Cackler

I've got my cheque book ready if the situation ever changes, and Pete is right, they said we'd never get Ogwen, Marchlyn or Edward Sholto back!

 

Amazing, the largest collection of traction engines in the world (allegedly) and not on mention of what is in the collection on the website. Judging by the focus on Christmas I'd say the traction engines have become very little more than ornaments. Shame really, but the're not coming to much harm in the dry. It's just a little undignified a setting now...which is very pompous of me I know.

 

the trouble is its run totally commercially now, no one seems to have any interest in steam, so naturally the collection takes a back seat.

 

Dangerous to be an obsessed gricer! Thursford gets good reviews on Tripadvisor, which is not universal for steam sites. Cannot speak from personal experience.

PH

 

Apologies this is somewhat off topic, but here still seems the better place to ask: Does anyone know what became of the two/three semi-open carriages Cackler hauled at Thursford?
Much appreciated.

 

Finally I have been able to find out what happened to cackler! I went as a child and saw her laid up in the platform. Good to hear she wasn't just scrapped.

I think Thursford is a real shame these days... we went in the summer a year back, and beyond the switchback gondola and the Wurlitzer - it was empty. They didn't even bother playing the other organs.

 

Seems that Cackler, Jerry M and Lilla all have 2' 2" coupled wheels whereas most Quarry Hunslet have 1' 8". Is that correct any does anyone know why? I paid a flying visit to Thursford a few years ago and wasn't aware of any locos there.

 

I don't have access to my books at present so I'm working off memory! Cackler & Jerry M are much larger locos only used on the mills level at Dinorwic. Lilla came to Penrhyn second hand from another N.Wales quarry. What most people seem to refer to as "quarry Hunslets" are the Dinorwic 'Alice' class and the similar size locos over at Penrhyn.
A lot more info here: http://www.quarryhunslet.mste.co.uk/public/intro.php and https://www.quarryhunslet.mste.co.uk/public/qhonw.php
Ray.

 

Thanks. I'll try to get a copy of the book. I've recently visited the Bala Lake Railway, where all the Hunslets are of the Alice or Penrhyn Port class and I hadn't realised there was an intermediate size between these and the "main line" locos Charles, Blanche and Linda. Clearly a complex history as they are so old and parts have been swapped around.

 

Phone photos from the Cliff Thomas book

 

Oh and when I win the euromillions I am buying CACKLER!!!

 

Thanks for all the information.

 

N

.
Not if I win them first .....

 

Popped into Thursford yesterday for the Christmas Lights Extravaganza, surprised to find a Hunslet loco there amongst the rollers and showman's engines.

Still safe and sound!

 

As is Mr P Panther it seems!