April 2016 Update
Passenger numbers, by their very nature, do not always follow strict patterns. Those of April 2015 were very healthy, largely as the result of the big celebrations in the middle of the month in honour of the return to service of Winifred, our Hunslet which had been re-patriated from the USA by BLR Director, Julian Birley, three years earlier, and which had undergone a careful and sympathetic restoration, led by Rob Houghton. April 2016 saw a steady flow of enthusiastic passengers throughout the month, the final figures revealing a gentle increase over last year, but with no specific peaks or troughs. It also helped that some school holidays were quite lengthy this year because of an early Easter.
Needless to say, a lot has been happening in and around the line, and one aspect highlights an endemic problem throughout the UK. Volunteers walk the line near the start of the season, picking litter from along the tracks. Some, sad to report, emanates from the trains, with the remainder being simply discarded over the nearby hedges. At the end of the day, enough rubbish to fill two big bin liners was collected. Enough said!
Monday, 18th April was a driver experience day, and we were delighted to welcome His Honour Judge Peter Heywood on to the footplate of Holy War, with Bob Greenhalgh as instructor. Bob tells the story of a memorable day.
Monday 18 April 2016 had been booked as a driver experience day by Peter Heywood. I had shared the footplate of Holy War with Peter on Sunday 14 February 2016, and he had asked me if I would crew with him on his April day. Peter had first ‘met’ Holy War in 1966. Suffice it to say he had requested Holy War for April. Over the closed season, Holy War had been getting painted and on April 18 she looked superb. As the paintwork was so fresh, we were told not to polish or wash the outside of Holy War so we concentrated on the cab brass-work. There’s nothing like a gleaming cab to put a smile on people’s faces.
With a suitable headboard, Peter driving, me firing and Bobby as guard, we set off on our first run to Bala. Not having fired for some time, I was a bit unsure but Holy War steamed and ran beautifully. Peter was in seventh heaven and handled the regulator very well. After servicing our engine at Llanuwchllyn, we had lunch, (thank you Bobby), and of course tea! The second run was just as enjoyable as the first, and Peter was quickly getting the feel of the engine. After the second trip, we put the stock away and, as Alice was wanted for Tuesday, we used Holy War to move her from the shed to the head shunt before putting Holy War away. We then chopped sticks and emptied the ash pit, making sure all was ready for Tuesday. It had been a brilliant day. Both Peter and I had smiles a mile wide. It was great to have Holy War back in service. If anyone fancies a footplate day, I can highly recommend booking one. It’s a great and memorable day out for anyone, even if you have no locomotive experience at all.
The Carriage & Wagon team has been making good use of the dry weather to press on with their re-building programme. They have now completed the second bolster wagon, soon to be joined with its partner. The photo below shows Ian Whitson at work on the re-building of the large slate wagon, placed on the movable workbench in the form of a large flat wagon, so that the ensemble can be wheeled back into the shed, should the traditional ‘liquid sunshine’ appear quickly.
Also under the C&W heading is the construction of a second brake coach, which is required for two train operation later in the year, hopefully as early as June. BLR Chief Engineer, Rob Houghton, is masterminding the re-building of this bogie coach on the chassis of a vehicle which has been out of use for a while, and the interior is being tailor-made for specific purposes. The primary need is the fitment of air-brakes, but the other necessity is the adaptation of the interior for a guard’s compartment, plus an enlarged space for wheelchairs, as well as cycles, in line with our ‘huff ‘n puff’ scheme, where cyclists can cycle along the side of the lake and then take a train for the return journey. To this end, the coach is to be fitted with tip-up seats in one section, thus offering perfect space adaptability.
This was previously an open coach, but another clever idea is being employed to convert it to a semi-enclosed one. In this new coach, the side next to the hills, which has no doors, will have conventional sliding windows, whereas those on the scenic lake side will have half-height doors and fixed windows. The pre-cut wood for the panelling, as well as the windows, has already arrived at the Llanuwchllyn depot, so much progress is being made. The crossover point at Llangower Halt will become an even more popular spectator and photographic location this year, and with such perfect views of the lake and scenery, waiting for a train will, for a change, become a distinct pleasure.
28 – 30 May are the dates for a big celebration of model railways and heritage machinery around Bala.
With frequent services to Bala Station by vintage bus, we will be hosting a model railway exhibition at Ysgol y Berwyn (Bala Secondary School), featuring 15 layouts, including narrow gauge, in scales from N to G. There will also be trade stands and refreshments, plus Park and Ride at both ends of the line.
On the 29th and 30th May only, and organised by the Meirionnydd Tractor and Vintage Machinery Club, the Festival of Transport will host a fascinating display at Llanuwchllyn of vintage tractors, motorcycles, cars, rally cars, Land Rovers and trucks. Any enquiries for entries should be made to Allen Main on 01678-530408.
The two shows, the vintage bus and the railway will give plenty of reasons to visit Bala, with the added convenience of being able to park once and visit or ride all the attractions.
As these extra activities have to be staffed by willing volunteers, we are always in need of helpers for myriad tasks, particularly at the model show venue in Bala. We need help such as parking stewards, selling tickets, stewarding and serving teas, plus numerous other duties. If you would like to help us over what will be a most productive and enjoyable weekend, please contact the railway on 01678-540666.
April 24th was the BLR Volunteer Recruitment day at Llanuwchllyn, and Russell Prince posted the following, in appreciation of all who helped.
To let you know that, as a result of yesterday’s volunteer recruitment day, there were five people booked, and even though one had to cancel because of car issues, he fully intends to become a volunteer. Of the remaining four, they must have enjoyed themselves, as three joined up straight away as Society Members during the day, and all four expressed interest in returning as volunteers.
Thanks to all who helped put the day together, with special mention to Jamie Gwalcherfen Green for all the work done towards the day as well as the contents of the volunteering page on the website.
And finally….. 14th May is the re-launch of Diana, the delightful Kerr Stuart loco, now that she has successfully completed (walked through) her trials on the line, as mentioned last month. This will be the day she officially enters service on the Bala lake Railway, with the first train booked for 11.00.
The owner of Diana, Phil Mason, who has described his charge as ‘a gentleman’s light sporting locomotive’, has assured us that his speech of welcome will be brief. To ensure the assured brevity, the fireman’s hand will be loitering near the whistle.