala from 3rd-5th May.

The gala is Jack Lane’s first visit to Wales, the spiritual home of the Quarry Hunslet class, a family of 2” gauge 0-4-0ST locomotives built for service in the slate quarries of North Wales.

The event celebrates one of Britain’s best known locomotive builders, Hunslet of Leeds, who also built the only surviving Welsh Highland Railway locomotive, Russell (901 of 1906). Russell is currently being restored at the WHR(P)’s workshops, and there’ll be a rare opportunity to see progress on the project.

James Hewett, Chairman of the WHR(P) said; “we’re delighted to host such a historic event, featuring locomotives from different eras in Hunslet history. The plan is that the locomotives will top and tail the train service, so there’ll be chance to compare their performance.”

Irish Mail and Jack Lane have operated together before, at the Statfold Barn Railway where Jack Lane is based. Alice and Irish Mail both worked at the Dinorwic Quarry in Llanberis. But the three have never seen service together – until now.

James Hewett added: “We’re extremely grateful to the owners of all three locomotives for making this event possible. A successful weekend will certainly help make sure it isn’t long before our own flagship Hunslet, Russell, is able to return to steam.”

The three working Quarry Hunslets will be joined by a fourth visitor from the class. Hugh Napier (855 of 1904) is based at the Penrhyn Castle Museum near Bangor. Although not yet in working order, the parts of Hugh Napier will be on display in the WHR(P) museum, giving visitors chance to see the type of locomotive from a different angle. The WHR(P)’s resident Quarry Hunslet, Lady Madcap (652 of 1896), which is currently under restoration, will also be on display.

The WHR(P)’s 7¼” gauge miniature railway will also feature Quarry Hunslet in action, with a scale model of “Wild Aster” hauling trains on the circuit around Gelerts Farm. There’ll also be model railways, a 5 inch / 3½ inch miniature railway and other displays, as well as chance to have a go at driving a locomotive for yourself, and to browse the WHR(P)’s well stocked railway bookshop.

Hunslet diesels through the ages will also be represented at the gala by three of the WHR(P) fleet; a 50hp mines loco (3510 of 1947), Weighitin, a 43hp model (7535 of 1977), and Emma (9346 of 1994).

The WHR(P) gala coincides with two other railway events in Porthmadog: the Narrow Gauge and Industrial Model Show, which takes place opposite the WHR(P) station, and an event at the Ffestiniog Railway featuring an intensive train service, and another visiting Quarry Hunslet, Jerry M (638 of 1895).

** Russell Restoration Update

The boiler of the original WHR locomotive Russell has now returned to Wales after work to deal with a small amount of cracking on the backplate. The boiler has also had the studs fitted for a brick arch, and a retube.

Work at Gelerts Farm has moved to the spring gear, including a conundrum: the restoration team found they were no longer able to get hexagonal metal bar to make some components, and so ended up taking round sections of metal, and making them the right, six-sided shape. A case of fitting a square peg into a round hole?

A limited edition numbered replica of one of Russell’s original Hunslet nameplates is being auctioned on eBay from this evening (Sunday). These nameplates are an exact copy of the nameplate carried by Russell during its years in service on the Welsh Highland, and are highly sought after – one sold a few years ago for £1,500.

The auction starts at 21:30 Sunday evening, and will be live here - http://shop.ebay.co.uk/merchant/restore_russell_2009

** Daily Train Service from 15th March

The Welsh Highland Railway (Porthmadog) will be operating a daily train service from the weekend before Easter. Trains will be “topped and tailed” with a locomotive each end, because the loop at Traeth Mawr has been removed to allow completion of the line through to Beddgelert and Caernarfon.

Steam services run over Easter from 22nd – 30th March, with Bagnall 0-4-2T Gelert (3050 of 1953) in charge. For children, there’s the “Easter Bunnies” event on Easter Sunday 23rd March, with free mini eggs, and chance to win a prize.

Throughout 2008, the train will continue to pause at the engine sheds during the ride – the displays at Gelerts Farm works have been upgraded for 2008.