FR & WHR & WHHR News

I'm surprised that it hasn't been mentioned on here because it has been on Facebook, but Peter Best, owner of Garratt 130, has donated it to the F&WHRRT - a generous gesture indeed!

 

A few photos from Bygones, and James Spooner on test on the Monday. More at https://www.flickr.com/photos/24236352@N02/

 

Yesterday James Spooner was launched into public service on two Woodland Wanderer services, and the opportunity was taken for a 'family portrait' at Porthmadog.


The Ffestiniog's three current Double Fairlies lined up at Porthmadog Harbour station

"A prototype for Everything" - Merrdin Emrys is shunted over the cob by David Lloyd George hauling a works train

James Spooner returns its train over the cob at the end of its first day in public service

 

Afternoon All,

A flashback to the Welsh Highland Railway centenary celebrations in June. I had a couple of rides on the WHHR and the videos are on my YouTube channel if anyone would like to have a look:





Hope they're of interest.

TTFN,

Ron.

 

Two Trains at Beddgelert:



Ron.

 

2024 Events have been announced today, the highlights for enthusiasts and society members follow
- 20th April - The Snowdonian
- 4th and 5th May - Friends of Ffestiniog
- 14th and 15th September - Super-Power
- 4th - 6th October - Bygones Weekend

 

LYD and RUSSELL starting away from Beddgelert with some splendid sound effects:



Ron.

 

Tail Lamps
Trains on the FR and WHR appear to not carry tail lamps. This seems to be an exception from most, if not all, other railways, and I am interested to know the reason, please.

Brian

 

Historically the FR used a "Last Vehicle" board on the back of unfitted trains, with nothing on the back of fully fitted trains, as any separation would cause the brakes to come on.
In more recent (post-preservation) times, the "Lat Vehicle" board has been replaced by a red flag, though the boards make appearances on vintage trains to this day. I *think* the red flag has to be supplemented with a red lamp if the unfitted train runs in the hours of darkness, but this happens so infrequently that I can't be 100% sure without checking the rule book. I have an inking that if the last vehicle is a manned brake van that the red flag doesn't need to be applied either, but again, I'd need to check the rule book. (I'm S&T, not Ops, and my days as a engineering train brakesman are long past!)
A tail lamp has been deemed non-necessary as since 1923 the FR has been a light railway, operating without signallers, and the trains do not need to be seen to be complete if fitted with a continuous brake - the continuous gradient from Blaenau down to Porthmadog meant that the end vehicle at the uphill end did not need to be fitted in and of itself either, as long as it was through piped (this has changed post 1978 as there is now a reversal of gradient on the deviation)

The WHR, as preserved, is operated by the FR Co, and so their rules have been applied. It doesn't necessarily reflect the operation in NWNGR or WHR (pre 1937) days.

John

 

A tail lamp has been deemed non-necessary as since 1923 the FR has been a light railway, . . .

John

Many thanks for such a comprehensive explanation, which is much appreciated. I have long wondered why the absence of tail lamps and you have sated my curiosity. I am also grateful for the reasoning behind this aspect of operation.

Brian

 

Only down FR (Bff- Port) unfitted trains are required to display a red flag or last vehicle board. On the Welsh Highland unfitted trains are only permitted between Port and Hafod y llyn. They are required to display a red flag in both directions.

The rear vehicle or vehicles depending on the length of train on the up or going over power station summit on the down has to have a manned brake.

Photographers seem to get upset when demonstration goods trains have the brake van next to the engine on down trips but this is what works best for us. It's all downhill so the train remains bunched up if you just brake from the front.

 

Linda has returned to steam following overhaul, and is currently undergoing running in, and should be at the rear of the Port - Minffordd shuttles this weekend, with Blanche on the front of the train.

Additionally, the loco is to enter the paint shop shortly for a repaint into FR Green again.

 

The first of a number of clips from my video footage shot at the Ffestiniog Railway 'All Our Yesterdays' 1995 steam gala is now on YouTube. It's digitalised from VHS tapes, so not up to today's standards, but a record of the occasion if nothing else. Further clips to be added as time allows.



Ron.

 

Here's the second archive clip from 1995:

 

Another clip from the 1995 Ffestiniog Railway Steam Gala showing the side to side hunting motion of BURGONDE caused by the Klein-Lindner hollow axels: https:

 

How is that caused?

 

You can read all about it here:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Klien-Lindner_axle

 

Three Trains at Minffordd in 1995:

 

Thanks