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WELSHPOOL & LLANFAIR

LIGHT RAILWAY

 

News from the Line

First Class SLR 1207 .  Photo Kevin Heywood
Newly restored First Class Sierra Leone Railway carriage mo. 1207.

Photo: Kevin Heywood

2009

 

2008

Archive News Items

 


Release date 25th June 2009

Pre-War Austin Seven cars visit the W&L

A visit by the Pre-War Austin Seven Club will give some visitors to the railway this weekend (27 & 28 June) an added treat.  It is anticipated that over 30 cars, made up largely of Austin Sevens, will gather at Llanfair Caereinion during the early afternoon before their owners and guests depart on a special private train at 2.30pm for a trip to Welshpool and back.  The cars will also assemble at Welshpool Raven Square station on Sunday morning for about an hour and a half from 10.00am before moving on to Powis Castle.

In addition to the ordinary steam trains operating this weekend there will also be an 11.30 departure from Llanfair Caereinion with the Replica Pickering carriages and one of the original locomotives.   Further details are available on the timetable page of this site.

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Release date 5th April 2009

'Comings and Goings' at the W&L

Comings…………

On Sunday 29th March, ex-SLR ‘First Class’ carriage No.1207 returned to the W&L after refurbishment in Romania. The original insect-infested leather armchairs were removed by the W&L upon arrival from Sierra Leone in the 1970s and replaced with bus seats. In seeking to restore ‘as built’ condition as far as possible, SLR 1207 has been fitted with ‘ivory’ internal panelling and 16 new leather armchairs in the ‘Dawn Mist’ shade specified on the original Gloucester C&W drawings. 

W&L GM, Terry Turner:  “For the first time ever, we can offer the sight and ambience of an original Sierra Leone Railway train by pairing 1207 and previously restored ‘third class’ 1066 with motive power provided by ex-SLR Hunslet loco No.85”.

 

Goings……………

The final part of the SLR trilogy, No.1048 (third class) is surplus to requirements at the W&L and has been out of service for some time. The carriage has left the W&L for modification and refurbishment and will eventually reappear as a buffet car on the South Tynedale Railway in Cumbria!

W&L GM, Terry Turner:  “We were delighted to assist our friends at South Tynedale Railway in their quest for a new carriage and we have the added bonus of finding a new use for a historic vehicle”.  

STRPS Spokesman, Brian Craven:  “The South Tynedale Railway has been working to improve passenger facilities for some time, especially as we work to extend our running line a further 2.5 miles to Lintley and Slaggyford, Northumberland. The Society is excited to be receiving SLR 1048 from the Welshpool & Llanfair Railway and to be involved in conserving such an important heritage vehicle for contemporary use. We cannot speak too highly of the support, guidance and encouragement we have received.”

 

 SLR 1207 & 1048, Photo Bruce Webber

A colourful scene. Taiwanese Sugar Corporation diesel No.175 hauls ‘Laurel Green’ SLR 1207 whilst 1048 prepares to leave Welshpool by road.

Photo:  Bruce Webber

 

International vehicles at Welshpool.  Photo Bruce Webber

An international scene at Welshpool. SLR 1207 partially obscured by South African ‘Plasserail’ tamping machine (UGM No.9), ‘The Wasp’ ex MOD personnel carrier, Austrian (ex-Zillertalbahn No.W303) transporter wagon and two Romanian ballast hopper wagons!  Photo.  Bruce Webber

 

A one way journey. TSC 175 pushes 1048 up the loading ramp for its final journey from Welshpool.  Photo Bruce Webber

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Release date 22nd February 2009

Railway to host International

Steam Conference

The 2009 International Steam Conference will be hosted by the Welshpool & Llanfair Light Railway on 3rd and 4th September.  Chaired by Adrian Shooter, Chairman Chiltern Railways, the objective of the conference is to explore the challenges faced with operating steam locomotives against an ever increasing environmental conscience and commercial world.  Details of the proposed presentations can be found by following the International Steam Conference 2009 link.

International Steam Conference 2009

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Release date 8th February 2009

Winter Relay Progress

Opportunities to see and work on the W&L in snowy conditions are quite rare, so the recent poor weather has not dampened the enthusiasm of the W&L track gang who are currently working at the 'Reverse Curves' on the Golfa Bank.

The following photographs provide a snapshot of the outdoor work on the railway during the 'closed' period of the season.

