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News from the
Line
The
W&L in the winter is very different from the summer
operation. The ballasting of over half a kilometer of
re-laid railway took just two days. The railway owns two
hopper wagons, one for doing between the rails and one (shown
here) for the ballast shoulders. See story below for
more details.
Photo:
Kevin Heywood 2008
2007
2006
Archive
News Items
Release
Date: 10 March 2008
Busy
winter on Llanfair Line
THE
Welshpool & Llanfair Light Railway opens its 2008 season on Good
Friday following a highly successful winter maintenance period.
This
year’s track programme saw major renewals completed a month ahead
of schedule, whilst the railway’s annual ‘Workshop Week’ was
dubbed the best ever, with a great deal of essential work carried
out.
The
previous year’s track renewal from Sylfaen summit down to Cwm Lane
(Golfa) level crossing was extended by a further half kilometer
towards Welshpool using, firstly, Polish S30 (60lb) and then Chinese
50lb rail. The latter fits into W&L concrete sleepers and a bulk
purchase has given sufficient for the next two years.
The
railway’s General Manager Terry Turner said a number of factors
had contributed to the success. “Mechanisation again paid
dividends with ballasting completed in two days using the Romanian
hopper wagons and all consolidated in five days with the Plasser
tamping machine. We had
good weather, few hold ups and the regular gang of local volunteers
was boosted by extra people when needed,” he said. “We’re very
pleased with the way it all went.”
The
workshop week from 16-24 February focused on preparing the line’s
operating fleet for the start of the running season, and work
carried out included fabricating a new chimney for 1902-built Beyer
Peacock 0-6-0 No 2 “Countess”
and making various modifications to the most recent acquisition, the
Romanian ‘Resita’ 0-8-0 tank 764.425, built in 1954. The major
change to the locomotive was the fitting of a Lempor exhaust system
to improve performance on the steeply-graded line. Work also
continued on the restoration of 1927-built Kerr Stuart 0-6-2 ‘Joan’,
with the cylinders being refitted to the frames.
W&LLR
Press Officer Andrew Charman, who spent his first ever two days in
the workshop after moving to the area last year from Surrey, said it
had been a very enjoyable experience. “I spent a couple of days
making new lubricator internals for the Resita,” he said. “I’m
a complete rookie in this environment but everyone was very helpful
and I also brought along a friend who spends most of his weekends in
the workshops of the Kent & East Sussex Railway, so I had plenty
of guidance. After some years working remotely for the railway it
was good to finally get my hands dirty!”
Following
the week the W&LLR’s Workshop Foreman Keith Bide said he was
delighted with what had been achieved. “It was the best workshop
week ever, in terms of both turnout and work cleared,” he said.
“Virtually everything critical on the initial work list was
cleared, with a number of additional jobs tackled.”
Ends
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Release
Date: 3 December 2007
A
new boiler for Welshpool stalwart
The
restoration project to return the Welshpool & Llanfair Light
Railway’s 0-6-2 Kerr Stuart tank
‘Joan’ to steam has passed a major milestone with the
ordering of the locomotive’s replacement boiler.
Joan,
which was built in 1927 for service in the sugar mills of
Antigua, came to Mid-Wales in 1971 and entered service in 1977.
The engine then proved a mainstay on the Llanfair line until
sidelined by a firebox failure in 1991. Restoration began two
years ago after members responded magnificently to a £105,000
appeal.
Because
Joan’s existing boiler, built in 1949, was found to be in a
very poor condition, its firebox cracked and barrel badly
corroded, it was decided to obtain a new one. As W&LLR Chief
Mechanical Engineer Colin Tickle explained, designing the
replacement provided an opportunity to improve the
specification.
“We
have reduced the grate area slightly so that the general
proportions and ratios fall in line with those of the Beyer and
Hunslet locos which have given such satisfactory service over
many years,” Colin said, adding that this will allow more room
in the cab and facilitate “driver experience” operations –
an important revenue-earner on the railway. He also said that
the boiler fittings would be brought up to date to improve
safety, ergonomics and maintenance, the working pressure raised
to offer more power potential and a Lempor exhaust system
incorporated to improve the draughting.
The
new boiler and smokebox is being designed and made by Israel
Newton and Sons Ltd. of Bradford to a specification supplied by
the W&LLR. Delivery
is expected in about 18 months.
Ends
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Release
Date: 3 December 2007
Track
work underway
The
Welshpool & Llanfair Light Railway will not be running a
normal service timetable again until next Easter, but winter is
by no means a time of rest on the line. Days after the last
train of the regular season ran on Sunday 28 October, an
extensive programme of winter track renewal began.
This
winter’s programme continues on from the work that was carried
out between Sylfaen halt towards Welshpool a year ago. At the
time of writing track has been removed from a stretch running
from Golfa Halt down the line’s fearsome Golfa Bank towards
Welshpool, and daily work parties are busy renewing the line.
The W&LLR’s Diema diesel, formerly based in Taiwan, is
being used as a works locomotive, based at Welshpool Raven
Square on the opposite side of the cut line to the line’s
Llanfair Caereinion headquarters, and hauling materials trains
to the work site.

