If you register, you can do a lot more. And become an active part of our growing community. You'll have access to hidden forums, and enjoy the ability of replying and starting conversations.

The Vale of Rheidol Railway - News

Discussion in 'Narrow Gauge Railways' started by ValeOfRheidol, Nov 12, 2014.

  1. Steve B

    Steve B Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jun 20, 2008
    Messages:
    2,069
    Likes Received:
    1,502
    Location:
    Shropshire
    Excellent newsletter - thanks for posting

    Steve B
     
  2. Mrcow

    Mrcow Member

    Joined:
    Jun 30, 2019
    Messages:
    244
    Likes Received:
    543
    Gender:
    Female
    Location:
    Sheffield
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    The first class carriage has come out really well, a true credit to the builders.
     
  3. MuzTrem

    MuzTrem Member

    Joined:
    Mar 13, 2011
    Messages:
    937
    Likes Received:
    1,225
    You can say that again! It looks much more like a purpose-designed observation car now; previously, it looked like an ordinary brake coach with end windows added as an afterthought...which is, of course, exactly what it was!
     
    Mrcow likes this.
  4. CymruGarratt

    CymruGarratt New Member

    Joined:
    Mar 20, 2008
    Messages:
    71
    Likes Received:
    13
    I noticed NGG13 Garratt No.82 was mentioned in the newsletter - I don't think it featured in the official museum list previously.
    CG
     
  5. 30854

    30854 Resident of Nat Pres

    Joined:
    Mar 8, 2017
    Messages:
    12,172
    Likes Received:
    11,493
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Retired
    Location:
    Brighton&Hove
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    If I read it right, they've got two. 1 in harness and assuming t'other is for display
     
  6. ghost

    ghost Part of the furniture

    Joined:
    May 29, 2006
    Messages:
    3,967
    Likes Received:
    5,064
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    N.Ireland
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    No60 is privately owned so not strictly a VoR loco
     
  7. 30854

    30854 Resident of Nat Pres

    Joined:
    Mar 8, 2017
    Messages:
    12,172
    Likes Received:
    11,493
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Retired
    Location:
    Brighton&Hove
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    But is the one working, no? The VoR management seem to be playing a canny game, with year on year of incremental improvements (actually, not so incremental in the last decade!). What I find myself wondering is what the plan is once all the stock inherited from the GW/BR has been through the shops for it's tlc and still more capacity is required?
     
  8. ghost

    ghost Part of the furniture

    Joined:
    May 29, 2006
    Messages:
    3,967
    Likes Received:
    5,064
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    N.Ireland
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    Yes 60 is the working one.
    I would imagine that the upgrading project is simply to "be the best" as it were, and give their passengers a journey/experience to remember.
     
  9. 30854

    30854 Resident of Nat Pres

    Joined:
    Mar 8, 2017
    Messages:
    12,172
    Likes Received:
    11,493
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Retired
    Location:
    Brighton&Hove
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    Well unless the Aberaeron extension is back on the cards after 89 years in abeyance ! :)

    I've so often heard the VoR described as 'a sleeping giant' over the years. I can't imagine No.60 is there just to make up the numbers. Did you catch the wording in the newsletter about "current capacity" at stations? It's in the bit where they speak of the NGG13's 8 car capacity .... though you have to suspect on a line not as steep as the WHR/RhE (where the near identical NGG16s routinely take 10) there's scope for a bit more.
     
  10. meeee

    meeee Member

    Joined:
    Mar 28, 2006
    Messages:
    864
    Likes Received:
    1,319
    The capacity is limited by the loop at Devils Bridge. It would be difficult to make it longer without widening the cutting at one end or tunnelling under the road at the other.

    The Garratt is really a bit oversized for day to day operations. No doubt it is useful as a back up and as an extra thing to market, especially with number 9 under overhaul.

