October 2015 Update
If ever there was proof that it gets busierafter the end of the main operating season, then the last month on the BLR is a living testimony. The Halloween specials were an enormous success, the Wednesday Gang has been getting seriously busy again, one popular loco has been lent out, another has arrived, a Director has received a ‘gong’, and, as always, numerous photos have been posted on Facebook and other sites, just a few of which we include in this report.
We are perennially grateful for the number, variety and particularly the quality of the photos of the BLR.
Our Halloween Specials were very well attended, and General Manager, David Jones, posted this:
“A big thank-you to everyone who helped with the Halloween trains on Friday 30th and Saturday 31st. Particular thanks go to Brian and Sioux, plus Bobby and Roger, for setting it all up. Thanks also to the crews and everyone who dressed up to make this whole event such fun. Numbers were up by around 60%, justifying the increase to two days, and running two ordinary trains earlier in the day was so worthwhile too. All this, combined with a busy half-term week, has taken passenger numbers to over 22,000 this year, our best year since 1992.”
As the photo shows, everyone really entered into the spirit, even if the Grim Reaper found one loco crew a trifle indifferent to his ominous presence! The success of the whole event is probably best summed up by a comment from guests who were staying at Bryniau Golau, the superb B&B that overlooks the line. They simply described their whole experience as ‘spooktacular’. Enough said.
Locomotives
Apart from the delight of double-heading on the Halloween trains, the news this month is that Winifred has been loaned, for a short period, to the Ffestiniog Railway, where she is delighting further audiences in her 1960s paint scheme.
But the big news is that Diana finally arrived at Llanuwchllyn on the 22nd October. Her restoration by, and running on, the Vale of Rheidol Railway have been copiously documented on Facebook by her owner, Phil Mason, and she even made the front cover of Narrow Gauge World magazine. Phil delightfully describes her as “a gentleman’s light sporting loco”.
As soon as she arrived, the team were very keen to try her, and she was soon on test for gauging purposes. She will be launched into service in 2016, after alterations have been made to platforms to accommodate her wider dimensions.
Carriage and Wagon
The Carriage and Wagon team has returned after the summer (now that they have some space), and first in line for their expertise is producing a new frame for one of the slate wagons, and the photo shows the detail and craftsmanship of construction.
Penrhyn Coach Project
This has been making great progress, and as David Hale’s photos show, it is the accuracy and detail that make this whole exercise so fascinating.He describes progress thus:
“The first upper panel is in place but not fixed permanently. The panel fit around the roof rib is intricate and tight, and as it was necessary to fit and remove each panel a number of times to make adjustments to each slot, tape was applied to stop the veneer splitting. The second photo shows the panels pinned and glued in place”.
By the time this is read, all the upper panels will have been pinned and glued in place. The next task will be to fit the linings to the window pillars, but as with all things, weather permitting.
As we have said before, photos cannot begin to do justice to this solo magnum opus. When it is complete, we will marvel at the exterior, but spare a thought for the astonishing detail that goes into the actual construction of this coach and the parts that will never be seen.
Julian Birley BEM
Julian Birley, a Director of the BLR, and who is masterminding the Red Dragon Project, the extension into down-town Bala, was presented, during October, with his British Empire Medal for services to railway preservation, by the Lord Lieutenant of Norfolk in a ceremony in Norwich. That is a great achievement in itself, but in the meantime, Julian has also managed to ‘get on board’ the project, the help of Col. Steve Davies MBE, erstwhile head of the NRM, where he was instrumental in reuniting all six surviving A4 Gresley Pacific locomotives, including the ‘overseas’ two, one from the USA, the other from Canada. He founded the Sierra Leone Railway Museum, and is currently MD of the Surf Snowdonia attraction. His arrival and expertise will prove most beneficial to the project, and we greatly welcome his arrival. There is still so much to do in this quest, surveys, fund-raising, planning consents, land purchases, but two ‘dynamos’ are better than one, so to speak. Julian already has specialist people, such as bridge engineers and others, lined up, but it is a question of dealing with the myriad bureaucracy first, and this is where Steve’s extra help and experience will be much appreciated.
Volunteer’s Day
'A Volunteer’s Day' is how we title this story from one of the railway’s staunchest supporters, Bob Greenhalgh, who not only writes in a way that always captures the atmosphere of the line, but who will be away from the line for a couple of months for medical reasons. We all wish Bob total recovery and a rapid return to Llanuwchllyn.
Saturday 31 October 2015 was the last day of service trains, and also the second day of Halloween trains. I got to Llangower in time to photograph the 13.20 Llanuwchllyn to Bala, the last service train, double headed by Holy War andMaid Marian, the crews being Ben, Martin, Dan and Thomas, with Brian the guard. The train seemed well patronised. The weather was good and the lake looked like a mirror. Having had tea and a flapjack at Llanuwchllyn, (got to keep up traditions), I ventured down to the shed to see the new arrival Diana. Wow, what a beauty, and what a great addition to the loco fleet.
I then photographed the returning train before enjoying tea and a chat with the train crews. The station and coaches were prepared for the first Halloween train at 16.00 which, thanks to the online booking system, had a good number of passengers. The volunteers for jobs down the line departed, suitably prepared with refreshments and those at Llanuwchllyn donned their costumes. I joined the train and enjoyed the trip. A short stop was made at Llangower where many people took the chance to photograph a beautiful sunset over the lake. The stop at the Haunted House was fun, very well done by those who got it ready.
The second of the three Halloween specials left on time, again with a good number of passengers and in fading light, so the lighting and effects were much more appreciated. The Grim Reaper stalked the platform looking for souls - but there were no takers! In the fading light, the loco lamps, having been lit, looked great, a flickering warm glow that enhanced the atmosphere. After the 17.00 had left, I said my goodbyes and left. I had had a very pleasant few hours and all was well at Llanuwchllyn.
And finally…
Having finished with Halloween for another year, it is time to think about Christmas, and all that it involves. As we have mentioned before, our new online booking site is up and running, to the extent that more than 150 tickets for our Santa Specials on the 12th and 13th December have already been sold. We cannot guarantee snow, but you can bet the temperature will reflect the season, the camaraderie and the festive Christmas atmosphere. In the first instance, have a look on the BLR website. But remember that those sold tickets went very quickly after the Santa Specials were advertised.
But before Christmas, we have another working weekend on the 14th and 15th November, so if you feel inspired to help, we would really appreciate your presence. Please get in touch on 01678-540666. It may be work, but it is fun. Even this writer will be there, and that is news!