Welshpool & Llanfair Light Railway : News

Ballast hopper in operation. Photo K Heywood

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.

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.”

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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

The project to restore the Welshpool & Llanfair Light Railway’s historic articulated locomotive ‘Monarch’ to display condition took a major step forward on Friday 20^th 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.

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.

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

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

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.

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

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

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!

Pouring Concrete at Cwm Lane

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 New Chimney Cap for No.85

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

Turnouts and Carriage Shed March 2007

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 29^th 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 50^th 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.”

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.

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.