    Tim
     
    Bluenosejohn and 30854 like this.
  11. 30854

    30854 Resident of Nat Pres

    Joined:
    Mar 8, 2017
    Messages:
    12,172
    Likes Received:
    11,493
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Retired
    Location:
    Brighton&Hove
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    You have to imagine residents of those properties adjacent to the rock cutting would have something to say about the use of the high explosives it would take to widen it sufficiently to extend platforms westwards!

    Re: No.9/1213: Do I recall this one has already had it's "was that an overhaul, or was it a rebuild"? If so, the turnaround time ought to be measurable in months, rather than years. One stand out feature of Mr.Collett's 'Rheidol Tanks' has been their almost obscene levels of reliability. Hard to believe we've two years of centenary celebrations coming in 2023/4 .... they certainly don't look (or act) their age!
     
    Miff likes this.
  12. RedDragonofLondon

    RedDragonofLondon New Member

    Joined:
    Mar 3, 2021
    Messages:
    36
    Likes Received:
    25
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    London
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    New buildings, decent observation cars, Garratts? All they need are some corridor carriages with panoramic windows and you have the Welsh Highland Railway! ;)
     
  13. 30854

    30854 Resident of Nat Pres

    Joined:
    Mar 8, 2017
    Messages:
    12,172
    Likes Received:
    11,493
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Retired
    Location:
    Brighton&Hove
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    Looking at the gradient profile, I'd say closer to half the Welsh Highland Railway. Given the height and general gradients encountered on Pumlumon Fawr relative to Yr Wyddfa, not completely out of the ball-park. :)
     
  14. Mrcow

    Mrcow Member

    Joined:
    Jun 30, 2019
    Messages:
    244
    Likes Received:
    543
    Gender:
    Female
    Location:
    Sheffield
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    I hear this commonly said, but there is room for at least one and possibly two extra vehicle lengths at the road end, it just entails cutting across the access to the Two Hoots Cafe. I imagine the new car park makes that much less of a burdon.
     
  15. Mrcow

    Mrcow Member

    Joined:
    Jun 30, 2019
    Messages:
    244
    Likes Received:
    543
    Gender:
    Female
    Location:
    Sheffield
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    upload_2022-7-28_14-24-56.png
     
  16. goldfish

    goldfish Nat Pres stalwart

    Joined:
    Jan 13, 2009
    Messages:
    14,900
    Likes Received:
    12,241
    Westwards…? Looks like Eastwards is the way forward, no…?

    Simon
     
  17. 30854

    30854 Resident of Nat Pres

    Joined:
    Mar 8, 2017
    Messages:
    12,172
    Likes Received:
    11,493
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Retired
    Location:
    Brighton&Hove
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    But you don't get to play with high explosives if you go east! :(
     
  18. LNERandBR

    LNERandBR New Member

    Joined:
    Apr 12, 2011
    Messages:
    50
    Likes Received:
    31
    That image is out of date, the Headshunt has been extended as you described.
     
  19. 30854

    30854 Resident of Nat Pres

    Joined:
    Mar 8, 2017
    Messages:
    12,172
    Likes Received:
    11,493
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Retired
    Location:
    Brighton&Hove
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    Watching some footage from the last few weeks, it appears No.60 is whisking it's eight carriage train along right on the speed limits .... and doesn't seem to be anything close to struggling to do so.

    A second train seems to be made up of six carriages, plus brake van. I thought that latter (the last survivor of three on the line) was only used on trains where heating was needed. I know at least one carriage is in the works for rebuilding, but that ought to leave a couple available, presumably one with guard accommodation.

    Are we seeing the fruits of success? Is the line getting dangerously close to needing more stock, for the first time in nearly nine decades? That'd be a nice problem for the lime's management!
     
  20. bantamd14

    bantamd14 New Member

    Joined:
    Jan 21, 2017
    Messages:
    131
    Likes Received:
    91
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Stafford
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    From WHR experience, I don't think it was ever in doubt that NG60 would have any problem on the VoR with that loading.
     

Share This Page