Diema
locomotive No.17 has recently had a full service and
repaint.
Photo
Simon Bowden

Winter
exercise. Dismantling and lifting of the old line prior to
drainage work, re-grading of the track bed and relaying.
November 2007. Photo courtesy John Pearsall.
Ends
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Release
Date: 21 August 2007
Second
Pickering Replica delivered to Welshpool
The replica
"All Third" Pickering carriage was unloaded at
Welshpool Raven Square shortly after the last service train
departed the station at 17.00 yesterday, 20 August. The
carriage has been constructed by the Ffestiniog Railway at their
Boston Lodge workshops to match the Brake Composite delivered in
2004.
The railway's
original carriages were scrapped a few years after the cessation
of passenger services in 1931. There were only three in
total, two Brake composites (First and Third class) and one all
third.
The arrival of
the new carriage, numbered 4154, will open up further
opportunities to recreate times past. The Welshpool and
Llanfair Light Railway possesses both of its original
locomotives and several wagons also.


Carriage
4154 being unloaded at Welshpool. Photos: Tammy Stretton
Ends
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Release Date:
4 August 2007
Resita
764.425 available for service
The railway's newest
steam locomotive, 764.425 (No.19 in the W&L numbering system),
is now available for traffic having successfully passed her final
tests and examinations in this country during the first half of
July. The locomotive will see periodic use whilst crews are
familiarised with her, but naturally anybody wishing to visit
specifically to view the locomotive is advised to telephone the
railway, 01938 810441, before travelling.
764.425
at Castle Caereinion whilst undergoing tests before entering
traffic. Photo: B Webber
Ends
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Release Date:
4 August 2007
Carriage
Arrives from Romania
The first of this
year's new carriages arrived at Welshpool on Thursday 20
July. The carriage, a replica of Zillertalbahn carriage B20,
will now have finishing touches added at Llanfair Caereinion before
entering service.
The railway has
decided to take advantage of the delivery of the new carriage to
back-load one of the SLR carriages for external and basic internal
refurbishment in Romania. Over the past year there has been
considerable feedback from W&L members on the possible
restoration of Sierra Leone carriages which in recent years have
only been used on special occasions.
 |
|
 |
|
Exterior
and interior views of the new 4-wheel carriage at Welshpool
shortly after unloading on 20 July 2007. Photos:
Tony Beardsell |
A
nice surprise awaited the unloading team, a spare axle for the
recently purchased Resita locomotive - a present from Romania to
the W&L. Photo: Tony Beardsell
Ends
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Release Date:
23 July 2007
Royal
reunited
The
project to restore the Welshpool & Llanfair Light Railway’s
historic articulated locomotive ‘Monarch’ to display condition
took a major step forward on Friday 20th July when the
constituent parts of the engine were reassembled in the railway’s
Tanllan Yard at Llanfair Caereinion.
Despite torrential
rain, a giant industrial crane swung first the frame and bunker over
to be mounted on the two power bogies of the Meyer-type locomotive,
which had been moved into position on track adjacent to the corner
of the yard where a group of W&LLR volunteers have been carrying
out the restoration over the past five years.
After the frames were
fixed in place the boiler, weighing some six tons and with its rare
marine-type firebox, was moved into position, followed finally by
the side tanks and cab to produce something that once again looked
like a steam locomotive.
Monarch,
the last industrial narrow gauge steam engine built in Britain, was
constructed for Bowaters Paper Mills at Sittingbourne in Kent in
1953, but spent just 13 years in service there. Purchased by the
then-fledgling Welshpool preservation operation in 1965, the
locomotive proved a challenge on the steeply-graded W&LLR, crews
of the time finding difficulty adapting to such features as the
marine-style firebox.
In
1992, with more locomotives having been acquired by the W&LLR,
Monarch was deemed surplus to requirements and sold to the
