October 2017 Update
October 2017 was a month of success and innovation, and while the overall passenger numbers for the month were marginally down on the same month last year, we had exceeded the overall yearly total for 2016 by the 26th of the month, not forgetting that last year’s figures were a record high.
The long half-term break was a significant factor, as were the Halloween Specials which were very well patronised, 11% up on last year. Much favourable comment was received, a tribute indeed to the volunteers who not only run the trains but also the others who decorate and man the attractions along the line, particularly Flag Halt.
Initially, on-line bookings had looked disappointing, but we experienced a surge of families turning up ‘on the day’, which meant that the trains were virtually full. As always, an enormous thank-you is due to the staff and volunteers who made the Halloween Specials so successful.
The Red Dragon Project has been working away behind the scenes and was delighted to announce excellent news regarding the line which the railway will take in its quest to reach down-town Bala.
BLR Trust Chairman, Julian Birley, had already announced that the site for the new station building in Bala had been acquired, and now added that the Snowdonia National Park planning department has granted permission for demolishing the derelict warehouse in Aran Street, and for the clearing of the site. He commented further; “This immediate improvement to the area will send out the clear message that it is not a case of if but when the railway will arrive in Bala.”
Until recently, land negotiations had stalled with the Trust being unable to agree land values for the acquisition of land to link the new station to the foreshore. But after a realignment of the intended route, discussions with the Bala Rugby Club and a local farmer have produced an agreement in principle to purchase a strip of land along the very edge of the rugby field and a small piece of the adjacent field. This will put the railway within a very short distance of the proposed new town station.
Julian was ecstatic about the new developments. “We could not have asked for more support. It has been a delight to work with the Bala Rugby Club and the neighbouring farmer. We regard ourselves as a community asset, and working with other parts of the community fulfils our absolute aims and objectives. However, there is still much to do, not least the application for the Transport and Works Act Order from Parliament. We look to continue to work with the local community to bring this project to a successful conclusion, creating as it does great benefits for the local area.”
Further details of the extension project can be found atwww.balalakerailwaytrust.org.uk
Back at the railway’s Llanuwchllyn base, the Shed Extension has started apace with the footings for the extra part of the carriage shed being installed. The footings will support the skeletal frames for the new covered section, and will complement the extra track that has been installed.
On top of this work, two sidings have been re-laid with new sleepers, and indeed one has been moved slightly to ease the turnout. All the tracks have been very carefully aligned for total accuracy before they are permanently concreted in place. While this was happening, other minor items were remedied, but an interesting situation arose regarding the points which had been acquired from our friends at the Launceston Steam Railway. We had requested two right-hand points but one set kept puzzling us. One minute we were sure we had a right hand point, the next a left. It turned out to be half a left and half a right that had somehow been mixed up, but Rob Houghton addressed the problem with a delightfully-named Jim Crow clamp which reset the blade end of the point perfectly. We can only assume that there are two corresponding wrong halves still at Launceston!
Our yearly delivery of new sleepers arrived in good time for the continuation of track relaying, scheduled to start in January 2018. This is an on-going exercise and with the resources available, about a quarter of a mile is to be completely re-laid. Regular readers may recall the efforts reported at the beginning of the year, and again much use will be made of our special ballast-grading implements built in our workshops, one to spread the old ballast out of the way for sleeper replacement, and the second to replace the ballast. The age of the existing sleepers vary, and the arrival of fresh hardwood sleepers means that those taken out, which are less than 10 years old, can be re-used elsewhere on the line, and the remainder in sidings, assuming they are suitable, or if not satisfactory for the task, are scrapped.
A charter from Palé Hall Hotel took place on the 22nd October and in spite of 'Storm Brian' doing its best to dampen the day, it proved to be a very enjoyable and totally successful occasion.
The railway was delighted to host the birthday celebrations of Alan and Angela Harper, who own and have renovated the magnificentPalé Hall Hotel in Llandderfel, located a few miles to the east of Bala. The 40 guests arrived in a variety of cars at Llanuwchllyn and, in spite of the weather, embraced the occasion with great enthusiasm and indifference to the weather. Winifred and Alice, both open locos, were rostered for the occasion but the crews dismissed the inclement conditions and thoroughly enjoyed themselves, as did all the guests, no doubt looking forward to ‘smoke-box’ spuds and champagne on their return to Llanuwchllyn.
This unique charter showcased the railway perfectly and, in spite of driving rain, was an enormous success. It also resulted in some significant donations for the Bala extension project. Huge thanks are due to all and particularly the volunteers who gave up their weekend, some of whom journeyed from York, Leicester, Stoke and nearer. As was heard from all concerned; “Wouldn’t have missed it.”
The railway is into the season of the Wednesday Gang and Working Weekends, and before the track re-laying starts in earnest, the perennial chore of tree pruning started in mid-month. For those who have never joined one of our Wednesdays or Weekends, it is remarkable how much can be achieved and with such humour, not forgetting the obligatory tea and flapjacks. Bob Greenhalgh takes up the story of his mid-month visit.
“I was met at Llanuwchllyn by Mark and new volunteer Alan. As soon as General Manager David Jones arrived, Alan was ‘christened’ into the ‘tea ‘n flapjacks’ club. The weekend’s task was line-side clearing just this side of Pentre Piod Halt. Mark and Rob got busy with chainsaws, and David, Alan and I were in the middle feeding the chipper and trying to keep ahead of the chainsaw boys, hard work for three of us, but fortified by the usual copious amounts of tea and flapjacks (a BLR ritual), a good day’s work produced huge results, as the photos show. The severe pruning has made this section of the line much lighter and airy.”
For what is meant to be hard work, these working activities are also hugely enjoyable, so any extra help is always welcomed. Please get in contact with the railway for the next details.
News of our Locomotive Fleet falls into two categories. On the steam front, it is time for yearly boiler inspections. George Bis to have her boiler inspection first, along with attention to the eccentric rods that caused problems earlier in the year. The other steam locos will follow in due course, but all the while leaving two totally serviceable for the Santa Specials, of which more later.
Our diesel locos seldom merit mention, and ‘Trigger’ continues without murmur after Dan Laidlaw’s extensive work earlier in the year. The completion was, by chance, perfect timing as Chilmark suffered a problem after she had rescued the train hauled by George B. A strange ‘knock under load’ developed after her noble rescue effort, but as ‘Trigger’ was back in harness, remedial action was deemed non-vital. However, volunteer Mike, a very experienced diesel engineer, has been looking into the problem, and as part of the investigation, removed all the three individual cylinder heads and cleaned everything. Other areas to be addressed will be the injector pump. But as the steam team is much more important, this mystery must wait and it may therefore be a while before Chilmark’s distinctive rumble is heard again, something that delights many, not least her owner. Anyway, she is in very capable hands.
And finally……. the Santa Specials are going to be nearly full if bookings to date are an indication. There is still time to reserve your tickets as space is available. But please remember that reservations must be done on-line.
We finish with some inspiring photos of a party of young who, after a day in the countryside, decided that dinner in Llanuwchllyn Station would be the perfect end to a great day. Their dress code and appreciation were note-worthy. After dinner, they were given a carefully escorted tour around the loco shed, with no reports of oil on any attire.
