Gwili Motive Power 2011

Just to bring you all up to date with the goings on,

Haulwen passed it's cold exam today and should be ok to start the season. Had various bits done on it over the winter ready for the season and will be the main loco again.

Olwen is away at a private site in Swansea having a retube under cover

We are pleased to confirm that 0-6-0T Jennifer from Llangollen will be joining us for 12 months. Should be in use around 40 days so plenty of chance to see it in action.

Welsh Guardsman remains in store pending funding for the boiler overhaul.

On the Diesel front 14901 is due to arrive from Peak Rail for a 2 year stay this weekend

Our Class 03 D2178 is operational but will be relegated to "standby to the standby" once 14901 arrives. It will probably be withdrawn for some work on the wheelsets at some point.

So plenty of excuses to come down to West Wales this year!

Regards

Matt

 

Thanks for that. Any idea what will be working at the Thomas event, along with Haulwen, please? Hoping to take my 3 yo daughter on the Monday.

 

The Jinty from the Llangollen is Thomas.

 

Thanks for that.
Will the 03 or the Teddy Bear perform?

 

Thomas formation is likely to be the Jinty and Cl 14 top and tail with Haulwen standing in for Percy at Llwyfan Cerrig (he is unwell....)

That's TBC so I'll confirm again once I know for sure.

Regards
Matt

 

Sounds good, will make every effort to attend, having not made the Santas due to the weather! Thanks for your prompt response.

 

If your attending on the friday i'll be about as either Thomas's fireman or Haulwen's all being well.

 

Ah, expect I'll be doing "family" stuff on Friday. Monday looks the only possibility at present. Hope there's a decent turn out on all four days.

 

Same here! im only down for the Friday of the event but also have the dining turn on the Sunday before (17th)

 

Sounds good. I've never seen Jennifer working although I remember seeing it parked up the back of the goods shed at Llangollen for many years when I was younger.

Edit: It wasn't Jennifer I remember seeing, it was Richborough (at least that's what I think it was called).

 

Sorry this is a bit O/T but there is another excellent video on YouTube by Bob Masterman of the two refurbished dining train coaches which are seen in the colours of Felinfoel Brewery together for the first time. We have a TSO with 64 seats and a bar coach. These together with the Kitchen Car (ex MK1 BG) form the railway's dining train. The first outing will be Mothering Sunday, check out the website for further dates.

This is the culmination of several years of hard work in building up the dining train and if you get the chance to travel and dine I'm sure you won't be dissapointed. There are several events throught the year such as Murder Mystery, Jazz and Cream Teas when the set is in use so come on down!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HtgV5WHCqVg

 

14901 has now arrived, within hours it had been on a test run, looking and sounding good. Non operational ex Mountain Ash Avonside 0-6-0ST "Sir John" left the railway on the same lorry, destined for static display on the Llanelli and Mynydd Mawr project at Cynheidre.

In other news, the gate catches were being fitted to the level crossing posts today, these being the last major bits of the project. Painting of the gates will now be progressed.

Edit - just found this video....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bc97mLyJjZQ

 

For those interested, here's a picture of 14901 at Danycoed, on the test train on April 2nd.... (courtesy of Rob Phillips).

http://www.flickr.com/photos/oldmiwl/5591564259/in/set-72157626309362205/

Don't forget that we are running trains daily from now until next Thursday (14th) - departures from Bronwydd Arms at 1030, 1150, 1320, 1450 and 1605.

This Saturday (9th) is the exception however, being a 'Murder Mystery' night; featuring a four course meal on the recently overhauled dining set, as well as the bar-car, if that tempts...

"Haulwen" is the booked loco for all of these workings.

Cheers,

Phil.

 

To confirm, the public debut of the Class 14 will be at the Thomas event. It will be a fairly "blue" sight with the Cl 14 in this colour hauling the DMU with something else that's blue on the other end....no double arrow logo on that one though.....
Easter Weekend, all 4 days. Something for the adults as well as the kids!

 

Will be a good weekend Matt! See you on the friday morning!

 

Corporate blue comes to the Gwili, perchance...?

:behindsofa:

 

some pics attached, the first of the crossing gates receiving some white gloss (how long will they stay this shiny...) and in the background you can see the railway's new road railer which we recently purchased. The second shows Haulwen in the sun after a day's work on the sunday diner.

 

Good pictures Matt.

 

From tomorrow the railway is now open daily until the end of September (2 saturdays in May excepted) and as you may have read on the Class 14 thread, Haulwen has failed. So services Thursday - Monday will be operated by LMS Jinty 47298, no Thomas face or No.1's, but still in blue.... Jennifer should be arriving soon for the season, but it is probable that there will be some Class 14 haulage as well in May, more details when known.

The plan is to repair Haulwen asap as the failure is not terminal, but the usual "how long is a piece of string" answer applies to when it might be up and runnning again.

 

Look forward to seeing "Jennifer", hope to "Haulwen" running soon!