FR & WHR & WHHR News

Welsh Pony has been repaired however it still needs it's annual boiler exam before it can enter service again.

Blanche is stopped now pending a bottom end overhaul.

James Spooner is now in the works having stay repairs. Likely to be back out in the autumn.

Mountaineers overhaul is continuing.

LT, EofM, Princess remain withdrawn.

Everything else is in service.

As for loco crew instructions at galas. Very detailed instructions for loco crew are issued at special events and an enormous amount of work goes into sorting that out. They don't just wing it. Unfortunately sometimes things happen that aren't planned and the knock on effects can take a lot of sorting out.

 

L-T is indeed in dry storage, as you call it, in Yorkshire in the Main Hall of the NRM where it has been for the best part of the last 40 years. There doesn't seem to be any call by the FR for its return so it may stay for another 40 years.

Peter

 

The NRM is visited by 650,000 people every year which is more than double the passenger numbers of the biggest preserved railways. LT is much better being there than at home.

It has returned for a brief stay in the past. Getting it out is quite an elaborate exercise though so not something you can do very often.

 

Isn't it a collection of very worn out parts?

 

Yes the boiler and tanks are toast but an interesting museum piece . The bogies are an incomplete set of worn out bits.

 

Quite remarkable statement really given the size of the FR's fleet, only 3 locos are in long term storage, everything else is either active or under repair. I remember reading something that it is current policy to keep locos operational, as that is deemed the most appropriate way to demonstrate them - last weekend was a good example of that.
Princess will likely never steam again, EofM has a popular following - so you never know.
Regards LT, NRM is the right place for it given the uniqueness and importance of the design.

Let us not forget that the fleet continues to expand, with 134 added and 2 battery electric locos in the last couple of years and the C2 to come.

 

At one time (I hope it has been changed since), the "interpretation board" displayed with LT mentions that Fairlies were used in New Zealand, Mexico, USA, etc, and that LT was used on the FR but nowhere did it mention that the FR is in Wales.

 

I believe the question related to whether Welsh Pony/James Spooner would be running by mid-August.

Given that the recently completed repair work on Welsh Pony was to cure a hot box problem rather than anything to do with the boiler, I would hope that a visit from the boiler inspector can be arranged before mid-August, so that the loco should be available for traffic by then. I wouldn't put any money on James Spooner being in traffic by mid-August.

 

Thanks very much for this. It would be lovely to see Welsh Pony running. Shame about the Fairlie, but hopefully I can visit again to see it in a few years.

 

Interesting. There is a persistent rumour that Gladstone’s chimney is a wooden replacement, but making an exhibit out of toast is a new one on me

Tom

 

The other point to make, of course, is that while Welsh Pony may be available for traffic by mid-August, that doesn't necessarily mean that it will actually be running on a given day/week that you visit - that's really down to the luck of the draw.

 

Yes, of course not every engine will be running all the time. Looking at the timetable PDF, it seems the most frequent August services require three engines on each line per day. Therefore, it might be reasonable in a week and a bit to see ~4 engines running on each line. It looks like there will be 8 operational FR locos, so I might see a little over half of that number running. I understand the WHR fleet pool is smaller.

Could I ask, of the different named services, what the usual traction for each is? I appreciate it varies with availability but presumably there is some sort of pattern as to what might be a Fairlie etc? Also, are all Welsh Highland services operated by WHR engines, or are any of the shorter trips run by FR locos? Thanks

 

It's complicated so bear with me.

The Mountain Spirit is always a double engine.

The Quarryman is always a single engine usually Linda but Taliesin and Lyd feature occasionally.

On days when the Mountain Spirit does two trips the Woodland Wanderer is also a double engine and they swap over at half time to allow time for servicing. On other days it is usually a single engine depending on availability. If there is 4 woodland wanderer trips the second set is also a single engine probably Taliesin or Prince. These run depending on demand though.

On the WHR what is now called the whistling dragon is usually worked by Lyd.

The Aberglaslyn has been worked by FR engines sometimes double heading but also whichever WHR loco is at Boston Lodge. It really depends on loco and crew availability.

All other WHR services use 143/87/130/134.

 

I forgot to mention the Boston Lodge tour shuttle which uses either the Woodland Wanderer loco or another small loco typically Moelwyn but occasionally Palmerston, Welsh Pony, Prince.

 

Duplicate post

 

“Double engine” = Fairlie?

 

Thank you very much for explaining that - I very much appreciate it. Sorry to ask more questions..... at least relevant to the thread!


By 'double engine', do you mean that it could be either a double fairlie, or two small engines double headed?

When the Woodland Wonderer has a second set out, what time would these depart Porthmadog? Would it be 11:55 in the morning?

Also, is hop-on hop-off seating available on every train? Am I right not on compartment services? And is it always in the same place in the set?

Are all FR locos stabled at Boston Lodge overnight? Or is the Quarryman loco kept at Blaenau? If not is the stock kept at BF or ECS to/from Porthmadog?

Regarding locations where passenger trains can pass, would I be right with the following?:
Minffordd, Rhiw Goch, Tan-y-Bwlch, Tanygrisiau
Pont Croesor, Beddgelert, Rhyd Ddu, Waunfawr, Dinas

Thank you!

 

Yes in FR terms.

Double Engine = Double Fairlie
Single Engine = not a Double Fairlie

Taliesin is both a single engine and a Fairlie.

 

The extra woodland wanderer is 12:30 off Porthmadog. It only usually runs midweek in August.

Rhiw goch is only used if the extra WW runs or there is an extra train that needs. Most days it is locked out of use. The other crossing points are correct.

The Quarryman set and loco are stabled at Glan-y-pwll depot except on inspection days every few weeks. Then the set will work back to Boston Lodge Thursday evening and back up on following Saturday morning.

Officially only the corridor sets have hop on and off coaches reserved usually in the same place. There are boards on the outside to tell you. On the Woodland Wanderer set the open coach is typically not used to for booked journeys and is basically overflow seating for walk ups. You can get on it especially if you are a solo traveller rather than a party of 20. It is up to the guards discretion but they usually let people on if there is space.

 

Thanks very much you've been very helpful!