I’ve moved about twenty miles to the village of Waun Fawr. It lies on the route of The Welsh Highland Railway. This and The Welsh Mountain Railway though not unique in global terms are not replicated anywhere in the UK.
This is a Garrett 2-6-2 + 2-6-2 articulated two foot gauge locomotive. She was built in Manchester England in the early nineteen fifties so is younger than I am. I think this is a modified one. They diverted smoke box gasses on some of these back into the firebox. Fuel efficiency increased by a quarter. I can’t get on the internet to find out as I’m uploading another awful video. She does seem to have an odd pipe running down he boiler frame so I suspect I’m right. I’ll have to get a jacket with a furry hood then I’d know I am.
This is the two foot gauge track she runs on. The line is single track. I know you will have noticed two tracks, this is a passing loop. It’s a very safe system as should the line ahead not be clear this train can’t proceed without a token from the up train. The drivers swap a baton over, a bit like relay racers in the Olympics but in a more relaxed manner. They only issue batons at the controlling end of the line; and not one more than the line has passing places. A fool proof system.
As far as I know all these locomotives were built for The South African Railways. The last few were built in the mid nineteen sixties. I’ll check tomorrow as my memory is not what it was.
It was raining really hard. These cabs have a sun roof but this one doesn’t shut. The fireman was shovelling coal for all he was worth with the injectors on to make sure she had enough steam to climb the flanks of mount Snowden before her descent to Beddlegert and her destination at Porthmadog.
The front tender holds water and the rear one coal. This the water tower she drinks from.
This is the stream that supplies the water….I’m being fanciful. Boiler water has to be totally inert and free of salts and other minerals these days. This water must be the purest in the country. I suspect they import their own water for the water tower these days.
These are my favourite locomotive. Not pretty but they are really efficient work horses. To see them working hard on the gradients here is a once in a lifetime experience….unless like me you keep popping back for another look.
The line runs from Caernarfon to Porthmadog. I think a return ticket is in the region of thirty ponds or so. Makes InterCity prices look a little on the expensive side.
I’ve waited for three hours for this video to upload to YouTube then they tell me it looks a bit shaky….I’ll give them their due they are polite.
It is a bit shaky, well up to my normal standard.
Tomorrow there are no trains running so I’ll stop an extra day and go macroing tomorrow. When I post please tell or let me know if they are shaky or a bit dodgy. I need help with this video malarky.
Have fun.
Nice set of pics, great looking engine love it. Thanks for sharing Adrian.
ReplyDeleteThanks.
DeleteI really enjoyed that Adrian. Definitely on my bucket list. In fact as I don't have a bucket list this can be the starting item.
ReplyDeleteI now officially have a bucket list. It's in Wunderflist and entitled Bucket List. I'm full of originality am I.
ReplyDeleteGraham, there isn't a shortage of steam railways in North Wales. I suspect they could keep you occupied for a week.
Deletewhat a gorgeous engine! steam engines here, I think, might be available at a museum. I used to love hearing one approaching near enough for me to hear it. my grandpa would entertain me when I was wee with his vocal rendition of a steam engines' tooting sound.
ReplyDeleteNorma, restoring and running steam railways is a growth industry here. There are lots to choose from.
DeleteI though it was a nicely edited video Adrian, i think that's the first time I've heard your voice too.
ReplyDeleteDouglas, I'll try for another one on Saturday. There was another clip of me chastiseing the dogs but I had to delete that.
DeleteNo sé si puedes imaginar la alegría que me he llevado al ver el video !!!
ReplyDeleteA esos trenes de vapor subíamos en los años 60 y me ha gustado mucho volver a recordarlo:)))
Por aquí desde 1984 no pasa ninguno, la estación de ferrocarril se cerró, y está abandonada:((
Gracias ADRIAN por compartirlo.
Un abrazo
Me puedo imaginar su alegría. Son trenes emocionante y magnífico.
DeleteMe quedo un día más por lo intentará de otro video el sábado.
Hi Adrian, your video is a little bit shaky but still a very good free hand video. The only way to get rid of all the shake is to tripod the camera. I have no problems with your video, the ones that are so picky can go jump in a lake.
ReplyDeleteHorst, I'll try and get organised on Saturday. I'll even try and script a bit of commentary. I'll also put the camera on auto and servo focus. I'll play with it today.
DeleteIt's a great looking train and great pictures.
