Welshpool and Llanfair Light Railway

It's a quote - "For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows." (1 Timothy 6.1) - often - in fact usually - mis-quoted.

 

The latest Journal says that they had an enquiry from the Rampton Trust/VoR “about the future of four 2ft 6 in gauge locomotives they were no longer to accommodate.” This does suggest that the Indian locos might also have been available, no doubt very good practical reasons for only accepting Conqueror.

I do like the look of that Kerr Stuart though ….

 

I don't know if it has been pointed out previously about the size of Conqueror.
It looks a bit like Joan, but is way bigger. Joan is about the same size as Chevalier and the other 0-6-2 locos at Bowaters, all around 20 tons. Also Earl & Countess has this weight.
Zillertal U 2 is about the same size, 21 tons. Sir Drefaldwyn was originally just a shade bigger with 22 tons but was rebuilt by ÖBB in Austria with bigger tanks and bunker.
Conqueror on the other hand has service weight of 27 tons and has a tractive effort just 7% lower than Sir Drefaldwyn!

 

I've always thought that the Welshpool & Llanfair could host an absolutely amazing Oktoberfest themed gala, perhaps the week before the October half term. I had in mind teaming Sir Drefaldwyn and the Zillertalbahn rolling stock with German and Austrian beer, food and Oompah bands at Llanfair Caereinion and Welshpool. I went to the early autumn Oldtimertreffen event at the Frankfurter Feldbahnmuseum a couple of years ago, and it was excellent: the railway set up huge charcoal grills in their engine sheds with bratwurst sizzling away, and had beers from local breweries on tap. There were long tables on the platforms where you could refresh yourself with a beer and wurst between trains. Trains ran late into the evening, creating a fantastic atmosphere.

An event like this would lend itself to evening running, and it wouldn't matter if the weather was not the best. It's something that I could imagine pubs and other venues in Welshpool and Llanfair joining in with too.