Sybil Bagnall 0-4-0St

Is anyone aware of Any photographs of Sybil as she was preserved and her current much dismantled state at all
Uk locos has her down as with James Evans under restoration with a View to running at the LSR Anyone know any more details as one of the Penhryn locos to Survive that isnt a hunslet it is a very interesting machine and i hope in time it makes a visit back to Felin Fawr

 

I can't help with any recent pictures, but here's one from 1961 :

http://www.flickr.com/photos/train-pix/5547069345/in/set-72157626307752104

As she was a Dinorwig loco., I doubt whether she would have ever had occasion to visit Felin Fawr in the past although it would be nice to see her there, or at Llanberis, in the future.

 

As Ron has pointed out 'Sybil' was actually a Dinorwic loco - one of three non-Hunslet products used there in the 20th century.

There is a photograph of 'Sybil' at the Inny Valley Railway in Middleton Press' "Cornwall Narrow Gauge". Not aware of any photos of Sybil post-Dinorwic online.

Sybil has not run for over 20 years and is currently dismantled in James Evans' workshop. James has been busy over the last few years with 'Lyd' and restoring a Garrett traction engine, but with both now complete he may have the time to focus on 'Sybil'. She does however require a new boiler for which, if I remember correctly, the drawings have been prepared. Additionally James' Hunslet 'Velinheli' is due her ten yearly strip down so this will take priority for James ahead of any work on 'Sybil'.

If/when James restores 'Sybil' to working order it is likely that she will join 'Velinheli' at Launceston. However hopefully 'Dorothea' will be the next loco returning to steam at Launceston.

 

How is Dorothea getting on, she has been close to being finished for a while now, I assume that other things have been taking Kay's time away from finishing her...

 

She is coming along slowly as Kay only works on her in her (limited) spare time. Current focus is on pipework, which is nearing completion. All going well I think there may be some news on Dorothea later this year - Keep an eye on the LSR website & Facebook page.

Charlie

 

I remember visiting Lauceston in the 1990s and seeing Sybil, complete, parked behind the museum. I have photos but they aren't online.

 

James Evans plans to start work shortly on Sybil. There are a few years work involved but hopefully she will be back in steam "relatively soon".

Charlie

 

I am sure much great work is being undertaken and when finished will be a great runner

 

If you're a fan of Sybil you might like to see the latest photo on our Facebook page which shows her at Inny Valley just prior to her move to Launceston in the 1980s. I hope to get more 'historic' LSR photos online this year but sadly I don't think any exist of the sole time Sybil was steamed at Launceston.


Charlie

 

Sybil is now being offered for sale by owner James Evans to raise funds for the Fairratt project - further details here.

 

Hi all

I am trying to put together a locomotive owners group and the subject of Sybil has come up, if you think you might be interested follow the link below

The_Little_River_Locomotive_Works : The Little River Locomotive Works

Regards

Colin Rainsbury

 

If you want to seriously consider purchasing Sybil as a group, you may want to consider raising more than the £50k minimum - James has already had a fair amount of interest, and if he receives more than one offer will obviously go for the highest!

 

Hi Charlie

I suspected he would, as it has a history for a NG locomotive. I think it would be worth much more than that anyway.

If we had the money, I would have been on the phone by now. I hope he get's a decent offer for her as his other project sound interesting.

May be he could set up a charity so it could then act as the main body which could channel all the money into his new project, it is just a thought.

Regards

Colin Rainsbury

 

Having kept the news quiet for the past month or so, I can now reveal that Sybil has been sold to a group based at the West Lancs Light Railway (although James Evans is retaining a share as part of the group).

Further details here.

 

Press Release 11th February 2013

Sybil Sold

Unique 1906 Bagnall locomotive Sybil, nominally based at the Launceston Steam Railway in Cornwall, is to have a new home at the West Lancashire Light Railway at Hesketh Bank, near Southport.

James Evans, whose family 'adopted' Sybil in 1965, has decided that selling her will give him more spare time to progress a high efficiency Modified Fairlie proposed for the Welsh Highland Railway; some funding to develop the detail design will come from the sale.

