News
WELSHPOOL & LLANFAIR
LIGHT RAILWAY
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News from the Line
Photo: Kevin Heywood 2009
2008
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. Ends '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.” 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
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 Ends 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.
Ends 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 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' 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.
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.
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 Ends 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.
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.”
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.
Ends 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. Ends 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. Ends 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.” Ends GLTW welcomes Snowdon Mountain RailwayThe
‘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 Ends 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”
Photo: Dave Billmore Ends Take the train to take a stroll
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. Ends 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. Ends 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.” Ends 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 |
