April 2014 Update
The season has started, and what a start.
Passenger numbers for the month are described, in delightfully understated manner, as ‘good’.
In fact, they are the third highest April figures since 1987.
How well this bodes for the rest of the year.
Winifred
With the other three steam locomotives busying themselves on active service, Winifred’s progress is the hot topic. Her wheels are now back from Boston Lodge, and will be fitted to her frames. However, it has been found that her eccentrics are beyond repair. A new set have been acquired from Statfold Barn, via Boston Lodge. In the meantime, rather than throw away her old boiler tubes, which date from her final ‘re-tubing’ in 1962, a most ingenious use for the old tubes has been engineered. They have been cut into varying short lengths and welded to a base, forming a totally unique and historic pen-holder. These, in conjunction with tiny jam pots containing genuine Winifred soot from 1965, have been sold in aid of her restoration, and how they have been selling!
Carriage & Wagon
In between the usual April showers, this department has continued with the repainting of the Royal Yellow Truck when conditions permit. However, their main activity is with the two ton Penrhyn Coal Wagon, whose sizeable frame was taking shape last month. As the photograph shows, progress is good, and ironwork is being repaired and, indeed, replaced as necessary. But a new priority has appeared in that the axle boxes need to be bored out to accept new bearings, a bonus of which being that the whole frame is getting decidedly heavy. With the frame mounted on wheels, it will be considerably easier to move around, plus it will afford open air working in the summer, which will speed things up a great deal.
Replica Penrhyn Quarry Railway Directors' Saloon
Photographs often say more than mere words, and this selection shows the intricate and time consuming work that David Hale is doing. The base frame for the Saloon has now arrived at David’s house in Somerset, so that previously shown ‘pile of wood’ is really coming together.
Chilmark
The much anticipated news here is that her overhauled and recalibrated injectors and pump have finally arrived back at Llanuwchllyn. Rob Houghton has also fitted her with an air system so that she can pump up the air pressure in the coaching stock first thing in the morning. Rob also informs us that such an air system will make the fitment of a serious low-register air horn very easy, and to this end, the owner is looking for one with real gravitas!
National Garden Railway Show at Peterborough
The BLR could not have had a better stand location at the above mentioned show on Saturday, 12th April. Amidst a sea of delightful trade stands and exhibits, the first sight that greeted patrons, as the doors opened, was Alice with one of her slate wagons, the famous Ivo Peters Bentley and the BLR stand next to them. Norman and Barbara Cooper were effervescing with enthusiasm thoughout the whole day, and putting the railway’s message across to great effect. Pauline Hazelwood had a very good day too, promoting her successful Alice and Winifred books. Many friends of the railway dropped by, and some had come from quite a distance away. All in all, it proved to be a very enjoyable and rewarding day for all concerned.
Addenda
Two interesting pieces of news have come to light.
S4C have been making a promotional film for the Urdd Eisteddfod in Bala, thus it is hoped that there will be some useful television exposure for the railway.
The locomotive, Holy War, has always inspired a degree of curiosity about her name, particularly in these times of religious sensitivity. However, it is known widely that she, as well as others of her class, was named after race horses, which belonged to the family that owned the Dinorwic quarry. We show here a striking black and white photograph of the inspiration for this loco’s name.
Maid Marian was named, in the same vein, after another horse, but Alice and Winifred were named after ladies, but that is another story.