Drainage. Photo Tony Beardsell 

Drainage has been improved throughout the site, the wet January providing the perfect opportunity to find any potential problem areas.  During the first week in February the final new pipes were laid, the remaining section of track bed was leveled, and the sleepers and rails were roughly laid in position with mechanical aid.

 

The Wasp in the snow.   Photo Tony Beardsell

'The Wasp' has been providing transport to site much to the relief of the gang who otherwise would have to walk up to a kilometer at the start and end of the day carrying essential supplies.  This is no laughing matter when you need enough water on site for hot drinks and soup for a dozen people.

 

Setting up the Mag Drill.   Photo Tony Beardsell

Much of the lower half of this year's relay uses a check rail (used on tight curves).  Setting up for drilling holes for bolts to secure the check rail to the running rail takes time and patience, not helped by the need to remove the snow first.  The relay is using 50lb rail from two sources - new rail from China and second hand rail from Trecwn in South Wales.  Most of the sleepers are  being re-used on the site as they are made of concrete, although some new hardwood sleepers have also been obtained.

 

Quarry Cutting.   Photo Tony Beardsell

The snow masks the fact that although this section through Quarry cutting is now re-laid, it still requires extra stone ballast and tamping before the railway re-opens to passengers in April.

All photos:  Tony Beardsell

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Release date 12th December 2008

To Welshpool from Austria – via Romania

Famed narrow gauge railways in Wales and Austria gained yet another connection this month.

The Welshpool and Llanfair Light Railway has taken delivery of a rollwagen transporter wagon, the vacuum-braked six-axle bogie vehicle, no W303, originally designed to carry standard gauge wagons on the 2ft 6in (760mm) gauge Zillertalbahn in the Austrian Tyrol. A number are still in daily use on the line. Transporter wagons were also used on the 2ft 6in gauge 'Leek and Manifold Valley Light Railway' in Staffordshire, but no examples survived into preservation. 

Rollwagen - Transporter Wagon.  Photo A Charman

Photo:  Andrew Charman

The wagon was found in Romania and refurbished before its journey to Wales. W&LLR volunteers now intend to modify it with a prime role being to carry a hedgecutter to ease the task of flailing back encroaching lineside vegetation. To avoid manual handling of heavy objects such as sleepers, the addition of a hydraulic crane may also feature in future plans.

W&LLR General Manager, Terry Turner commented; “The wagon was spotted on a scrap pile during a visit to Romania and arrangements were made for refurbishment before delivery. With a weight of 7.6 tonnes and a very low centre of gravity, this wagon will be ideal for our hedge flailing operations after suitable modification.”  

Rollwagen - Transporter Wagon.  Photo A Charman

Photo:  Andrew Charman

The most popular passenger carriages on the W&LLR are the open balcony vehicles that were donated by the Zillertalbahn, the first arriving in Wales in 1968. One of the W&LLR locomotives, No. 10 'Sir Drefaldwyn', also formerly worked in Austria.  

Meanwhile the W&LLR is busy with its winter work programme. The relaying of half-a-mile of track on the Golfa bank is well underway, with the ex-MOD railcar ‘The Wasp’, purchased in summer, proving a boon for crew transport.

In the workshops at Llanfair, Beyer-Peacock 0-6-0 no 1 ‘The Earl’ has been stripped down in readiness for its 10-year boiler overhaul, while work continues on returning Resita 0-8-0 no 19 to working order after its leading axle failure in August. Progress is also being made on the restoration of Kerr Stuart 0-6-2 no 12 ‘Joan’, with the axle boxes being fitted to the frames in readiness for their re-wheeling. 

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Release date 30th October 2008

Llanfair line bucks economic trend

VOLUNTEERS working on the Welshpool & Llanfair Light Railway have received some good news as the line comes to the end of its regular season this weekend.

At a Members Forum held on 25th October, it was announced that the budget that had been set for 2008 had been exceeded, despite a season that suffered from poor weather and the economic downturn. W&LLR General Manager, Terry Turner commented: “Encouraged by marketing initiatives throughout the season, visitor numbers have been maintained at 2007 levels. There seems to have been a general downturn of around 10 per cent in Welsh tourism and in such difficult times, this achievement is a credit to all involved.” 

Trains run this weekend before the line closes for the winter, though there will be pre-bookable Santa Special trains run over the two weekends leading up to Christmas. Meanwhile the members of the railway will be busy with an extensive winter maintenance programme.   

