March 2015 Update
As this is read, scheduled services will have started on the railway, and the running schedule is shown on the website. In the meantime, the numerous restoration projects are progressing with the onset of more daylight and (hopefully) better weather.
18th March dawned as a bright and clear day with no wind, a perfect day not only for work on the line, but also for a special train that had been laid on as a birthday special. But even with this ‘extra’, work still continued with fishplate greasing, and much progress was made. Attention has also been given to any sleepers deemed to be a bit ‘tired’ at Flag Halt and in Bala Station. Roger Hine has been busy painting the station canopy stanchions in Llanuwchllyn. As well as all this, a start was made on painting the platform edge, where our ‘regular Rembrandts’ achieved great improvement.
The atmosphere in these working groups has to be experienced. The work is vital and serious, but this does not preclude much laughter, plus copious amounts of tea, thankfully catered for in the 2015 BLR budget!
Carriage & Wagon
The Penrhyn Coal Wagon gets ever closer (weather permitting) to completion, and three sides are now in place, ready for painting. The temporary couplings have now been replaced with refurbished originals, and the buffers are being constructed.
The popular open carriage is having a new floor fitted, and special sections will be cut to improve access to the bogies for maintenance. The photograph shows the pattern of where the new panels will fit. After that, they will be carefully painted, in readiness for the warmer months when this open coach is very popular.
Penrhyn Saloon Project
In spite of not entirely favourable conditions mentioned last month, there has been much visible progress, and the photograph shows the completed side frames fixed to one of the ends of the saloon. It has taken David Hale almost exactly a year to reach this point, a remarkable achievement for one person alone. Our photograph shows the framework fixed together, and in this image, we let it say the proverbial thousand words.
Locomotives
Apart from our faithful Trigger, the other diesels continue to enjoy their winter rest, and, anyway, they are not really needed until the season really starts.
As mentioned last month, Holy War is still without her boiler, which is having work done in Bridgnorth. While the opportunity presents itself, other items will be attended to, thus obviating the need for a possible absence later. Alice continues to delight visitors and crews alike, especially in dry weather! Maid Marian had her boiler inspection on the 17th without any problems at all. But the day was very special indeed for another reason.
As you will know, the restoration of Winifred has been gathering pace, with many aspects coming together. Rob Houghton, the BLR’s Chief Engineer, has excelled himself in getting everything back together in his habitual calm manner, while others have been wearing anxious expressions. The 17th was also the day when the boiler inspector passed Winifred with flying colours. Rob had set the fire and was waiting for the pressure to rise. Liz Partridge furiously polished the brass-work to make the venerable lady shine, and then, right on the mark, the safety valves lifted. It seemed to delight the inspector that all was well and, indeed, he complimented Rob on the excellent job he had done on her.
Once the inspector had left, Rob moved the reverser, gently opened the regulator and, with steam from the drains in the steam chest, she moved. After a little oiling, Rob, with Liz firing, took her down the line for her first run in decades under her own power. It was a perfect spring afternoon as the sun glistened on her brass-work, and progress was at a conservative rate, while Julian Birley and David Jones followed her by car, armed with cameras and in the guise of expectant parents! There were frequent stops for oiling, as the displacement lubricators have yet to be connected, but she behaved impeccably, a glowing tribute to Rob’s remarkable expertise. It proved to be a memorable day, as will be the 13th April, the day she hauls her very first passenger train, and a date that is exactly 130 years since her delivery to the Penrhyn Quarry.
And finally……
We hope this gives you a little taste of the enthusiasm and atmosphere to be found at the Bala Lake Railway. The buzz is everywhere, and just imagine what that will be like on the 13th April. General election? What general election?