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Welshpool and Llanfair Light Railway

Discussion in 'Narrow Gauge Railways' started by tony51, Apr 10, 2017.

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  1. tony51

    tony51 New Member

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    I hardly ever post (having nothing in particular to say most of the time) but I thought it worth pointing out a couple of interesting pieces of WLLR news deserving wider attention. In any case the railway deserves its own dedicated thread, which seems to be lacking.

    Firstly, SLR 85 is going on a national tour before coming home for eventual restoration.

    Secondly:

    "The 2017 season will be the 54th in which the railway has been operated almost entirely by volunteers, overtaking the 53 years – 1903 to 1956 – that it was run commercially by the line’s three previous owners the Cambrian Railway, Great Western Railway and British Railways"

    Presumably this be the first preserved line to achieve this milestone?

    More details on both at on www.wllr.org.uk/news
     
    tony51, Apr 10, 2017
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  2. Reading General

    Reading General Part of the furniture

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    will just have to call in then!
     
    Reading General, Apr 10, 2017
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  3. Steve

    Steve Resident of Nat Pres Friend

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    An interesting claim and you're probably right. The Sittingbourne & Kemsley is probably the next one to achieve this. It loses out because it was operational much later than 1956. What other contenders?
     
    Steve, Apr 15, 2017
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  4. Forestpines

    Forestpines Well-Known Member

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    The Beddgelert section of the WHR will get to this point within the next decade, because the original line was open for such a short time; but for the FR Co's operations as a whole still have another 50 years to go!

    I would have thought the first standard gauge line to reach this milestone would be the KESR, followed a few years later by the GCR, as in both cases the original lines line opened at around the same time as the WLLR.
     
    Forestpines, Apr 17, 2017
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  5. Ploughman

    Ploughman Part of the furniture

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    I take it the Middleton has a long way to go yet?

    All credit to the Welshpool though.
     
    Ploughman, Apr 17, 2017
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  6. 5944

    5944 Resident of Nat Pres

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    If I've worked it out correctly...

    KESR - 61 years in normal service, 43 operated as a preserved line.

    SKLR - 61 years in normal service, 47 years as a preserved line.

    GCR - 74 years in normal service, 43 years as a preserved line.

    Tal-y-llyn - 80 years in normal service, 66 as a preserved line.

    So it does like KESR will be the first standard gauge line to be operated longer as a preserved line than commercially, but not for another 18 years.

    Impressive achievement for the WLLR all the same though.
     
    5944, Apr 17, 2017
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  7. pmh_74

    pmh_74 Well-Known Member

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    Opened 1898, closed 1969, so 71 years in normal service. And I think the first preserved stock arrived in '73 (may have even been '72) so 44 or 45 years as a preserved line.
    Of course, the GCRN section limped on in service for about another 20 years (although towards the end even an annual weedkilling train would have been news).
     
    pmh_74, Apr 17, 2017
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  8. tony51

    tony51 New Member

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    Leighton Buzzard I think has 49 + 49
     
    tony51, Apr 17, 2017
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  9. tony51

    tony51 New Member

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    tony51, Jul 17, 2017
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  10. NGChrisW

    NGChrisW New Member

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    Excellent news regarding the visit of "Superb" for the gala and glad to see that it is intended to use it on passenger trains.
    I presume this will need to be in the company of something else as I don't believe that SKLR locos have ever been fitted with train brakes?
    (Unless of course vacuum gear is being borrowed off something else?)
     
    NGChrisW, Jul 18, 2017
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  11. estwdjhn

    estwdjhn Member

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    Foxfield has 22 years to go - 72 years commercially, 50 in preservation.
     
    estwdjhn, Jul 18, 2017
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  12. Jamessquared

    Jamessquared Nat Pres stalwart

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    Bluebell will get there in 18 years as well - 75 years in commercial operation (1882 - 1958 but with a one year closure during that period) and 75 years in preservation (1960 - 2035).

    Tom
     
    Jamessquared, Jul 18, 2017
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  13. WB2624

    WB2624 New Member

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    A vacuum ejector and pipework plus W&L couplings will be fitted to Superb before she leaves the S&K.

    Nigel
     
    WB2624, Jul 18, 2017
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  14. NGChrisW

    NGChrisW New Member

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    Thanks for the clarification Nigel, would be nice to see her working solo.
    Would this be the first time Superb has left S&K metals since delivery to Bowaters?

    Chris
     
    NGChrisW, Jul 19, 2017
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  15. WB2624

    WB2624 New Member

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    As far as I know Superb has never left the railway before. Premier, Leader and Melior have all been elsewhere in preservation although Melior was the only loco to actually run elsewhere - Whipsnade and at two steam events at Preston Steam Services.

    Nigel
     
    WB2624, Jul 19, 2017
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  16. tony51

    tony51 New Member

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    Superb has arrived and made it to Welshpool already, some pictures on WLLR facebook page, including one with her sister Joan. Hope the hills weren't too much of a shock after 70 years on the flat.
     
    tony51, Aug 21, 2017
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  17. GWR4707

    GWR4707 Nat Pres stalwart

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    GWR4707, Aug 6, 2018
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  18. tony51

    tony51 New Member

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    tony51, Aug 28, 2018
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  19. acorb

    acorb Part of the furniture

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    Great day yesterday; lovely scenery, friendly staff and authentic locomotives having to work hard. Gala looked well attended too!
     
    acorb, Sep 2, 2018
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  20. jsm8b

    jsm8b Part of the furniture

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    Castle Careinion this afternoon. Nice to see the lines two original engines together.



    DSC_1820 WLLR 822 & 823 Castle Careinion 020918.JPG
     
    jsm8b, Sep 2, 2018
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