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FR/WHR questions

Discussion in 'Narrow Gauge Railways' started by lynton&barnstaple, Aug 26, 2012.

  1. AndrewT

    AndrewT Member

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    With a UK population of 62 million, no one would argue that even a railway carrying more than 350,000 people a year has reached anything like its full potential.

    And then there's the rest of the world. We have crews from Spanish and Japanese TV coming over in the next few weeks.
     
  2. Sheff

    Sheff Resident of Nat Pres

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    Mick,

    I think you need to have been around on NP a bit longer to understand all this (or waste valuable hours going back over the numerous iterations). There's a faction who have continually attacked the WHR just, for what appears to me, to be the rebuilding of the line in a form that is not to their liking. Your points seem valid and well made to me, though I'm not sure how practical it would be to run different fare structures - most other lines don't do this AFAIK etc. I doubt anyone has a problem with well meant advice and questions, it's all the thinly disguised trolling that gets peoples' goats and makes us gruff.

    I've no Axe to grind with any of the organisations past or present, I just find it incredible that people can sit there and complain about an achievement of this magnitude when they've probably done little or nothing to help along the way. Iain
     
  3. lynton&barnstaple

    lynton&barnstaple Member

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    I have to say how delighted I am to hear that traffic is up in this most difficult year (both weather and economics). I am also pleased Andrew that you just stated that you are not at liberty to divulge accounts which is entirely reasonable. I became reactive when you accused me of being rude by asking a simple question concerning 109. If you had replied that as the FR/RhE PR rep you were not at liberty to comment that would have been completely honest and understood.

    I sincerely hope that we keep away from the usual recriminations on this thread. I have not seen evidence of folks saying the railway should have been built differently so it is not relevent to comment on that here.

    I see no reason why, however, that we should not start a '109 where is it?' thread and those who are not allowed to answer can just not post!
     
  4. Roger Dimmick

    Roger Dimmick Member

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    Pardon me for saying so John, but... surely those who can authoritatively answer the question would have done so by now, as the subject (by your own admission) has been raised several times. The fact that the question has not been answered would indicate either that those people 'in the know' are not members of the forum or do not wish to comment.

    Just a thought...
     
  5. Baldopeter

    Baldopeter New Member

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    Being the 'Premier steam Railway (IMO)' it is only natural that there is an intense interest. I find it a pity that current coverage of work and progress at Boston Lodge is not well covered. I would love to see a Barrie Hughes style website 'Direct from Blodge'.

    It is some weeks since I was at Blodge, but the plan at the moment is to complete Prince ( hopefully in September), and then start on the 10 year overhaul of DLG, including new bogies and conversion to coal. This will precipitate a probable bogie change on EofM as well.

    One of the Hunslet wagonmasters ( Bill or Ben) is also being worked upon as and when.

    I do not know about VoF at the moment, gearboxes are expensive things to fix.

    Current work also includes finishing 138 at Dinas ASAP, due for high season but as usual Garratt's are always a long job.

    The plans for Blodge are always subject to change due to the need to keep sufficient locomotives available for the traffic required. At the end of this week the pressure will ease, but I suspect this year has gone pretty well for loco availability on both railways, but the WHR has certainly been on a knife edge at times. Next year promises to be even better, with 3 NGG16's, K1, Prince and DLG all back and running on coal, the future of the Ladies still to be decided.

    I can report more after my next visit in a couple weeks time.

    Regards

    Peter
     
  6. Baldwin

    Baldwin Guest

    ...well, we did try ! Obviously there's no hope for a decent discussion about the WHR on here. Ok i'm going to say it, in my opinion the re-construction was a c..k-up, what could of been isn't going to be, but it's not going to make a blind difference to my day if it can't be discussed openly, i did think this was a public forum, open to all, never mind.
     
  7. AndrewT

    AndrewT Member

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    All I can say is that I'm proud to have been part of the cockup.
     
  8. lynton&barnstaple

    lynton&barnstaple Member

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    "Pardon me for saying so John, but... surely those who can authoritatively answer the question would have done so by now, as the subject (by your own admission) has been raised several times. The fact that the question has not been answered would indicate either that those people 'in the know' are not members of the forum or do not wish to comment.

    Just a thought..."

    So fine, that does not prevent the rest of us from making conjectures. This is, after all, an open forum.

