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.

FR & WHR & WHHR News

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

  1. 2392

    2392 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jun 7, 2010
    Messages:
    1,902
    Likes Received:
    1,148
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Felling on Tyne
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    Indeed it could be better to start with a "high" fare and then reduce if the take up is low. Than start "low" and then increase, due to over demand for tickets....... The refreshment stop will re-introduce that facility from pre-buffet/restaurant car days, so they could perhaps cover any reduction in the cost of the train fares, as well as an "historical" railway and other land transport feature.
     
  2. 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
    Does 'The Flying Bench" count as one compartment*? I was also wondering if the panoramic (valley) side of the bug boxes should be upgraded to 2nd class! It's a pity the slate waggons can't be offered for public transport purposes .... I bet there'd be quite a few takers. :)

    4698208_84a8b005.jpg
    [Image courtesy geograph.org.uk]

    In a more serious vein, though I fully understand the rationale behind operating to T-y-B only, what a damned shame trains will stop short of the Dduallt spiral and the waterfall. Still, as it stands, yer does what yers can .... and after the past few months, it'll be great just to see trains running again.

    * yes, I do know it needs to carry a 'responsible person' in service .... worst luck!
     
    andrewshimmin likes this.
  3. meeee

    meeee Member

    Joined:
    Mar 28, 2006
    Messages:
    864
    Likes Received:
    1,319
    Trains are going to be a mostly made up of vintage compartment stock. Both bogie coaches and bug boxes including 21 carrying the public for the first time. No open coaches are currently involved apart from the two green bug boxes 1 and 12, probably because it causes complaints in bad weather when people can't move indoors.

    There are a couple of modern coaches thrown in as only 10 van has guards and passenger space. It will be a bit of a mishmash, but a very 60s style service.

    Where compartments are open inside there will be plywood dividers. It's been difficult to get hold of anything like perspex.

    Locos will be Linda, Blanche, Prince, Welsh Pony. Three locos out each day the other on standby.

    Tim
     
    Last edited: Jul 16, 2020
    MuzTrem, Bluenosejohn, 35B and 3 others like this.
  4. Steve B

    Steve B Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jun 20, 2008
    Messages:
    2,069
    Likes Received:
    1,502
    Location:
    Shropshire
    I notice on photos of Welsh Pony that whilst the tender has a chopper coupling the front coupling is the "buffer plus chain and hook" style. Is Pony going be staying in this form? If so does this have any implications for passenger use on the WHR? I seem to recall that choppers are necessary on the WHR, or did I imagine that?!

    Many thanks in advance

    Steve B
     
  5. Monkey Magic

    Monkey Magic Part of the furniture

    Joined:
    Jan 6, 2018
    Messages:
    3,498
    Likes Received:
    6,845
    Location:
    Here, there, everywhere
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    I read somewhere that the couplings are supposed to be interchangeable so it can run with either.

    I am sure Welsh Pony used to have doors between the cab and tender but they seem to have gone.

    Very old skool. If there weren't a pandemic I'd be tempted to travel to check it out.

    I'm assuming Van 2, the curly roof van and the new van 1 can't be used because they are basically brake only. 11 and 12 are too open and the same for 22,23,26?

    So Bug boxes? 15,16,17,18, 19, 20, 10?

    Very good to see Welsh Pony straight into use. And I am always pleased to see Prince in action on service trains.
     
    Steve B likes this.
  6. marshall5

    marshall5 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Oct 26, 2010
    Messages:
    2,375
    Likes Received:
    3,981
    Location:
    i.o.m
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    Palmerston has the "buffer plus chain and hook" and seems to do O.K.
    Ray.
     
    Steve B likes this.
  7. meeee

    meeee Member

    Joined:
    Mar 28, 2006
    Messages:
    864
    Likes Received:
    1,319
    I've been led to believe that it will be staying the same for now. Palmerston can work on WHR with written permission from the CME. I imagine Welsh Pony is much the same.

    It worked it's first train to T-y-b yesterday afternoon. I believe it is supposed to be working the test service tomorrow for society members. There's been a few problems with Prince, so Welsh Pony might be out a fair bit next week too if it behaves itself.

    Tim
     
    Steve B, 30854 and black5 like this.
  8. 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
    Of interest, is Pamerston currently serviceable?
     
  9. meeee

    meeee Member

    Joined:
    Mar 28, 2006
    Messages:
    864
    Likes Received:
    1,319
    It's just gone in the works for an axlebox overhaul. Due out at the end of August. The money for this was signed off by the Society a couple of years ago, but there hasn't been time to do it. I think this is the first time it's been off it's wheels since it was restored. So not bad going really.

    Tim
     
  10. pgbffest

    pgbffest New Member

    Joined:
    Jun 17, 2018
    Messages:
    191
    Likes Received:
    370
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Somewhere with a lot of letters!
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    Sets should be

    113, 22, 26, 18, 5, 2

    V11, V12, 17, 21, 23

    V10, 20, 16, 24, 3, 4, 8

    Not using 15 or 19 at this moment in time or any of the open stock.