Ffestiniog Railway, which intended to overhaul and cut down the
engine to enable it to work within the north Wales line’s
restricted loading profile. Monarch was dismantled for this purpose
but then priorities changed and despite later thoughts towards using
it on the Welsh Highland Railway, under restoration by the
Ffestiniog, the loco was left in parts where it slowly rusted until
re-purchased by the W&LLR.
Since
then a group of members have been working to restore Monarch to
display condition, with most of the effort expended during just
three working party weekends in March, June and October, culminating
in Friday’s reassembly. However much remains to be done before
Monarch can be put on display, most likely at the Welshpool end of
the line.
More
help with the project would be welcome, and particular skills are
not needed, as more experienced members of the group will offer
guidance at every stage. The next restoration weekend will likely be
staged in October and anyone wanting more details can contact
project leader Tom White on whitetw@hotmail.com or at 5 Newing
Green, Bromley, Kent BR1 2TD.
 |
 |
|
Both
Photos: Derek Purves |
Ends
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Release Date:
20 June 2007
New
Steam Locomotive Arrives at Welshpool
The eagerly
awaited arrival of Resita 764.425 from Romania took place this
morning at Welshpool. The locomotive departed Cluj works,
Romania, on Thursday 14 June and arrived at Welshpool during the
evening of Tuesday 19 June.
The
scene that greeted W&L staff at 6.00am, 20 June.
Photo: E Niblock / G Hall
By
7.30am the locomotive had been successfully transferred to
W&L rails. Photo: E Niblock / G Hall
Locomotive
No.7, 'Chattenden', was used during the unloading exercise and
for subsequent haulage to Llanfair Caereinion.
Photo: E Niblock / G Hall.
The two
locomotives en-route to Llanfair Caereinion at Castle Caereinion
station.
Photo: John Stretton
Resita
764.425, W&L No.19, at her new home, Llanfair Caereinion
locomotive shed. She will now undergo various tests and
inspections before entering service. Photo E Niblock / G
Hall.
Ends
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Release Date:
14 June 2007
Resita
764.425 Under Test
The W&L's
latest acquisition 764.425 has been successfully tested in
Romania and will shortly arrive in Wales. During a visit
to Romania, General Manager Terry Turner and a group of
locomotive & workshop volunteers inspected the locomotive at
"16 Februarie" Remarul Locomotive Works in
Cluj-Napoca on Friday 8 June before heading to the disused 11km
Abrud- Campeni line for testing on the following day.
Following running
trials, the locomotive was returned to Cluj for minor
modifications and finishing touches before transport to
Wales. Once the locomotive arrives in Wales further
testing and certification will be required before it can be used
on passenger services.
Resita
764.425 being prepared for loading before transportation for
testing on the disused railway between Campeni and Abrud.
Photo: Simon Bowden
The
visiting party from Wales outside Cluj works. Photo
Copyright: Simon Mayor
Under
test at Rosja Montana with Criscior 5. Photo Copyright: Simon
Mayor
The
W&L group also had the opportunity to view the progress of
the Austrian replica carriage at S.C Calea Ferata Ingusta S.R.L.
in Criscior. See news
released on 20 May for details. Photo: Simon
Bowden
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Release Date:
20 May 2007
New
4-wheel Carriage Purchased
In addition to the newly rebuilt
Resita locomotive due to arrive from Romania in June, the Welshpool
and Llanfair Light Railway is to obtain a replica 4-wheel Austrian
carriage from the same country.
Constructed alongside a
refurbishment of Zillertalbahn B20 at S.C Calea Ferata Ingusta S.R.L.
in Criscior, the replica B20 uses a standard Austrian chassis.
The carriage is the same design as three vehicles now
operating on the Welshpool and Llanfair Light Railway (B14, 16 and
17).
Along with another replica
Pickering carriage being constructed at the Ffestiniog Railway and
the rebuilding of ex Salzkammergut Lokalbahn carriage C569 at the
Welshpool and Llanfair Light Railway’s own workshop, the new
vehicle will provide sufficient capacity to allow other
refurbishments to take place throughout the season.
A
delivery date for the new vehicle has yet to be confirmed.