    Baldwin quote: "in my opinion the re-construction was a cock-up."

    Frankly, Baldwin, if that is your opinion, why not start your own thread rather than spoil this one? THIS THREAD IS CALLED FR/WHR QUESTIONS. I just hope the L&B will be as big a cockup as the WHR! WHY DO YOU FIND IT NECESSARY TO TROLL ON THIS THREAD?

    I echo AndrewT here. The achievement is something to be enormously proud of.

    Thank you so much for your update, Baldopeter. Could do with more of those. What do you mean about the future of Linda and Blanche?
     
  9. Charobin

    Charobin Member

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    As an open forum, would it be reasonable for me to request one of the posters on this thread to tell us a little more here about his own scheme for a 12.25" gauge railway on the Welsh Highland trackbed? It is, after all, part of the Welsh Highland history that very little is known about, and would make an interesting interlude from the seemingly endless 'debate'.
     
  10. Sheff

    Sheff Resident of Nat Pres

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    I'm all ears - tell us more!
     
  11. lynton&barnstaple

    lynton&barnstaple Member

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    That will be me then. That is the subject of part of a book to be released soon so the answer is no. Again, classic tactics of attempted bullying to hide something that is clearly 'not quite right' with the 109 deal.

    I begin to wonder what really is going on when such tactics are employed. The more they are employed, the more I wonder whether some more formal investigation is called for.
     
  12. Baldwin

    Baldwin Guest

    ...."formal investigation" ?...and you accuse me of trolling, you're all over the place ! LOL
     
  13. Sheff

    Sheff Resident of Nat Pres

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    So hang on a minute ..... you demand to know about the progress of 109, yet I can't really see why you have a right to know, unless you are a part owner. in which case you should know already? But when someone asks you about a scheme in which you appear to be involved, you wan't divulge any details because it will be part of a book? Perhaps you should wait for the Pete Waterman / WHR book on 109 in that case?

    Formal investigations? By whom? into what? This has to be the clearest case of double standards I've seen in a long while.
     
  14. Baldopeter

    Baldopeter New Member

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    Thank you so much for your update, Baldopeter. Could do with more of those. What do you mean about the future of Linda and Blanche?

    If Plan A all works through this winter it will leave Linda and Blanche as the only oil burners, with no oil other than rather expensive diesel for fuel.

    There are many plans to convert them to coal, but that 'might' reduce their capacity down from 8 carrs, and we already have Lyd rated as an 8 carr engine, and Tal as a 7 car engine. This year they have seen little use due to fuel cost, and with Brent crude as it is the price does look as if it is coming down any day soon.

    Personally, I would like to see one converted to coal, just to see how they perform with all Blodge has learnt about spark arresting. we will just have to wait and see.

    Regards

    Peter
     
  15. mickpop

    mickpop Resident of Nat Pres

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    Thanks for the 'heads up' Ian - it can be quite off-putting for newbies to be savaged because they have accidentally strayed into a minefield they knew nothing about!
     
  16. Sheff

    Sheff Resident of Nat Pres

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    Well I appreciated it, even if I didn't ask the question. Thanks :)
     
  17. MuzTrem

    MuzTrem Member

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    Well having read this I have a lot more sympathy for Andrew T. If you have criticisms of the way the rebuilding was handled there are far more polite and constructive ways to air them.
     
  18. Charobin

    Charobin Member

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    I am intrigued as to why you appear to have implicated me in your accusations of a bullying cover-up. I have made no comments regarding Pete Waterman’s Garratt, have no formal connection to the F&WHR, and merely took the opportunity (in, as you say, an open forum) to seek information regarding a little known part of the history of the Welsh Highland trackbed, as it would make a pleasant interlude from the endless bickering seen here of late.

    However, I look forward to being able to read this soon to be published book – I presume, after all, that it will also contain details of adventures involving France, Fairbourne, the Elan Valley and the L&B, and will therefore be a very interesting read.
     
  19. Baldwin

    Baldwin Guest

    Sorry for the offense and duly corrected !
     
  20. lynton&barnstaple

    lynton&barnstaple Member

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    Exactly what the businesses of my father and family has to do with this thread is bizzare. Oh you missed out a few, Great Orme Tramway, Silverton Durango and Great Western Railway (Colo) to name a few. However, I am sure you feel a clever clogs now and can return to doing not a lot in the railway world (apart from pontificating).
     

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