April 2017 Update
The railway really hit the ground running this year, and the reason why can be seen from a glance at the timetable. In March, there was one operational day, but April featured over 70% of days with a four train schedule. Staggered half term periods and a particularly late Easter meant we were able to capitalise on the leisure market. On top of that, the weather was definitely on our side, thus passenger numbers were distinctly healthy and most promising, being up by 13% for the year to the end of April.
It is not every railway which can celebrate two half centuries at almost the same time, but we are doing so. The first happened on the 22nd April with the official introduction into scheduled service ofGeorge B. Alan White bought this locomotive over 50 years ago and, with his brother Frank, began a real labour-of-love with her restoration, starting initially in South Wales in decidedly cramped circumstances. As more space was needed, she was moved to Llanuwchllyn, and progress was slow as the brothers could only afford limited time on the project. But they systematically worked through various areas of the loco, until it came to the time when other expertise was required. Thus it was that Rob Houghton, BLR Chief Engineer, started dealing with some of the more technical aspects and, to cut a long story to a relevant size, she steamed and moved under her own power earlier this year. Her actual first appearance was a photo charter, during which she performed very well indeed, and all those taking part were totally delighted. Only minor adjustments were needed to get her ready for her ‘big day’ on the 22nd April.
On hand were both Alan and Frank White, accompanied by Alan’s wife and son. Rob Houghton brought the gleaming loco into the platform, where BLR Chairman, Dr David Gwyn, said a few words of welcome in both Welsh and English, after which Alan ceremoniously revealed the loco’s nameplate and all was ready for the first train, probably the first revenue-earning run for George B in her life, and an historic day for the White family, half a century after the beginning of the project. Pride, like the sun, shone through. She will be in regular service throughout the year, another wonderful addition to the BLR fleet.
But what of the other half century celebration?
We mentioned last month that Maid Marian was still in pieces, with bits removed and the boiler sitting on a flat wagon. The only person who seemed unconcerned about time ticking away was our Chief Engineer, Rob, whose job it was to get everything back where they should be. Her boiler passed its pressure test with flying colours, and she was fitted with new injectors. (It is a curious aspect of steam locos in that two can be outwardly similar but behave quite differently, and Maid Marian’s old injectors were always regarded as temperamental, whereas those of visually identical Holy War were always less ‘moody’). A new water tank is being constructed and will be fitted at the end of the season, but sooner, new dumb buffers are to be fitted.
Apart from overseeing preparation of George B, Rob managed to get Maid Marian back together in record time (he has done a few Hunslets in his time) but also beat the half century deadline in that she had to be ready early to visit the Bressingham Gala at the end of April. When Maid Marian was purchased from the Dinorwic Quarry in 1967 by the Maid Marian Locomotive Fund for restoration, her first ‘posting’ was at Bressingham, thus it seemed wholly appropriate that she should commemorate that occasion by taking part in their Gala, and in original form, that of cab-less style, one that, it is intended, she will sport only for this season.
Next year, she will wear her cab again, something that may find favour with engine crews only, such is the reputation for the Welsh brand of ‘liquid sunshine’. As this is written, she is on her way back to Llanuwchllyn for her own special day on the 6th May.
The Penrhyn Coach continues and the anticipation to see this magnum opus completed is growing. David Hale reports:
“Part of the floor to the carriage has been cut to size and fitted, but still has to be screwed in place. Pipers, who are making the seating, paid a visit on the 21st April to check that the mock-ups for the seat frames had been made to the correct size. A slight adjustment was needed, but after this, the mock-ups should be with the firm in Swindon which will be making the actual frames. Now that the sizes of the seats has been confirmed, I shall be able to cut and fit the remainder of the floor panels.
In the meantime, I have started work on the two doors for the carriage. Each door has ten mortises and their respective tenons. These have all been cut and fitted. The next task will be to profile the door stiles (vertical side members) and then the frameworks can be glued together”.
From a layman’s aspect, the intricate detail, which we will never see, can only be visualised and imagined. It should be remembered that the sides and doors of the carriage are curved, thus construction has to include another dimension!
The Carriage & Wagon Department is always kept busy with rolling stock improvements and building renovation tasks. But last month, by way of light relief, our newly acquired GWR bench has been receiving attention. As our photo shows, the cast iron end frames have been carefully painted by Rod Fairley.
With regard to the Red Dragon Project, we report what has happened, and more is happening. After our grant of £38,500 for the loco shed, plus a supporter’s donation of £85,000 for further land purchase, we have just received a new cash donation which will be used to buy the derelict buildings on the site of which will be built the new Bala Terminus. But firstly, the buildings need to be demolished, and the whole operation has to be monitored for asbestos. After that has been satisfactorily done, the site will be landscaped, the concrete crushed and the whole area made to look harmonious rather than leaving the proverbial ‘bomb-site’. We cannot go further until further funds have been raised for the new buildings, hence we cannot leave the area looking a mess in the interim period. To this end, there is big momentum now to raise new funds, not only for the terminus but also for the obligatory Transport & Works Act Order, essential for any railway building, for which £85000 must be found, before any construction can happen. The dominos are really beginning to move.
And finally……. our Volunteers Day on the 14th May is now fully subscribed, and it will be a fascinating opportunity to learn what makes a railway ‘tick’. You will never know until you try, and you can volunteer at any time. We have volunteers from a wide spectrum of professions who never dreamed that railways could be such a fun and productive pastime, whatever their chosen occupation. Try it. You will neither forget it or regret it.