The W&L's ex Zillertalbahn
B17 is the same design as the newly purchased replica carriage from
Romania. Photo Copyright: A.N.T.
Photographics and Keith Adams
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Release Date: 28 April 2007
Progress
of Resita 764.425
During a visit to
"16 Februarie" Remarul Locomotive Works in
Cluj-Napoca, Romania, Welshpool and Llanfair Light Railway
officials were delighted with the quality and progress made on
the rebuilding of Resita locomotive No.764.425 which is due to enter service later in
the year. Many of the components are now complete, and
reassembly is in an advanced state.

Refurbished boiler awaiting inspection and
hydraulic test. Photo: Colin Tickle

Later
in the day the boiler was successfully steamed in the presence
of an independent boiler inspector. Photo: Colin
Tickle

View
from the cab of 764.425 showing the new water tanks and
discarded tanks beyond. Photo Colin Tickle

Various
workshops revealed many new parts for the loco and the last
wheel being turned to the correct profile. Photos:
Colin Tickle.

764.425
had worked on a 10 Km railway linking the chalk quarry at
Sandulesti and the cement works at Turda. Sadly all the
freight now travels by road. The photograph shows the
location of 764.425 before being rescued for preservation.
Photo: Colin Tickle

764.425 stored at Criscior
in October 2006 whilst awaiting restoration. Photo:
Colin Tickle
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Release
Date: 5 April 2007
Spring
opening follows busy winter at Llanfair
The
month of April has seen the Welshpool & Llanfair Light
Railway opening to passengers for the first time in 2007 and the
promise of an exciting season with several highlights to come,
including the arrival of a new locomotive. But no running would
be possible had it not been for the extensive and mostly behind
the scenes efforts of the largely volunteer staff over the
winter months, with much accomplished both on the track and in
the workshop.
Track
renewal has included a long section between Welshpool and
Sylfaen stations, some 32 lengths, each 18 metres long, relaid
on an approximately 1 in 45 section leading from the former
Golfa halt towards the summit of the famed Golfa bank. The work
was a true international effort, using Polish rail on Brazilian
hardwood sleepers, secured with Sheffield steel baseplates,
fishplates from Poland,
clips from China and screws from India!
|

Photo:
Bruce Webber |
Included
in the work was the replacement of the level crossing at
Cwm Lane adjacent to the former Golfa halt, and major
improvements to the drainage including the digging out
of a three-foot diameter culvert that had become plugged
by 16 feet of soil and mud – a tough job. |
The
railway’s now traditional ‘workshop week’ in February saw
a great deal achieved by the almost entirely volunteer
workforce, including work to the motion of Beyer Peacock 0-6-0
tanks ‘The Earl’ and ‘Countess’, and a new chimney cab
for ex-Sierra Leone Hunslet 2-6-2 no 14.
|

Machining
the new chimney cap for loco No.85. Photo:
Keith Bide |
Organisers
reported some 98 man days put in by volunteers with the
second Saturday seeing some 19 people in the workshop.
Workshop supervisor Keith Bide was delighted with the
efforts of the volunteers; “I’d like to thank
everyone who attended
and made such a contribution to the successful
completion of the winter work programme,” he said. |
Other
work put in over the winter included three new turnouts
constructed in South Wales to replace existing ones at the
Welshpool station throat, while the commercial side of the
business was not forgotten, with the shop at Welshpool Raven
Square receiving a completely new interior.
Newly
completed line. Photo: Tony Beardsell |

New
turnouts at Welshpool. Photo: Tony Beardsell |
Now
everyone at Llanfair is looking forward to a successful season,
and one which should see several highlights including the entry
into service of a second replica carriage and the debut of the
latest locomotive to be acquired by the line, the Romanian
‘Resita’ 0-8-0 tank.

