FR & WHR & WHHR News

That's probably because they had already used it for "The" Princess!

 

It's cut and pasted together from at least three pieces I wrote. I don't do press releases. They're a 1980s anachronism. Far better to build up relationships with hacks; fire off the occasional press advisory and ensure that copy and pix are readily available. It's not rocket science. And don't be afraid to pick up the phone - but only do it when you have something you know they'll be interested in. Don't waste their time.

 

hi i hear from Ffestiniog railway society website that David Lloyd George has been withdrawn for an overhaul
I was just wondering how much work it needs doing to it (apart from conversion to coal firing)

 

It's a 10 year job, so a full re-tube and perhaps some stays, plus anything else which may crop up. As you say there is the conversion to coal and also completion of the new power bogies.

 

This may be a silly question, but do the fairlie bogies currently used on the FR require customisation to each loco or are they literally a direct swap?

 

That's a tricky question, there was some discussion about it lately with the move of DLG's bogies to EofM, these were always almost certainly going to fit as EofM ran on them when first built, but there might well have had to be some minor tweaking of the bridal rods, draincock operating arms, etc...

EofM was untill very recently running on bogies that have spent time under ME, so the theory goes that if the ones from DLG go under EofM then it should work vice versa, and that would suggest ME's current bogies which have only ever spent time under ME would go under either of the others, theoretically, but you'd have to do a swap to find out for certain. However ME has steam operated draincocks, so that would require some degree of additional plumbing.

I hope that helps and you are able to understand it.

 

Yep that does make sense, thanks! (Although the degree of 'minor tweaking' to me is an unknown - does it involve a sledge hammer or a screwdriver?)

 

DLG is currently being converted to coal and its new power bogies are under construction.

 

A quick question that I hope hasn't been asked too many times before. I was wondering as most locos are being converted back to coal, is it likely you will try similar with Linda and/or Blanche soon or are they to stay oil fired and not be used as much as other engines? Thanks, Stuart.

 

It is only the Linda & Blanche plus the Alco(out of traffic) that are still fitted with oil firing kit. There has been no official stance on when the pair will be converted, but I think you could be pretty confident that they will go one day, we can only hope that will be one day soon.

 

What he said.

 

Just wondering with all the lovely work that's gone into princess and welsh pony is what there future is after this years celebrations? I am asking this as even though princess being in spooners has preserved her but with all the work that's gone into her why not send her on an extender holiday to locomotion or some other museum to do as Livingston Thomson does? or are there plan afoot to have a museum to house her on or near the fr? I guess Mr Andrew is the man in the know
many thanks
Patrick

 

Let's get this year out of the way first, eh?

 

POsted in the RUSSELL thread, but thought I would also bring it up here, the latest news from Gelert's Farm:

Russell is the only surviving steam locomotive from the original Welsh Highland Railway. In April 2012 the Board of the Welsh Highland Heritage Railway, Porthmadog, decided to send Russell’s rolling chassis, boiler and fabricated components to Alan Keef Ltd, Ross-on-Wye, to continue the restoration work. In June 2012 we made an appeal for £125,000 to complete the work. We have received a terrific response from our Russell donors, WHHR members, Welsh Highland Railway Society members and readers of Heritage Railway and Narrow Gauge World magazines. To complete the work and have Russell back in steam on the WHHR at the beginning of next season we still needed £65,000 at the end of January.

In mid-February we received a single donation of £25,000 from one of our longstanding donors. The donor wishes to remain anonymous. However, our donor has offered to match other donations we receive before the end of May 2013 pound for pound up to another £25,000. WOW! This is a fantastic opportunity - please consider making a donation now.

And it goes without saying, a huge thank you to the mystery donor. Please visit: Russell Appeal for further information/to donate.

Oh and lets not have the usual follow up of "but RUSSELL is not the only surviving WHR loco etc..." lets us just get the remaining money in the bank and then we can see RUSSELL back in action and subject to further improving relations back on track where 'HE' belongs.

 

Welsh Pony has now moved to the paint shop for repainting into FR green as is appropriate for it's current condition. It will be a slightly different shade to the original only so it matches it's tender. Photos here

After extensive sanding back of many dubious paint jobs it turns out the platework is in relatively good condition considering. The only original paint was found on the back of the sand pots. The rest has rusted off or was removed before the loco was plinthed. Palmerston's old smokebox door has been fitted and new spectacles plus accurate nameplates should help to make it look more complete.

 

Here is Welsh Pony in the Paint shop on 1st April 2013

 

Looking great, even at this early stage. I'm very much looking forward to seeing her in the final green livery. Do you know how much patching is being done to the platework? It looks like they've done a fair amount to the smokebox, for example.

 

The cab and tanks are largely ok from a cosmetic point of view and have just had a bit of filler put in the relevant places. If you wanted the tank to hold water, replacement of the lower sides and bottoms would be necessary as was done on Palmerston. The cab is a little thin around the bottom and there are a few post-preservation patches there already. The front and sides of the smokebox are scrap. They have just had the holes filled in and nothing more. As far as i know the only new metal is the smokebox door. The Curved section of the smokebox is still quite thick.

Interestingly it appears the lower half of the smokebox was patched up before withdrawal and these newer sections have suffered the most. Perhaps the old loco crews weren't so conscientious when it came to removing char and ash.

 

Does anybody know what the deal is re: plans for Blance and Linda to go back to coal firing? I'm not looking to stir the pot before anyone jumps on me. I just find it curious that Linda in particular, with eight years or so on her 'ticket', is only doing around 500 miles a year (that's about 10 days of service) because oil is costly. I wouldn't have thought the cost of conversion would be so great that it wouldn't offset (A) the savings made in fuel and (B) the 'cost' of spending a large amount of money on an overhaul and then barely getting any return from that. The editorial and the article on oil firing in the Spring edition of the Magazine were interesting but didn't shed any specific light on when the conversions will take place, in fact a quote lifted directly from the article: "Any decision to convert [Linda and Blanche] back to coal will require a very careful assessment of how they are to be used". Now this is obviously taking pains not to allude to any specific plans that might already be in place, but I'm assuming a decision must have been made on this already...

I just hope it happens sooner rather than later!

 

Linda is out today on a guest driver turn. The two Hunslets are currently surplus to operational requirements with Taliesin and Lyd in service. We don't need four 8 car locos at the same time. Rest assured they will be converted eventually, but other loco work (Isaac for the L&B, DLG's coal conversion + new bogies and major work on NG/G16 87) takes precedence.

Top priority at the moment is finishing off Prince for its trip to the LT Museum Depot at Acton next weekend. It's currently in the paint shop but still needs a steam test after its major rebuild (including coal conversion).