    Locomotives should be:

    Mon - Blanche, Pony, Linda
    Tue - Linda, Blanche, Prince
    Wed - Blanche, Linda, Pony
    Thu - Linda, Blanche, Prince
    Fri - Blanche, Prince, Pony

    All of the above is subject to the normal caveats of nothing expiring of course!

    11 and 12 are being managed by way of loading and bays being kept clear, bug boxes are classed as a single compartment and have no dividers.
     
  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
    09:45 : No.5 crossing The Cob into Harbour (don't you just love webcams? :) ). I wonder .... was that any of you lot taking photos and videos on the platform?
     
  12. lostlogin

    lostlogin Member

    Joined:
    Jul 9, 2007
    Messages:
    428
    Likes Received:
    205
    There is a "Moving Pictures" video on their UTube channel
     
    30854 likes this.
  13. lostlogin

    lostlogin Member

    Joined:
    Jul 9, 2007
    Messages:
    428
    Likes Received:
    205
    Is there a reason they are alternating running Prince & Welsh Pony? I would have thought it made more sense to run in blocks of a few days so you are lighting up with a bit of warmth still left in the loco from the previous day.
     
  14. Steve B

    Steve B Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jun 20, 2008
    Messages:
    2,069
    Likes Received:
    1,502
    Location:
    Shropshire
    I believe the plan is that all 4 will be in steam - one will be spare engine. I may be wrong...
    Steve B
     
  15. 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
    And jolly nice it is too. That's gotta count as a major "Hooray" moment in the annals of the FfR and I bet Welsh Pony's driver wasn't too sorry to be terminating at T-y-B under prevailing conditions ..... starting a train from there, with the rail head coated in an amalgam of soggy rust, would be a decidely 'interesting' challenge!
     
    MuzTrem and Paulthehitch like this.
  16. Paulthehitch

    Paulthehitch Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Feb 13, 2020
    Messages:
    1,090
    Likes Received:
    1,093
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Hayling Island
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    Actually there is another Youtube video by (I think) NP member @meeee which shows W.P. propelling her train out of the up line without an atom of a slip, prior to bringing her into the other platform. This and other interesting shots, suggest she will be a most useful machine.
     
    30854 likes this.
  17. meeee

    meeee Member

    Joined:
    Mar 28, 2006
    Messages:
    864
    Likes Received:
    1,319
    Yes the fourth engine is standby so will be kept hot. It would still be warm even if it hadn't been lit up for one day anyway.

    England engines have quite good adhesion, unless you are trying to pull 30 slate waggons on an October morning.

    Tim
     
    Paul42, 30854, Steve B and 1 other person like this.
  18. meeee

    meeee Member

    Joined:
    Mar 28, 2006
    Messages:
    864
    Likes Received:
    1,319

    Some footage from youtube here.
    Looks like it was a bit grim over there. Hopefully the sun will put an appearance in next week.

    Tim
     
    2392, 30854, Richieboy and 1 other person like this.
  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
    Congratulations on keeping all that liquid sunshine off your lens, Tim!

    Not having yet perused the timetables, I was expecting to see trains crossing at Minffordd, so two simultaneously in the platforms at T-y-B was a pleasant surprise (as was clocking a diesel hauled service).

    Seeing No.5 back doing what it was built to do is just fantastic (some serious kudos goes to all involved) and I have to pinch myself to realise I'm not tripping!

    Back when I first saw Nos.4 and 5 (in the early 1970s ... while Prince was OOS for rebuilding), Welsh Pony looked a sorry sight, but way better than the chimney-less pile of vaguely loco shaped rust which was Palmerston, so when (after some years out if touch with the heritage scene) I first clapped eyes on a photo of No.4 out on The Cob, and I honestly thought someone had shelled out to have Prince dressed up for a photo op .... and now, all three (and a well conserved Princess) ..... Wow!

    When I knew the line, LT had just finished it's last season and a rather utilitarian ME was the only 'authentic' FfR loco left in serviceable condition. What a very long way things have come since then.

    Just one of those random thoughts, but can't help but wonder, what with obsessive railway nuts being obsessive railway nuts ... once the 1863 Mountaineer project delivers ... and all those tempting drawings and moulds kicking around, how long will it take before a number somewhere between 5 and 7 starts getting bandied about? Odds, peeps? :D
     
    weltrol likes this.
  20. meeee

    meeee Member

    Joined:
    Mar 28, 2006
    Messages:
    864
    Likes Received:
    1,319
    It's not my footage. I just googled it. I can't visit just yet due to the rules on shared accommodation.

    Trains will cross at Minffordd and T-y-b. The arriving train isn't supposed to unload until the other one has gone. To maintain physical distancing on the platform.

    I guess we will have to see how busy it is. It will be a fun little service if there are enough passengers to justify all three sets.

    Tim
     
    LesterBrown and 30854 like this.

Share This Page