FR & WHR & WHHR News

Wouldn't it be nice if the WHR could buy/loan one of the Baldwins reported as being imported from India? While not conspicuous by their success on the line in the past they have nevertheless an important link with the N Wales area. Perhaps a swap with one of the Englands which could also be said to be surplus to operational requirements.

 

I suppose that makes sense. Cheers for the reply. Although surely a Hunslet is more useful than Taliesin seeing as they can take heavier loads?

 

You mean the two now at Statfold? The WHHR already have Baldwin 794 under restoration, so hopefully we'll see one of these in operation in North Wales in the near-ish future. Not sure which England loco you'd give to Statfold. I think they're better off on their home railway.

 

I forgot about 794. The reason I mentioned the Englands was that two active ones[ Prince and Palmerston] would seem to be enough for special events, vintage weekends etc While Princess seems to be a roving ambassador at the moment she or Welsh Pony could be restored to active service and play a similar but active role somewhere else. No big deal, just a suggestion. Getting the right balance between motive power that fits the needs of a railway that caters for a wide audience and not just enthusiasts [eg the SA locos] and retaining the heritage aspects of the original railways is always going to be an ongoing consideration. If a Baldwin is as average as they seem to have been way back in days gone by I guess they would have limited use.

 

Actually the experience with Baldwin 778 at Leighton Buzzard appears to belie the old WHR rumours that the Baldwin was a bad design. It certainly performed very well when I travelled behind it and the crews at LBLR seem to think it a fine machine. There has always been a suspicion that 590 was a bit unfairly maligned - or possibly a duff 'un.

On the Englands, I think there is no chance of Princess returning to steam. She will remain in "original company" condition for the foreseeable future - apart from the wonderful repaints that Glen, Bruce and co. undertake at Boston Lodge. It is possible that Pony will be restored to steam, but I'd expect that to take several years: the earliest feasible date is probably 2017 and that requires a lot of fundraising to happen very soon. If you see Pony in steam again, I think 2020 is more realistic. We'll see - personally, I'd like to see the last Large England return to active service sooner rather than later.

I completely agree about the balance between the necessary motive power to run the railway and the "nice to haves". But, Prince, Palmerston, Taliesin and even K1 really fall into the "nice to have" category - not even mentioning Britomart, Lilla, Leary and the C2. The Ffestiniog has a long and glorious tradition of building, restoring and running locomotives mainly for the fun, rather than for strict commercial necessity. Long may that policy continue.

Dan

 

If you think about the FR only really needs 3 engines to run most of it's services. So anything outside that is a bonus. The FR has such a large fan base (couldn't think of a better term) that is can afford to build and restore all these "nice to haves". It's only thanks the many volunteers and donors that FR can have the Beer waggon, spooners boat, Taliesin, Lyd, and even the WHR. The list of things you could deem non essential goes on forever. So the argument that something like Welsh Pony is none essential and therefore should be left alone or sold on doesn't really hold water. After all 200 or so slate waggons are surplus to requirements on a railway that carries no slate, but they are still being restored.

In other news the frames of the C2 are in the erecting shop this week to be welded back together for 597mm gauge.

 

Agree 100%

Great news about C2's frames, I'd been meaning tonask about progress on her, Such a different locomotive that the Victorian-era designs of (almost all of) the rest of the FfR's locos. Will be a treat to see how it fairs going up to Blaenau.

 

On the subject of C2s, there is some info on an oil fired version in my report of a trip to narrow gauge lines around Nanjing last week. Nanjing

 

I would hope that the FR would never swap, sell or give away one of its Englands.

Although I have my doubts above the level of maintenance on the pre-war WHR it wouldn't surprise me in the least if the boiler on the Baldwin 4-6-0Ts would produce enough steam for the FR. Flogging those small wheels up the hill may provide a few issues, and it should be noted that they were designed for the flat of Flanders and small loads, but then I could easily be wrong. The 2-6-2T which was in use some time ago is a very much larger engine and one which I would like to see back in service.

I agree that the 4-6-0T on the LBR looks and sounds great, although I do have some video which suggests that the complaint on the 'first' WHR that the design had a high centre of gravity and was therefore unstable was justified.

Regards

 

I'll let this one drop as its getting OT - i just like variety and the FR and WHR have form for getting a balance of authentic, practical and new build. You may be right about performance of the Baldwins uphill but take a look at this before you make your mind up - the LBR locos sister engine 'Lion' at Upper india Sugar Mills. Not a load for the faint hearted! http://mickpope.zenfolio.com/p699110832/h5ab3036e#h5ab3036e

 

Lovely set, thank you!

Regards

 

Yes nice set, though I respectfully remind you that a loco can be capable of pulling a heavy load, especially when there is no timetable or heavey gradient considerations, but can it pull the same load at ~20MPH on 1:80 (FR) or 1:40(WHR)

 

Yes, I understand that and it was hinted at in my post. I have no doubt that the loco did all that was required of it on the Western Front, but until one is used on the WHR we are no going to know for sure if the reputation it gained on the 'old' WHR for pulling working loads was justified or not. From observations on the LBR I am satisfied that the perceived CofG issues on the WHR were fully justified, but the 'old' WHR was such an eccentric railway, and such a badly maintained one in all aspects, that it's difficult to know where the truth lies re its haulage capabilities. I await the rebuild with some impatience!

Regards

 

Baldwin '590' rebuild | Welsh Highland Heritage Railway

Work on '590' is currently on hold while RUSSELL is finished off, but I am sure should all the money become available then Mr. Keef and co, could be persuaded to work on the two locos side by side.

 

Prince and Princess were reunited at Minffordd Yard this morning. Princess had just returned from her stint at Paddington Station and Prince was being loaded for the trip to the LT Museum Depot at Acton where it will be giving footplate rides this weekend. The pony is being acclimatised to train movements ahead of its appearance at the Steam 150 celebrations May 3rd-6th.

 

What a handsome pair!!

Henry

 

Loco heads for pub

 

For the Steam 150 Gala. Has anyone recieved there preordered tickets and event guide.
Thanks in anticipation,

 

As you know Daniel, I facebooked a reply to you this afternoon... :wink:

For everyone else...

'Steam 150: A Narrow-Gauge Odyssey' is nearly here...

Exactly seven days from now 'Merddin Emrys' will be setting back onto a rake of slate waggons, ready to set off to Rhiw Goch for a re-creation of the 'Centenary of Steam' gravity train...

Pre-ordered Tickets and Event Guides have been mailed today. Apologies for the delay - we were rather let down by the printers and received the guides a week later than anticipated. However the wait will be worth it ...

... once you see the quality of the finished publication you'll be wanting to get a second copy - so you have one to use during the weekend and one to keep for ever!

 

Yes roger thanks very much.
Posted this before. Looking forward to the event very much.