FR & WHR & WHHR News

I'd only just picked up on that latter point. You'd have thought (particularly with 608 having been based there for some time now) that somebody would have actually checked that they fitted the loading gauge to Minfford before advertising it as a key attraction for the event. Pity too that they've not managed to find something more interesting than a fairlie as a substitute.

 

608 did a gauging tested down to Minffordd and up Gwyndy Bank last November, presumably there are some differences between the two discovered when 590 was moved from Minffordd (where it was delivered) to Porthmadog which deemed it to risky for passenger workings on this stretch.

 

Thanks for that (and sorry, I meant 608 in my original post, now edited.) Even more mysterious then, as there is nothing immediately/obviously different between the two that I can see other than the cab back on 590. Either way, still very disppointing.

 

Both of them are too wide really. Whilst you can get them up to Minffordd it is a very tight fit. One bit of track distortion in the June sun and you can kiss that shiny paint job goodbye.

 

Is 608 performing at the WHR gala?

 

No.

 

Russell went to Boston lodge today as a prelude to the WHR100 gala.

 

Even more surprising then that they had advertised 590 as being used on the Minfford shuttle. Very disappointing to lose the chance to travel behind it on both the FR and WHR as was promised.

 

A real; shame if 608 isn't performing; possibly a unique opportunity missed to see two Baldwins back together.

 

Whilst it would be nice to have the two Baldwin's together, I'm sure the opportunity will arise some point soon. 608 was recently moved to Dinas by Vale of Ffestiniog too, unsure as to why however.

 

Well the event is about the Welsh Highland rather than Baldwins. Perhaps another time. 608 isn't really up to pulling trains anyway to be brutally honest.

 

It was advertised in good faith, 608 had been to Minffordd in Nov 2022 before this was planned. That 608 trip was reported to be “tight but passable”.

As 590 passed from Minffordd to Boston lodge a different set of eyes assessed it as “very tight, less than walking pace only” this made it impractical for use as part of the event. We do not wish to risk damaging 590 just for some additional mileage.

Believe me, no one will be more disappointed than I am as I was due to drive it to Minffordd during the event!!!

 

For those intending to travel this weekend...

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=648019384030561&id=100064675154632

 

An FR post on Facebook today says that 590 has been withdrawn too. Driving wheel bearing issue apparently.

 

Surprise, surprise, yet another FR gala no show due to promising locos that haven’t been proven in service (or were never going to get finished in time). 590 was the reason I and I am sure a large majority were attending this event and all of a sudden the loco isn’t even fit to trundle up and down the WHHR at 5mph, something which it appears to have been doing quite happily up to this point. I overheard a conversation between FR crew members at Port earlier which suggested that they knew about this issue last weekend. So why hasn’t it been receiving attention in B Lodge (or the VoR been called in to sort it out if it is their workmanship at fault?)
So do those of us who have invested several hundred quid in attending this weekend at least get a partial refund on the 3 figure ticket price?
Certainly not looking anything like value for money now……

 

Am in N Wales in 2 weeks is one able to turn up and travel on either line?
Thanks in advance

 

Trains have been getting very busy lately but yes you can just go to the booking office and there will probably be a seat.

 

And to make things even worse, the revamped roster means that WP’s turns beyond Beddgelert have all been removed as well. Another highlight gone.

 

Failures happen and its a shame that 590 won't be out. What I did find slightly surprising having paid £75 for a rover is that they'll only tell me the replacement loco if I pay an additional £5 for a gala guide.

 

Genuine failures I agree are unfortunate but understandable but when “no-shows” are because things haven’t been properly tested/commissioned prior to an event I personally find that far less acceptable. I haven’t seen it myself but apparently there is video footage of 590 being run with the axleboxes actually smoking, so no wonder they have suffered damage if they had been overheated to that extent.
I was lucky to pick up a copy of the roster alterations sheet that is being put into the event guide that someone must have dropped! No apology or explanation in it as to why the changes are being made however and I too agree that it is a bit of a cheek to charge extra for details of what loco is on what train when you have paid that kind of money for the tickets. Went to the GWRSR gala last month and all that info was free on the website (and the tickets were much cheaper too from memory, despite them having the cost of several visiting locos to recover)
Anyway, will try and recover what I can from the weekend despite it now being a pale shadow of what was advertised and keep my fingers crossed that nothing else fails.