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FR & WHR & WHHR News

Discussion in 'Narrow Gauge Railways' started by AndrewT, Jul 17, 2012.

  1. MartinBall

    MartinBall Guest

    Gowrie!! ;)
     
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  2. weltrol

    weltrol Part of the furniture Friend

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    Miff said:.' It would be a shame to destroy the final condition of the last loco to steam under the old regime. If anyone wants an England in original condition it would surely be better to build a new one.'
    Forest Pines said:
    Resteam Princess? Heresy! What we really need is a new-build Original Mountaineer, in almost original condition (a dome would probably be best) in Prussian Blue...

    I agree with both of you on that score, but....
    Welsh Pony is technically like a 'new rebuild' Taliesin (using some parts of the original) into later condition, and all the 'life expired' equipment could be reassembled as a museum display.
    I have often thought that with three Englands in later style, then an England (or two...) in early as built side tank style, and early saddle tank cab sheet style would explain better the development of these iconic engines. I appreciate that the haulage capacity would be less than the 'final' style, but surely, as the 'heritage' trains are limited to three or four coaches, capacity would not be a problem.

    I also appreciate the workshop committments to other projects, and the financial aspects too, as Boston Lodge has to pay its way, though perchance after the 'Pony' and 'James Spooner' are built, maybe there will be an impetus to provide a better 'heritage' option.

    'Russell' is a great attraction in its own right, lets hope the peace lasts long enough to see a 'Lyd2' venturing out on trial as well for use as a possible rescue locomotive....
     
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  3. Miff

    Miff Part of the furniture Friend

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    I agree. A new-build England in original form would be fascinating if you could raise the money and appetite for it. No need to touch Princess. The thing about Welsh Pony was it was apparently so rotten even a cosmetic restoration would have had its difficulties whereas Princess has been better conserved. Even the rebuilt Pony will have a large proportion of pre-preservation ‘engine’ parts. It’s mainly the non-moving bits (boiler, frames, cylinders) unfit for further use although they will apparently be retained for display - a rusty heap in the new Caernarfon station foyer springs to mind :)
     
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  4. Steve B

    Steve B Well-Known Member

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  5. MuzTrem

    MuzTrem Member

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    Me too! I normally try to be a little bit restrained in suggesting new-builds (because we just can't recreate everything!), but I think an original-condition FfR England would be a genuinely worthwhile project. After all, it was the England design that really proved the viability of steam traction on the narrow-gauge, at least where public railways were concerned; in historical terms it was hugely significant. Moreover, the FfR can now has enough restored or recreated stock to recreate most periods of its history, but the one thing they still can't do is show a locomotive from the very first days of steam traction in 1863.

    The difficulty would be to find a name and number for it! The best solution would probably be to build it as a replica of No. 3, but then you would have to find another name for the Alco...!
     
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  6. Selsig

    Selsig Member

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    And the FR would end up with two No. 3s, as LT carries this number (and has done for a veeeeeeeeeeery long time, I think it was only no. 11 for a couple of years)

    John
     
  7. marshall5

    marshall5 Well-Known Member

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    Easy! Restore the Alco as TPT # 3.23 or. better still, in WW1 condition with its WDLR number.
    Ray.
     
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  8. andrewshimmin

    andrewshimmin Well-Known Member

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    No!!!
    There are Alcos in that condition elsewhere. Mountaineer is unique and wonderful in her FfR condition.
     
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  9. MrC

    MrC New Member

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  10. clam1952

    clam1952 New Member

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    Seems common sense has finally prevailed over the Russell conundrum, which can only be a good thing. Well done to those who made this happen.
     
  11. MellishR

    MellishR Resident of Nat Pres Friend

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    I would have liked to watch those videos, but when the sounds of a locomotive and its train are replaced by music I can't be bothered. Even on a drone video which otherwise lacks any sound I can't see the point of dubbing in music, and replacing the actual sound track (even if including wind noise) is barmy.
     
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  12. Shed9C

    Shed9C New Member

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  13. Miff

    Miff Part of the furniture Friend

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    Any drone operators around? I’ve no experience but wouldn’t be surprised if drones are not fitted with mics because all you’d hear is the noise of the drone itself and the wind. I dislike the music too.
     
  14. RalphW

    RalphW Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Administrator Friend

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    Taking drone shots is the 'in' thing at the moment, but as you say for this type of subject it is pretty useless unless an effort is made to get some sound, either from the line side or better still on board.
     
  15. Steve B

    Steve B Well-Known Member

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    Leaving aside the technical and artistic side of drone footage, what struck me in watching this was how great it was to see Russell at speed, and not running out of space after a few minutes. You could imagine that there was a great big smile on the smokebox!

    Steve B
     
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  16. paullad1984

    paullad1984 Member

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    And she seems to steam well too!
     
