Welshpool and Llanfair Light Railway

Conqueror arrived safely, now in Welshpool display shed.

 

Pleased to see Conqueror now free from the Surrey farm buildings. I had to climb over two locos to get to it when we were doing some filming there. Last time I saw it before Peter Rampton's place, it was slumbering in the open sidings at Whipsnade up by the loco shed, so at least it's being stored both indoors and in a place where it can be adequately interpreted now.

 

I hadn’t realised until I saw a picture of the information board in the display shed that W&L loco numbers have now reached 23 with Conqueror! Apart from obviously nos 1&2, which managed on their own for 60 years, the surprising long list is now:

3 Raven diesel
4 Upnor Castle diesel
5 Nutty
6 Monarch
7 Chattenden diesel
8 Dougal
9 Wynnstay diesel
10 Sir Drefaldwyn
11 Ferret diesel
12 Joan
14 85
15 Orion
16 Scooby diesel
17 Diema diesel
18 scrap Resita
19 occasionally working Resita
21 Zillertal (hire)
23 Conqueror

There doesn’t seem to be a 13, and I don’t know what 20 and 22 are, presumably the big red diesel from Taiwan, and maybe the Wasp?

 

There’s fewer still there than that though. 3,4,9, 15,18,19,21 all left. 16 scrapped I think.

 

The big red diesel from Taiwan is DL-34.

 

Scooby still exists, I think it's parked around the back of Tanllan. I believe the red Taiwanese diesel has been given the number 22.

 

Yes, quite a rate of attrition. It’s probably only five of the imports that have been really important over a number of years, 10, 12, 14 with 7 and 17.

 

There must be good reasons for the demise of those engines though. Does anyone have those reasons, please.

 

Mostly surplus to requirements or moved on by their owners. It's over a span of some years though. The first departure was 1968!

A summary is here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Welshpool_and_Llanfair_Light_Railway

 

Wold I be right in thinking that "Orion" went back to Scandinavia ?

 

Yes, back to its original home in Finland.

https://www.jokioistenmuseorautatie.fi/en/tourist-information/steam-locomotives

 

Yes, in 2006, back to Finland.

https://www.jokioistenmuseorautatie.fi/fi/matkailuinfo/museorautatien-hoyryveturit

https://www.jokioistenmuseorautatie...m-locomotives/steam-locomotive-number-5-orion

 

Of the other steam locos (most of which are still there and still cared for), I think it comes down to fairly simple factors like too big, too small, too unreliable and too unconventional. I don’t know why some of the diesels were moved on, Upnor Castle seems to have been pretty useful on the Ffestiniog and one of the others went to Whipsnade.

 

I imagine that it also has a W&L number as well though in the same manner as 14/85. Incidentally, it has just had its loan extended “until at least 2030”.

 

Has it actually seen any use yet?

 

Chattenden was considered more useful than Upnor Castle at Welshpool, and once it became available from the Admiralty Upnor Castle was sold to the Ffestiniog so they could afford to buy it.

 

Thanks to Andrew Simmonds, a photo of the ex-Bowaters pair Chevallier and Conqueror together.

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/18Njdivt7i/

 

Visited W&L yesterday. 1st time in 3 1/2 years. Moat impressed once again.

Sir Drefaldwyn was the train engine with Chevallier slowly raising steam at Llanfair. Train turnout excellent and staff were very friendly. Train pleasantly full.

Amazing to see Monarch again, last time was 1978, and it was in steam and hauled me, as a 10 year old!

Somebody in a message above mentioned the locomotive Scooby, notes yesterday around the back of the carriage shed at Llanfair.

Few pictures of the day, copyright Paul Stanford

 

Chevallier failed at the weekend with leaking tubes, so presumably this was a test steaming after they've had the expander on them!