The likelihood of the current economic situation continuing well into 2009 has meant that the railway has had to set its new budget accordingly, but Terry Turner added that there would still be plenty of new items appearing on the line over the coming year. “Significant sums are being committed to ongoing capital improvements,” he said.

Current major works include the rebuilding of the railway’s 0-6-2 tank locomotive ‘Joan’ which was built in 1927 by Kerr Stuart of Stoke-on-Trent for a life hauling sugar beet in Antigua. Acquired by the W&LLR in 1971, ‘Joan’ has not steamed since the early 1990s. Currently a new boiler is under construction for the loco at the Bradford works of specialist builder Israel Newton & Sons. One of the W&LLR’s original locomotives dating from 1902, No.1 ‘The Earl’, will also receive a 10-yearly overhaul over the winter and will return to service in early 2009.

The line will soon welcome back the second of its carriages formerly owned by the Sierra Leone Railway. Carriage 1207 has been restored in Romania to First Class status, complete with 16 leather armchairs, to compliment Third Class 1066 which was returned to Llanfair earlier this year. It is expected that both vehicles will be reunited with the ex-SLR Hunslet 2-6-2 No.85 in 2009 to form The African Train’ at special events.

This winter will also see the W&LLR continue its major investment in track renewal. A further half-mile of track will be relaid, almost entirely by volunteers, around the tortuous reverse curves on the 1 in 29 Golfa Bank close to Welshpool. Connecting two recent renewals, this refurbishment will complete the entire route between Welshpool and Sylfaen summit – more than half of the eight-mile line having been relaid since 2000.

In another example of international co-operation, rails removed from the W&LLR during the winter will be sent to Romania to assist with the rebuilding of the Viseu de Sus and Moldovita 760mm (2ft-6in) gauge forestry lines. These lines were devastated by flooding last July.

Meanwhile in the opposite direction, a ‘rollwagen’ (a six-axle bogie transporter wagon used for carrying standard gauge wagons on narrow gauge lines), formerly owned by the Austrian Zillertalbahn with which the W&LLR has long connections, will shortly arrive at Llanfair. The line eventually intends to use this vehicle as a flail, for keeping down lineside growth, and a crane wagon.

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Release date 19th October 2008

Railway geared-up for half-term finale

PARENTS looking for ways to entertain the children over half-term this week (25 Oct-2 Nov) could grab virtually their last chance this year for a steam-train ride.

THE Welshpool & Llanfair Light Railway will be running trains throughout the whole of half-term week – the last of its regular season.

Both children and grown-ups are assured of a highly enjoyable eight-mile journey through rolling hills with surprisingly steep gradients for the locos to tackle. This provides plenty of work for the crews, passengers enjoying a close-up view of the footplate action from the open balconies of the line’s Austrian and Hungarian carriages.

Anyone visiting over the weekend of 1-2 November may well share their carriage with several of the railway’s volunteers, who will be taking a last ride before knuckling down for the extensive maintenance work over the winter months. Apart from the Santa Special trains just before Christmas, the line’s locomotive fleet will not be called into action again until next Easter.

For more details of train times call 01938 810441.

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Release date 19th October 2008

Photographer’s friends join him on last ride

ON Saturday (19 October) a small ceremony at the Welshpool & Llanfair Light Railway marked the last journey of one of the line’s earliest volunteers.

Chris Gammell, who died earlier this year, was originally a railway man, and later became a noted photographer of steam railways. But he was also one of the dedicated band of volunteers that in the late 1950s resuscitated the Welshpool & Llanfair after four years of closure, clearing the track of weeds and readying the line for its eventual reopening in 1963.

In particular he was an instigator of a daring move in 1959 to rescue some of the line’s heritage wagons from the former terminus adjacent to Welshpool’s main line station, before the lifting of the W&LLR’s roadside route through the town.  Train movements on this section were officially prohibited, but Chris and his colleagues hired a pair of shire horses to haul the wagons along the track to safety at Raven Square, where the line’s Welshpool terminus is located today.  

While Chris photographed many preserved railways, his affection for the Welshpool & Llanfair was amply demonstrated by the fact that the line was one of just two preserved railways to benefit from a generous legacy from his estate – the other being the Bluebell Railway in Sussex.

