August 2016 Update
Any tourist based operation expects, indeed, hopes to be busy during the main holiday month of August, and the Bala Lake Railway was nothing if not well patronised by visitors. The Steam Gala, held over four days of the Bank Holiday weekend, was definitely a popular venue, with passenger numbers up by 4% over the whole period last year. But the month, as a whole, proved successful as well, with numbers up by a full 15% over the same period in 2015. All at the railway, management, staff and volunteers, extend a big thank you to everyone who came to visit over the weekend.
The Steam Gala was special this year as the railway had six locomotives in steam over the whole four days, the well-known five BLR residents, plus visiting Hunslet, Velinheli from the Launceston Steam Railway. Senior staff from other member railways of the Great Little Trains of Wales paid visits to see what we were up to. The rostering also included the all-girl crew of Bobby Hine and Liz Partridge on Maid Marian, (the three little Maids?). A particularly inspired schedule meant that passenger trains were joined by freights, featuring wooden slate wagons plus the heavier Penrhyn stock of metal slate wagons and the gunpowder wagon. Attached to that one was the immaculate brake van, kindly loaned by the Festiniog Railway. Having passing loops at both Llangower (half-way) and Bala meant that there was continuous action to be seen. But what made it intriguing was the switching of locos, as per schedule, to afford more variety and photo opportunities. For example, Winifred, resplendent in her new paintwork (of which more later), might take the Penrhyn freight stock out of Llanuwchllyn, but would return later, double-heading with a different loco on a passenger train. As one visitor commented; “You have to be on your toes with all this changing and swapping. You just don’t know what will turn up next”. As the Bob Greenhalgh photo shows, the sight of two double-headed trains crossing at Llangower is rare indeed.
On static display were resident Hunslet, George B, plus visiting Hunslet, King of the Scarlets. Also on display, and returning after a number of years away in storage at Statfold Barn, was the 0-6-0 Peckett, Triassic, which will again be based at the BLR for the foreseeable future. George B had the name Wellington chalked on the side of her unpainted water tank, this being her original name, something we will deal with another time.
However, what visitors did not see was the captivating sight first thing in the morning when the locos were being prepared. Before 7 o’clock on most mornings, particularly the Monday, a blanket of mist lay motionless in the valley like a large expanse of cotton-wool, while the surrounding hills were above it.
The activity on shed was cloaked in eerie mist, interspersed with wisps of steam, climbing vertically into the windless air, as the locos slowly came to life. The crews prepared, cleaned and oiled their trusty steeds, to the occasional sounds of banter and tea-drinking. Slowly, as the sun burned through the lingering haze, there would be a number of whistles to indicate that locos were ready, whereupon they proceeded, amid clouds of steam in the cool damp air, down to the coaling bunkers and water tower at the end of the station. All were ready with their respective stock as per schedule, by which time the neighbouring campers had surfaced, unaware of the wonderful spectacle that they may well have heard but had sadly missed.
A traditional part of the Gala is the cavalcade on the final evening down to Llangower, after the last scheduled train has returned to base. Many photographers waited patiently as the ‘train’ of six locos, all coupled together, was assembled (amid more tea and banter), and then left Llanuwchllyn at a sedate pace.
The photographers had departed earlier on a diesel-hauled passenger train, which was then positioned in the passing loop at Llangower. To the accompaniment of six disparate whistles, all pitched differently, the column of six hove into view, and then stopped at the lake-side platform.
After run-pasts in the clear evening light, and to the satisfaction of all, passengers and photographers boarded the coaches and were then dropped at the farm crossing near the top of Dolfawr Bank, the one location on the line where locos have to exert themselves. After what seemed quite a while, albeit in wonderful rustic scenery, there arose from the trees near the lake a veritable cacophony of whistling, indicating that the cavalcade was returning. But this time, all six locos had been uncoupled and were running a safe but perfectly spaced distance apart, ideal for the cameras at the crossing. The evening light was perfect, and the steaming sextet displayed their talents to great effect.
As an epitaph to the ‘cavalcade’, the sight of the six locos being ‘put to bed’, more or less at the same time, was quite a spectacle, and while that was taking place, the static exhibits were being quietly shunted into the shed by the smaller of the two resident Rustons, Lady Madcap. The Llanuwchllyn shed has never had to accommodate so many locos, empty by day, but so cosy by night.
News of the Locomotives this month includes the brilliant paint job performed on Winifred, which we mentioned last month. This difficult task was carried out by former General Manager, Roger Hine, and ably assisted by Liz Partridge, who lends a hand to almost anything that needs doing on the line. The exacting job of the light blue lining was done by Roger, and the whole operation was completed in time for Winifred’s steam test on the 19th August.
Progress on aforementioned George B has been rapid of late. ‘She’ passed her steam test, thus will be ready for the photographic charter towards the end October. On completion, the BLR will have six resident steam locomotives.
As the photo shows, the Carriage & Wagon team have been busy with the new cover for the raised water tank structure. As we see from the photo, the wooden carcass is now complete, but still needs careful painting and rot-prevention to combat the winter weather. This wooden cover will also be beneficial in winter months by keeping the ambient temperature of the water at usable levels.
And finally……. we mentioned last month that the posters are now ready for our Halloween activities at the end of October. Special trains will run to Llangower on 28 and 29 October, at 16.30, 17.30 and 18.30. The return trip will be held up at Flag Halt, where there will be mischief on the part of the resident witches.
Tickets can now be booked on line for this exciting twilight trip along part of the lake, where shadows in the trees may conceal we know not what!
Exactly as this news update was being compiled, George B was steamed and taken for a short test run to Pentrepiod Halt, the first journey on the line since arriving at Llanuwchllyn all those years ago. We will have more next month.
