September 2015 Update
There is no dispute to the fact that the success of the August Bank Holiday Gala has had an ongoing effect on the railway. September passenger numbers were up by 10% on September last year, and the station café is enjoying even better figures, thus the Bala Buzz is showing no signs of diminishing. But while the season per se is nearly over, there is always much happening behind the scenes.
Locomotives
The big news this month is that Holy War is back in steam. With the second return of her boiler, Rob Houghton set about putting her together again. A couple of extra detail improvements were carried out during the process, and we show a photograph of a very proud Rob standing in front of a contentedly simmering locomotive. Bob Greenhalgh, one of the railway’s staunchest supporters, was delighted to see his favourite loco back in steam. It is one of those delicious curiosities about steam locomotives that two almost identical machines, in this instance, Holy War and Maid Marian, can respond in quite different manners, but that is all part of the fun.
Winifred continues to delight everywhere, and indeed, participated in the Vale of Rheidol ‘Forgotten Locos’ festival at the end of the month, although Winifred is anything but forgotten. Co-incidentally, one of her former companions in the USA, namely Ogwen, also repatriated in that masterful coup by Julian Birley three years ago, was briefly re-united with her in Llanuwchllyn, en route to the VoR with Marchlyn, as shown in our photograph. No doubt, a few mischievous thoughts passed through the minds of some!
While on the subject of Winifred, she is still available for Driver Experience, and there is one final slot left in November. She will still be in her 1960s paint scheme, thus the occasion will be very special for the lucky person who seizes the opportunity. Do check this website for further details.
Penrhyn Coach Project
As we know, David Hale is building this coach completely on his own, thus progress cannot be rushed, particularly in view of his ferocious attention to detail, as recounted in his latest report.
“Work is progressing slowly, and the panelling on the lower part of the second side has been completed. I have been cutting and fitting one of the upper panels on one side. It is taking a long time, to ensure that the fit is accurate, especially where the panels fit around the roof bars. Obviously, I want to avoid making mistakes, due to the high cost of plywood (and the time it takes!)".
We will have more photographs to show next month.
Carriage & Wagon
Now that holidays are over, the C&W team resumed their tasks during the month, with space now available inside the shed now that Holy War is back in traffic. The second bolster wagon is all but complete, with just the wooden buffers and painting to be finished.
Next on the list is attention to a couple of the wooden slate wagons, whose underframes need a little work. On top of this, the team will be dealing with the station boarding, as well as the signal box steps, weather permitting.
Another task for later in the year is to raise the water tank in order to provide a better head of water for larger locos. As always, the team will be delighted to welcome all who can and would like to help. It is rewarding, it is worthwhile and in their company, it is great fun.
Lastly in this section, one completed item of refurbishment is the metal GWR narrow gauge slate wagon, which Dan Laidlaw has finished to his usual very high standard, as the photograph shows.
By way of slight digression, there is an interesting story with this wagon, and BLR General Manager, David Jones, takes up this fascinating tale, giving further credence to the fact that there is history everywhere.
“In order to tap into the lucrative slate market at Blaenau, the GWR took over the 2-foot gauge Ffestiniog & Blaenau Railway, and converted it to standard gauge to form the final section of the route to Bala Junction. The F&B served a number of slate quarries around Manod, near Blaenau, and in order to continue to provide a service, they built 2-foot gauge slate wagons and carried these on standard gauge transporter wagons between Manod and Blaenau. The quarries tended to use the wagons as a common pool, if no-one was looking, so they would have ended up at other quarries in Blaenau and on the Ffestiniog Railway.
The F&B route still exists with standard gauge track in place, albeit heavily overgrown. It was connected to the ex L&NWR route from Llandudno Junction to serve the Trawsfynnydd Power Station after the rest of the route to Bala was closed”.
And finally…..
It is nearly Halloween again and preparations are in hand for the Halloween Specials at the end of the month. Please check the schedules on this website. Likewise, much has been happening in readiness for the Santa Special near Christmas, and posters are being printed, both in Welsh and English, for this great annual event on the railway.
The Red Dragon Project, the line’s extension into Bala, continues with fund-raising and myriad administrative meetings and chores. As we have said in the past, no news is good news, in that there is so much ground work to be put carefully in place and organised. It is a major undertaking, will not happen overnight, thus any help and, in particular, donations are always so welcomed.
Lastly, Sam, the delightful pooch belonging to Rob Houghton, (and indeed the railway’s mascot), has been rather ill of late, but we are delighted to report that he is now on the mend, and should be back in his usual boisterous form soon.
Topical postscript
Of rugby prestige, we’re aware,
No more than in Twickenham’s lair.
But Llanuwchllyn’s exempt,
And attempts to pre-empt
Any pain with our chemin de fer.