At Llanfair on Saturday for the handover ceremony were members of Chris’s family, including his two brothers, one of whom flew in from Los Angeles for the occasion. They joined members of GLO, a social group of former railway men which Chris helped to found and which still meets today. All traveled in a specially-reserved carriage on the 3.45pm departure to Welshpool, where close to Castle Caereinion station a small but important ceremony took place, Chris’s ashes scattered through the firebox of ‘The Earl’, one of the railway’s original locomotives built in 1902.

W&LLR spokesman Andrew Charman said that the railway was honoured to have been able to fulfil Chris Gammell’s last wishes. He added; “Obviously we are very grateful for the very generous legacy left to us by Chris, but we are equally grateful for the pioneering work so many years ago by Chris and others like him which provided the basis for much of what we have on the line today.”   

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Release Date: 20 September 2008

GLTW welcomes Snowdon Mountain Railway

The ‘Great Little Trains of Wales’ has - quite literally - reached new heights as members welcome ‘Snowdon Mountain Railway’ to the family.

The GLTW is a very special way of seeing some of the best scenery in the British Isles by narrow-gauge rail; and whilst members share the charm of old-time steam trains, polished paintwork and brass, each railway offers something very different to passengers.

The inclusion of ‘Snowdon Mountain Railway’ brings the consortium to ten (see below for full list of members)  and adds further prestige to this already world-renowned brand.

…Amongst its members, GLTW boasts the oldest independent railway company in the world, one of Europe’s most exciting railway projects, and some of the most recognisable engines on the planet – including enthusiasts’ favorite, ‘Russell’.

GLTW Secretary, Ray Reid said: “The Great Little Trains of Wales was started in 1970 to encourage visitors to Wales in general and the narrow gauge railways in particular.

“The addition of  the Snowdon Mountain Railway, an established major attraction, to the existing nine railways makes the GLTW a more representative body and its Discount Card an even better bargain.”

Based on Victorian engineering, ‘Snowdon Mountain Railway’ has been taking holiday makers up Snowdon, the highest mountain in Wales and England (3560ft), for 112 years.

The railway is the only public ‘rack and pinion’ railway In the United Kingdom, and with work soon to be completed on the £9m Snowdon Summit Visitor Centre (Hafod Eryri), there has never been a better time to see Wales at its best, by train.

A spokesperson for Snowdon Mountain Railway added: “Snowdon Mountain Railway are thrilled to be a part of the Great Little trains of Wales once again. Snowdon Mountain Railway are looking forward to working with such a prestigious brand and all the people associated with GLTW.”

See the best for less: For just £10 buy the ‘Great Little Trains of Wales Discount Card’ which gives you a 20% discount on the price of a return journey on all 10 members railways (including Snowdon Mountain Railway!) - which is valid for one year from the first date of use (Terms & Conditions apply).

Discounts for Great Little Trains of Wales Card holders with selected accommodation providers close to many member railways!

Available at Booking Offices and online at GLTW website: www.greatlittletrainsofwales.co.uk

 ________________________

Extra information:

The 10 GLTW member railways are:

Talyllyn in Mid Wales: www.talyllyn.co.uk

Llanberis Railway in the heart of Snowdonia: www.lake-railway.co.uk

Ffestiniog Railway in Porthmadog: www.festrail.co.uk

Welsh Highland Railway in Caernarfon: www.festrail.co.uk

Welshpool & Llanfair Railway in Welshpool: www.wllr.org.uk

Vale of Rheidol Railway in Aberystwyth: www.rheidolrailway.co.uk

Brecon Moutain Railway in Merthyr Tydfil: www.breconmountainrailway.co.uk

Bala Lake Railway in Llanuwchllyn: www.bala-lake-railway.co.uk

Welsh Highland Railway (P) in Porthmadog: www.whr.co.uk

Snowdon Mountain Railway: www.snowdonrailway.co.uk

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Release Date: 29 August 2008

Welshpool buys 'The Wasp'

Mike Hart, Director of Ffestiniog & Welsh Highland Railways recently rescued two Baguley-Drewry standard gauge personnel carriers for preservation. Capable of carrying 14 passengers each, the two-axle railcars were built in 1976 for military use at MOD Longtown, Cumbria.

Despite the standard gauge, a width of less than 8’ led to thoughts of conversion to narrow gauge and discussions with Terry Turner, General Manager of the Welshpool & Llanfair Light Railway led to re-gauging by RMS Locotech and trial running on the W&L.