The
finished product. Loco No.85 approaching Sylfaen summit at
the start of the 2007 season. Photo: Tony Beardsell
Ends
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Release
Date: 9th January 2007
Royal's
Progress at Llanfair
Efforts
to return the Welshpool & Llanfair Light Railway’s
historic 0-6-2 tank locomotive ‘Joan’ to working order might
be taking centre stage right now, but a small group of members
have also been making good progress on a rather longer-term
restoration project. In a corner of the railway’s Tanllan
yard, the articulated engine ‘Monarch’ is beginning to look
like a steam locomotive again, five years after returning to
Llanfair as a kit of rusty parts following a decade-long sojourn
on the Ffestiniog Railway.
The
fledgling Welshpool preservation operation bought Monarch in
1965, from Bowaters Paper Mills at Sittingbourne in Kent. The
last industrial narrow gauge steam engine built in Britain was
then just 13 years old. Monarch proved a challenge at Welshpool,
crews of the time finding difficulty adapting to such features
as the marine-style firebox, and in 1992 the loco was sold to
the Ffestiniog Railway after being deemed surplus to W&LLR
requirements.
The
Ffestiniog intended to overhaul and cut down Monarch to enable
it to work within the line’s restricted loading profile, and
dismantled the loco. But priorities changed and despite later
thoughts towards using it on the Welsh Highland Railway, under
restoration by the Ffestiniog, the loco was left in parts where
it slowly rusted until re-purchased by the W&LLR.
Since
then a group of members have been working to restore Monarch to
display condition, and over the last year in particular much has
been achieved, despite all restoration being fitted in around
the maintenance of the railway’s active fleet. Most effort is
expended during just three working party weekends in March, June
and October. Both of the locomotive’s power bogies are now
virtually complete, as is the boiler, and the members working on
the project are highly hopeful that these three major components
will be reunited during 2007.
Other
work in 2007 will likely include replating and patching the
bunker and smokebox before applying the standard four coats of
paint, and finding and fitting a suitable set of couplings. Much
of this will be carried out during working parties on Friday 16
- Sunday 18 March, Tuesday 5 - Saturday 9 June and a weekend in
October, and while plenty of work will be carried out, there
will also be some socialising too, including a tour to somewhere
of railway interest during the June event.
More help would be welcome, so if you
fancy a challenge why not join in? There’s always plenty to do
and particular skills are not needed, as more experienced
members of the group will offer guidance at every stage. The
Monarch restoration group are a friendly bunch, and at the end
of the day you will helping to preserve a highly historic narrow
gauge locomotive. For more details contact project leader Tom
White on whitetw@hotmail.com or at 5 Newing Green, Bromley, Kent
BR1 2TD.
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Release
Date: 29th October 2006
A New
Locomotive for Welshpool
Just
weeks after 2-6-2 tank locomotive ‘Orion’ left Wales to return
to its home in Finland, the cosmopolitan nature of the Welshpool
& Llanfair Light Railway’s rolling stock has been enhanced
once more, with the news that a second Resita-built locomotive will
soon be on its way to Welshpool from Romania.
The
W&LLR already owns a Resita locomotive, no 764.423, a 25-ton
0-8-0 tank built in 1954. It arrived at Welshpool in April 2004
after several years in storage for an abortive railway scheme near
Aberystwyth, and is in need of full restoration. Following a visit
to Austria by Terry Turner, W&LLR General Manager, and Romania
by W&LLR Chief Mechanical Engineer Colin Tickle, the railway has
now purchased sister engine 764.425.

Similar
to the W&L's latest acquisition, 764.411 is at the Stainzerbahn,
Austria Photo: Terry Turner
The
locomotive will undergo a ‘heavy overhaul’ by S. C. Remarul
“16 Februarie” at Cluj-Napoca, Romania before delivery to
Welshpool in around six months time.
The
purchase of the Resita follows the W&LLR business plan published
three years ago, though its acquisition has been brought forward
thanks to funds from the sale of ‘Orion’ to its original line.
Resita 764.425 will take the place in the plan that was originally
to be filled by 764.423.
W&LLR
General Manager, Terry Turner commented: “from the technical
specification and following discussions with other users of this
type of locomotive, it appears to be a powerful ‘workhorse’
capable of relieving the pressure on the original Beyer-Peacocks.
Our CME was impressed with the Romanian locomotive works and the
high standards of workmanship achieved there.”
W&LLR
members were officially told of the purchase at a members'
forum held on October 28th, and the locomotive’s impending
arrival has generated a great deal of excitement. With
no similar locomotive currently at work in the UK, the
Resita will further enhance the unique appeal of the W&LLR.
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Release
Date: 29th October 2006
Members
Recall Sadder Times
On
the last day of this year’s main running season, members of the
Welshpool & Llanfair Light Railway recalled a time half a
century ago when prospects for the line looked rather more bleak.
In
October 1956, the W&LLR faced imminent closure. Attempts by
Welshpool Borough Council and Llanfair Parish Council to persuade
British Railways to keep the line open had been given up as a lost
cause. Hopes rested on a preservation society that had been formed
that January.
The
omens for the scheme, however, were not good, preservation society
secretary William Morris, a London-based printer, having told local
paper the County Times that local support in terms of volunteers and
money was ‘not forthcoming’. The recently preserved Talyllyn
Railway was reported to be looking to buy up the W&LLR rails for
re-use on
its own line, while Welshpool locomotive No. 822, The Earl, was wanted as a static exhibit for the Talyllyn museum at
Towyn.