  17. fergusmacg

    fergusmacg Resident of Nat Pres

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    Although not exactly difficult with just one coach and a van.


    Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
     
  18. andrewshimmin

    andrewshimmin Well-Known Member

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    For the old WHR, that's pretty much a full train...
     
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  19. DcB

    DcB Well-Known Member

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    From Facebook

    The one you’ve been waiting for – Russell returns to the Welsh Highland Railway!
    Members of the Welsh Highland Heritage Railway in Porthmadog, working with colleagues from the Ffestiniog & Welsh Highland Railway are pleased to announce the only surviving Welsh Highland Railway steam locomotive, ‘Russell’ built by the Hunslet Engine Company in 1906 will be running on a section of the original Welsh Highland Railway in 2019!
    ‘Russell’ successfully completed a gauging and inspection run on the 25th November along part of the original line of the Welsh Highland Railway. This represents the first time the locomotive has travelled along this section since 1937, when it was on its way to Dinas to be locked away at the closing of the line.
    The run was made possible owing to the close working relationship between the two railways in preparation for ‘Russell’ to appear at a special event in 2019 to celebrate the heritage of the Welsh Highland Railway.
    As part of the Welsh Highland Heritage Weekend between Friday 21st and Sunday 23rd June 2019 ‘Russell’ will be working between the replica 1920s WHR halt at Pen-y-mount, to Pont Croesor and on to Hafod y Llyn.
    ‘Russell’ ran on another section of the line in 2000 when it ran from Caernarfon to Waunfawr.. This will be the first opportunity for it to stretch its legs with a longer run since it was restored in 2014 to as close as possible the condition as-built in 1906, at a cost of over £350,000 all covered by private donations.
    Mark Seale from the Welsh Highland Heritage Railway is project-managing the joint event on behalf of the WHHR and said:
    “It was important for us to make sure that Russell was fit and well before we made a final commitment to participating in the event. We are aware that many railway enthusiasts are very keen to see Russell running up the line and this is something that we ourselves have wished for, for some time. The inspection run went very well and we are very excited to be supporting the event; we believe that working together we can make a valuable contribution and make the event in June a spectacular weekend.”
    "The primary goal for the inspection run was to ensure that Russell’s rather special design of pony truck and running gear will negotiate the curves of the re-instated railway and ensure that enough movement from the trucks is evident on the tightest curve. Whilst the inspection run took place Ffestiniog Railway engineers were invited to take a closer look at the locomotive. The locomotive team at the Welsh Highland Heritage Railway will now have the winter to prepare the locomotive.”
    Graham Farr, the Chairman at the Welsh Highland Heritage Railway added:
    “This is another important milestone in the evolving Welsh Highland Railway story. It demonstrates how ‘Russell’ operated by the Welsh Highland Heritage Railway in Porthmadog can be used to complement and support the further development of the re-instated railway.”
    "Welsh Highland Heritage Railway members are looking forward to working with our Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland Railway colleagues. Hopefully this will be a first step and the Welsh Highland Heritage Railway looks forward to operating more heritage trains beyond our station at Pen-y-mount in the future. Watch this space…"
    Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland Railways General Manager Paul Lewin comments:
    "The 21st -23rd of June will be THE narrow gauge event of the year. 2019 is looking like being an epic year for the Welsh Highland Railway 21 years on from the first trains running out of Caernarfon. Not only will we see the opening of two new stations we will also enjoy visiting locos that will go a long way toward recreating so many Welsh Highland heritage scenes of years gone by and some fascinating additional visitors too."
    "The first visiting loco we can announce following the successful test last weekend is NWNG locomotive Russell in the care of our friends at the Welsh Highland Heritage Railway. Keep a close eye on the press in coming months as we hope to announce further attractions for this long summer weekend."
    "I would like to add at this point that we have really enjoyed working with the team at WHHR on the technical tests. We are looking forward to sharing the pleasure of seeing Russell in action with our many supporters and friends."
     
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  20. meeee

    meeee Member

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    We actually have no idea what these locos looked like in original form. The first photo doesn't appear until 7 years after they are built, by then they differ from the drawings in several ways. So we have no idea if they looked like the drawing on delivery or not.

    Of the 4 original locos most of the photos are of The Princess. There is one of Mountaineer. 1/4 of Palmerston and none of The Prince until it gains a tank weight. Even then we can see detail differences in the locos.

    I think more realistically an 1870s era England engine is the way to go. This really was the golden age for the FR. There is also a train of 4 wheelers that doesn't have a suitable engine right now.

    A big difficulty would be finding extra water space. These locos used to water at Rhiw Goch, Hafod y llyn , Tank curve. On the modern railway you'd be expecting them to run to Tan-y-bwlch on one tank full.

    Tim
     
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