Sierra Leone Railway stuff in the UK

As you may have read, a lot is happening with the Sierra Leone NRM in Freetown, and next year we're celebrating some big anniversaries. There's now a supporters group, a registered charity, and you'll see more activity pick up over the coming months. You might have also seen the article in Narrow Gauge World by Helen this week.

• Welshpool has two coaches, and a Hunslet loco.
• South Tynedale has a third class coach.
• Seaton Tramway has some ex-Sierra Leone track, as does the Heaton Park Tramway

• There's some really interesting stuff coming to light at the moment, and some of it in the UK.

We're aware that a few other bits and pieces made their way over to the UK in the 70s after closure.
Have any other lines or collections got any other track or ephemera?

Also - if you've got photos you took of the system in its days of operation, please let us know!

 

I adore the SLGR, has a real colonial feel whilst aesthetically combining elegance and practicality, look forward to the anniversaries!

 

If you want to get a feel for what we're up to, then come along to the Fawley Vintage Extravaganza near Henley in a couple of weeks. We've got quite a large stand which aims to convey something of the spirit of the SLNRM: you'll be able to join up to the Friends support society too.

 

Hi Tim, did'nt the Romney have some rail from there?

 

Ian - I didn't know that. I'll follow up with my RHDR contacts. Thank you.

 

The Narrow Gauge World reports has resulted in some head scratching at Llanfair.

The rail dispatched from the W&LLR to Heaton Park was 112 year old ex Welshpool & Llanfair 45lb Dowlais Steel 1901 or 1902 that had been released from a relay somewhere between Cyfronydd and Castle, according to the people who loaded the rail. There might well be SLR rail at Heaton Park, but I questioning if it came via the W&LLR as reported.

The only rail in the W&L possession that I have been told could of come from the SLR were a handful of lengths (rolled "Shelton BS 30LB") used by the shipping line to protect the deck of their ship from the loco and carriage flanges, however it is not known where the shipping line obtained the narrow gauge rails from (although Freetown is probable). Whatever the source this rail was, is still in situ laid inside Tanllan Carriage Shed yesterday. It is too light for other use on our line.

I did find a single SLR steel sleeper during my search.

Most W&LLR vehicles today carry SLR Grondana Couplings - mostly ex Carriages and wagons. The only identified locomotive set are those on "Joan" which were SLR85's original set (stamped "85"), The Hunslet's set were transferred to Joan as to allow the new drawgear to be fitted before the arrival of the couplings from Freetown.

The W&L also obtained Cline Town's axle weight measurement kit and some special contoured re-railing plates but I have not seen them in the past 15 years so they may have been subsequently disposed of or stored somewhere - enquires continue.

The W&LLR-SLR correspondence files (mostly with Mr. Norman), and drawings for SLR85 and the carriages are held by the W&LLR archivist or in the CME's files.

Kind regards,
Gareth

 

Gareth

Thanks - Ant is already aware of the stuff from Mr Norman and we're aware there's a lot more to be discussed with W&L. I know you two have conversed!

"Next Stop Seaton" (Jay & Voice, 2008) about the 2'9" Seaton Tramway says that a large amount of line was relaid 1971-72ish using "reclaimed [rail] from a closed section of SL Govt Rly... in an almost new condition." This would have been from the Eastern section which had been removed ahead of the later used section out past Waterloo etc.

It was from "George Cohen's 600 Group, an international specialist scrap metal merchant... who had 500 tons of 30lb/yd rail stacked at their docks... it took several lorries to deliver the rail. They had no crane so the rail was manhandled off the lorries. This was a dangerous manoevre with such heavy material. As the last load was being unloaded a rail fell awkwardly on to Alan [Garraway]'s foot.".. the whole line from the depot to Colyford had to be relaid."

(The reason for the new track was that the original bought-in rail was found to shatter very easily, so Alan Garraway the Seaton Tramway's manager, contacted George Barlow of the RH&DR who recommended he speak to the 600 Group for a replacement).

 

Thanks Tim.

It now sounds more probable the Tanllan carriage shed rail (road #1 to be exact) is ex SLR rail as it has the same weight as the confirmed ex SLR rail at Seaton Tramway.

Off topic - does anybody know what happened to the 35-lb rail at Cadeby. The late Teddy Boston claimed in "From Font to Footplate" that it was ex-Leek & Manifold.

Kind regards,
Gareth