A new trust is being set up to own Sybil which will become a core member of the West Lancashire Light Railway locomotive stud. Graham Fairhurst who led the negotiations on behalf of this group, said that it was very pleasing that not only did the deal mean that Sybil was joining the West Lancs. collection, but that the group were part funding a really exciting new build locomotive project in the Modified Fairlie.

Amongst the subscribers in the Sybil group are several younger enthusiasts who will be able to enjoy part ownership of this historic narrow gauge locomotive. James has also agreed to retain a share himself thus maintaining the continuity of "two owners from new".

Much mechanical work has been undertaken by James since Sybil ran on the private Inney Valley Railway in Cornwall, but the first task for the new group is to get quotations for a new 'launch' type boiler. It is intended that the restoration to working order will take place over a reasonably short period and to a high standard of originality.

A spokesperson for the West Lancashire Light Railway said that: "The acquisition of Sybil indicates the confidence placed in the West Lancs. by James, which especially follows on from last year's completion of the very high quality restoration of Kerr Stuart Joffre. This locomotive is an important addition to the collection, which now includes locomotives from most of the main British builders of narrow gauge railway locomotives. The acquisition of Sybil is particularly important as W. G. Bagnall Ltd. was one of the larger and more innovative builders of narrow gauge locomotives for both the home and export markets, and up to now had not been represented in our collection. It is also very appropriate that Sybil will join former Dinorwic Quarry Hunslet Irish Mail at the West Lancashire Light Railway."

Dinorwic Slate Quarry was very loyal to the products of the Hunslet Engine Company and Bagnall Sybil was the only new, non-Hunslet built locomotive bought by Dinorwic once it had become a Hunslet stronghold. Sybil seems to have been a well liked locomotive at the Quarry and lasted in service almost until the end of steam traction there. It spent most of its working life on the Hafod Owen level at Dinorwic, which included working on the lakeside tramway linking to the terminus of the 4 foot gauge Padarn Railway. The locomotive was named after Sybil Mary Verschoyle, who in 1902 became the third wife of Quarry owner Sir Charles Garden Duff-Assheton- Smith.

As is well known, James Evans was the originator and driving force of the new-build, Lynton & Barnstaple Railway type locomotive Lyd, which was completed at the Ffestiniog Railway in 2010, and he is now heading the 'Super Fairlie' project. Recent design discussions suggest that this should be fitted with electronic 'traction control', to ensure that the two power bogies work in harmony with slipping regulated automatically. Thus the locomotive would be the first single boiler, double Fairlie 0-6-4-0T, and also the first steam locomotive in the world to have 'traction control'. Combined with a futuristic welded monocoque construction, it would require sophisticated design techniques, and a sponsor working in advanced technology would be essential for success.

An interesting spectacle for everyone interested in narrow gauge railways will be to see a restored Sybil alongside the new build 'Super Fairlie'.

 

The Fairie Meyer leaves me cold (especially that hideous portmanteau word name), but Sybil sounds a delightful little lady.

 

If you want to keep up to date with Sybil's further adventures, the Sybil Locomotive Trust have set up a Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/SybilLocomotiveTrust - you don't need a facebook account to look at the page and photos.

 

It appears to be a re-invention of the Golwe articulated type used to a limited extent in Francophone Africa so you can use that name if you wish (Another portmanteau word actually)

PH

 

The 'Sybil Locomotive Trust' are pleased to advise that:
Sybil was finally recovered from Cornwall last weekend, and is now fully resident at the 'West Lancashire Light Railway's site at Hesketh Bank, Nr Preston
The Locomotive will be on view this coming weekend at the West Lancashire Light Railway Annual Gala on Sat/Sun 10/11 August.
Although incomplete, the frames (On which considerable work had already been undertaken by James Evans) tanks and bodywork are as received, and it is probably the
first opportunity for over 20 years that they will be on public view.
Please come along and take a look, and possibly buy a share in the 'Boiler Appeal' that will be launched this weekend, and own a share in this iconic locomotive

 

The Sybil Locomotive Trust now have a public website up and running - see www.sybillocomotivetrust.org
This site is slowly adding pictures of the locomotive at various stages of its life in Dinorwic and when with James Evans and recent shots also.

You could become a shareholder in this exciting project to get the loco back into working order, please see website for details