After
lunch the special train combined with the 2.15 service train and is
seen here arriving at Llanfair Caereinion, 29 October.
Locomotives Earl and Countess.
Photo:
John Stretton
On
29th October this year, W&LLR members celebrated the
50th
anniversary of the ‘last train’ with a special train
organised
by the line’s West Midlands area group. Motive power
was provided by The Earl,
and passenger accommodation included the replica of one of the
railway’s original coaches from 1903. Members also enjoyed a lunch
at The Raven Inn, Welshpool, at which Ralph Cartwright, author of
several books on the history of the line, talked about the events of
50 years ago and their significance for what followed, the line duly
being preserved, reopening in 1963 and growing to become one of the
top tourist attractions in Mid Wales.
While
the line is now officially closed for the winter, there will still
be an opportunity to ride the Llanfair train before the end of 2006
with the ever-popular Santa Specials. For more details call 01938
810441 or visit the Santa Specials page.
Ends
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Release
Date - 9th October 2006
Fiftieth
anniversary of closure of the Welshpool and Llanfair by BR
W&L
members from around the UK are set to commemorate the fiftieth
anniversary of closure and rescue of the 2’ 6” gauge
Welshpool and Llanfair Light Railway at the end of October.
A
full re-enactment of the Stevenson Locomotive Society’s
“last train” of 1956 will not be attempted, mainly because
the mode of conveyance employed then – station benches fitted
to open goods wagons without continuous brakes - would run foul
of current health and safety regulations. The goods wagons were
necessary because all the original passenger stock had been
broken up before 1956.
Nor
is it possible to recreate the famous passage of the last train
through the streets of Welshpool, as the town section has not
been preserved.
However,
a special train will operate on the final day of the W&L
season, Sunday 29th October 2006. It will be hauled
by original W&LLR loco No.1, The Earl, which was on duty on 3rd November fifty years ago.
Included in the train will be the Pickering replica coach which
entered service in 2004.
For
the return journey, the special will be coupled to the normal
service train before departure from Welshpool Raven Square at
14.15 hrs. It will then be double-headed up the notorious Golfa
incline. The journey behind the railway’s centenarian
Beyer-Peacock loco’s, through the autumnal woodlands of the
Powys estate to the summit of the line, is expected to be a
fitting climax to the current season.
The
Special Train for members and their guests has been organised by
the West Midlands area of the Welshpool and Llanfair Railway,
the first regional group to be formed in 1957.
Included
in the day’s festivities will be a luncheon and talk at The
Raven Inn, Welshpool, which adjoins the present terminus. The
speaker will be railway Vice-President Ralph Cartwright, who is
the author of several books about the railway, including the
definitive history.
The
organiser of the 50th Anniversary Special, Steve
Page, who until recently was joint secretary of the West
Midlands area, said “This is an important milestone in the
life of the railway.”
“When
we celebrated the centenary of our opening with such style in
2003, the events we were recalling inevitably were not within
the memory of anyone now involved with the railway.”
“However,
even though half a century has passed since the line was closed
by British Railways, there are still many people involved with
the railway who can remember the carnival atmosphere of 1956.
“Several
of them will be travelling on the special train, and reminiscing
about the events of that day.”
“By
that date photography was firmly established as a popular and
affordable hobby, and it would be nice next year to stage an
exhibition of photographs taken at the time.”
Further details
and
tickets for this train
are available from :
Steve
Page
Ty
Celyn, Bettws Cedewain, Newtown, Powys, SY16 3DS.
Telephone
: 01686 650102
Email
- steppage@aol.com
Ends
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Release
Date: 9 October 2006
Welshpool
line goes back to its roots
For
much of its working life the Welshpool & Llanfair Light
Railway was a freight line serving the isolated communities
along its length. Now the line has returned to its roots, coming
to the rescue of a couple who needed improvement works on the
access to their secluded home.
W&LLR
members joined forces with Care and Repair in Powys, an agency
that assists older or disabled people to remain in their homes
in comfort and security, to provide a new concrete path to the
home of Mr and Mrs Mills-Evans.
The
Mill-Evans’s live down an isolated rural track inaccessible to
vehicles, but alongside the W&LLR. The existing track to
their home had fallen into considerable disrepair and it was
becoming increasingly hazardous for Mrs Mills-Evans to make the
walk to the main highway.