The trials proved so successful that the W&L sought outright purchase of Railcar No.9150, having received approval from HM Railway Inspectorate as a track personnel carrier and occasional passenger use at special events etc. Terry Turner commented: “The railcar will greatly aid track refurbishment and maintenance, allowing personnel and tools to be quickly and easily conveyed to remote worksites. We are very grateful to Mike for this initiative” 

The second railcar, No.9120, awaits restoration to standard or, perhaps, an even narrower gauge? Mike Hart commented: “Having driven the railcar at Welshpool, I can say that it looks at home there. I’m really pleased to have rescued the railcars and delighted to have found “The Wasp” a new home and purpose at the W&L. The second railcar is in storage at the moment and its future has not been determined”   

The Wasp.  Photo:  Dave Billmore

Photo:  Dave Billmore

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Release Date: 16 July 2008

Take the train to take a stroll

Booklaunch.  Photo Andrew Charman

Photo:  Andrew Charman

VISITORS to a Mid-Wales heritage steam railway are being encouraged to put their best foot forward following the publication of a new booklet of walks around the line.

‘Off the Rails’, a 32-page fully-illustrated colour guide, has been published by the Welshpool and Llanfair Light Railway, with the aim of encouraging visitors to spend longer in the area by combining travel on the railway with a walk from the train.

Compiled by Steve Page, a volunteer guard on the railway, the book contains six walks from points along the line, each one supported by maps and colour photographs. All the walks are graded for level of difficulty and an estimate given of how long each will take, while there are also notes on the flora and fauna of the Montgomeryshire countryside traversed by the railway and the walks, compiled with help from the Montgomeryshire Wildlife Trust.

Several railway members contributed to the book, with the graphic design carried out by David Marsh Design, which creates most of the railway’s publications. The maps were drawn by Bruce Webber, a volunteer driver and Trustee of the charitable company that operates the Welshpool & Llanfair line.

The book was officially launched at Llanfair station tearooms on Tuesday 15th July, with special guest Mick Bates AM. Steve Page said he was very grateful to all those who had contributed to the book. “Prior to publication the walks have been path-tested by a team of volunteers to make sure that the directions are accurate and can be easily understood,” he added.

The book costs just £1.95 and copies are available from the stations at Llanfair Caereinion and Welshpool Raven Square, on some trains and other good local tourist outlets.

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Release Date: 23 June 2008

The Earl is Back

One of the railway's original locomotives, No.1 (822) 'The Earl' will be available for the forthcoming vintage weekend on 28th and 29th June.  The locomotive was withdrawn last autumn following a suspicion of defects on two of its axles after routine ultrasonic tests.

New axles have been supplied and fitted to the wheelsets by Baguley Engineers Ltd of Burton on Trent, and returned to the W&L for fitting to the locomotive on 12 June.  Workshop volunteers, mindful of the approaching vintage weekend, subsequently rallied around to return the locomotive to operational status over the following two weekends.

'The Earl' will now join the railway's other original locomotive 'The Countess' and former Sierra Leone Railway No.85 at the vintage weekend, whilst No.19 will take a break from regular traffic and act as reserve locomotive.

During the weekend No.1 will haul the demonstration freight trains and No.2 will be paired with the Great Western Era mixed train (featuring both replica Pickering Carriages and heritage wagons).  A second passenger set featuring some of the railway's former Austrian 4 -wheel carriages will be hauled by No.85.

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Release Date: 20 June 2008

Young visitors invade railway

THE usual quiet Friday lunch-time at the Welshpool & Llanfair Light Railway’s Llanfair Caereinion station proved anything but today (Friday 20th June) when a train arrived from Welshpool bursting with children.

The special service for children of Maes Y Dre School in Welshpool was organised and funded by members of the town’s Rotary Club, with the aim of showing the children what goes on behind the scenes at the railway, and the many different tasks carried out by volunteers who run it.

With Rotary Club member and Welshpool Town clerk Robert Robinson leading the way, some 56 children and accompanying adults were shown all aspects of the railway, including visits to the tea rooms, the signal box and the workshops where 1902-built tank engine “The Earl’ was nearing the end of a repair.

Welshpool & Llanfair Light Railway Press Officer Andrew Charman said as well as being enjoyable the event had been aimed at informing the children; “It’s exactly 40 years since steam was withdrawn from Britain’s main lines and to many children today a steam engine is a thing of mystery. For all we know some of the children visiting today could be the volunteers to tomorrow keeping the railway running for future generations to enjoy.”   

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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.”

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