Picture
shows from left to right CRiP
Technical Officer, Brian Jones, the contractor, Graham Jones,
Mrs Mills-Evans and CRiP caseworker Gaynor Astley
The
W&LLR was called in to transport the contractor’s building
materials to the site and remove any debris after the work was
completed. Special trains hauled by 0-6-0 ‘Countess’
delivered several tonnes of sand, cement and aggregate to the
property, a task which would otherwise have taken the contractor
a considerable amount of time and resulted in additional expense
before the renewed footpath was completed. The trains just as
easily removed all the rubble and rubbish after the work was
completed.
Gaynor
Astley, Care and Repair in Powys’ caseworker for the couple,
said that the agency had been delighted when the W&LLR
volunteers got involved. “The help was invaluable and it
enabled us to completely renew the pathway to Mr and Mrs
Mills-Evans’ home on budget and ahead of schedule.
We are all very grateful to them.”
Kevin
Heywood, Deputy General Manager of the Welshpool and Llanfair
Light Railway, said that the line was happy to assist:
“Mr and Mrs Mills-Evans’ cottage is right alongside
our railway line and at the bottom of a very steep footpath –
we were very pleased to have been able to help deliver all the
building materials to the site, saving everybody a considerable
amount of time and a great deal of hard work.”
The
£1100 project was part funded by Powys County Council, with
Care and Repair in Powys securing the balance from other
sources.
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Release
date: 3rd October 2006
Tubize
No.5 Returns to Finland
Ex
JMR No.5 (W&L No.15, Orion) has returned to Finland after
nearly 35 years in Great Britain to join her sister, No.4, at
the Jokioinen Museum Railway (Jokioisten Museorautatie).
The locomotive left Llanfair Caereinion on Thursday 28 September
in time for a Friday departure from Harwich on board Mann Lines
M/S Estraden. The locomotive reached Finland at Turku on 3rd
October. No.5 rejoined her sister at the Jokioinen Museum
Railway at about 3.00pm local time.
For
more information about Orion's new home visit www.jokioistenmuseorautatie.fi
(English language available).
The
proceeds from the sale of Orion will go towards another
locomotive for the W&L, but will not fund the rebuilding of
No. 12 Joan which continues as a separate project and is the
subject of an appeal.

Loading
at Llanfair Caereinion, 28 September. Photo: David
Marsh

Turku,
3 October. Photo: Pekka Välimäki

Turku,
3 October. Photo: Pekka Välimäki

Together
again, Minkiö Depot, JMR. 3 October.
Photo:
Juha-Pekka Vitanen
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Release
date: 4th September 2006
Locomotive
to Return to Finland &
Second
Replica Carriage for the W&L

At
the Annual Steam Gala on Sunday 3rd September, the
Welshpool & Llanfair Light Railway announced:
An
understanding had been reached with visiting officials from the
Jokioisten Museorautatie (Jokioinen Museum Railway) to return
exJR5 to its original line in Finland before the end of
September.
W&L No.15 ‘Orion’ left Jokioinen for the UK in
1972 and was eventually purchased by the W&L in 1983. After
extensive rebuilding, it entered service in 2000.
The
W&L also announced the building of an “All Third”
replica carriage to complement the composite vehicle already in
service. The carriage will be in matching GWR livery and will be
built by the Ffestiniog Railway at their Boston Lodge Works. It
should be completed in time to appear at the 2007 Steam Gala.
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