ReplyDeleteThanks David. I'm staying an extra day as I missed quite a few bits and pieces. It was raining hard. I'll leave the dogs in the van as they don't help.
DeleteAdrian, that was really special, photos, story and vid. Thank you for sharing it. What did you shoot it on? A bit shaky but nothing too distracting. My Dad worked for the railways, so I particularly like trains.
ReplyDeleteCarol, I don't like doing video. I'll use a tripod next time.
DeleteI used a Canon 5D II. I'll have to try and make sure it stays in focus next time.
I'm certainly interested in steam locomotives. This sounds like a very interesting system. I've never seen a 2 ft system. I would think it would be awfully small.
ReplyDeleteRed, narrow gauge was popular worldwide where the terrain was difficult. It couldn't manage very large loadings but corner radii are much smaller so getting up hills was much cheaper. I think these Garrett locos can manage a 100' radius bend.
DeleteInteresting post Adrian. You don't sound anything like Fred Dibnah though....thank goodness. In Wales now, are you heading south?
ReplyDeleteGary, Fred was from the enemy tribe over the hill from Yorkshire.
DeleteNo I'm heading up into the Lake District next week to try for the autumn colours.
Excellent video! I haven't had the chance to really appreciate the narrow gauge lines in Wales recently (last time was probably early 90s on family holidays, other than my afternoon driving one on the Welshpool railway) and I certainly never managed to see a Garrett so am definitely jealous.
ReplyDeleteIf you ever have the misfortune to end up in Manchester (wrong side of the hill and all that) then there is a standard gauge Garrett in the Power Hall at the Museum of Science and Industry -- it's huge!
Mark, it is well worth a visit. It is only a hop skip and jump from your father-in-law's house.
DeleteThe standard gauge locomotive must be a wonderful machine. A pity it isn't running somewhere.
QUOTE - "She was built in Manchester England in the early nineteen fifties so is younger than I am."....Who are you kidding Adrian? It is a well-known fact that you were born in the nineteen thirties!
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure, YP that maths is your strong subject: either that or the interpretation of the English language. Or am I missing something? Given that I'm older than Adrian you may, of course, just have hit a nerve.
DeleteYP. I can remember horse drawn trams. I saw them at Crich. I was born in 1950.
DeleteQUOTE - "She was built in Manchester England in the early nineteen fifties so is younger than I am."....Who are you kidding Adrian? It is a well-known fact that you were born in the nineteen thirties!
ReplyDeleteQUOTE - "She was built in Manchester England in the early nineteen fifties so is younger than I am."....Who are you kidding Adrian? It is a well-known fact that you were born in the nineteen thirties!
ReplyDeleteThe golden age. Looks a good place to visit Adrian; I might try and get there sometime.
ReplyDeleteI'm always told my videos are shaky by YouTube. The price of hand holding. I let them 'fix' it once, and it seemed worse to me. I prefer a natural looking video.
I enjoyed yours.
Yes Keith, I have been in some settings I found on YouTube and told them not to ask silly questions anymore. I notice you can buy a great big machine to mount the camera on when running about. I seem to recall Midmarsh John building one. I think I'll pass.
DeleteI'll be here till Sunday morning. Then I'll have a night or two in Porthmadog before striking out for Derwentwater.
Hi Adrain I loved this post and the video event through it was a bit shakey. Did you put it through the youtube video editor? If not they have a stabiliser on that but I suggest you do not walk with the camera at all. Lovely to hear you voice, not what I expected!! Over all, in my opinion,it was better to see the video with even a little shake than not have the video.
ReplyDeleteMargaret, I think you have hit the nail on the head. I'll stand still in future. I'll do more talking in future. The dogs hear my voice and want to join in. I'll try and teach them to be quiet.
DeleteIt also keeps dropping focus. I'll have a play today and see if I can improve matters.
Wat is dit mooi Adrtan dat moet een hele belevents zijn om daar een rit mee te maken.
ReplyDeleteIk heb een ritje op het had en als je het Verenigd Koninkrijk te bezoeken dan is het een zeer mooie reis.
DeleteThanks for visiting here, it reminded me of my brief visit & post of Beddgelert two years ago. I never realised that they had South African built trains but then again it must difficult acquiring powerful ones for the gradients I saw. This railway was a mammoth construction project & it was a shock to see the full return price of £32 two years ago. Still it hasn't gone up that much as they'll have to watch the prices ... particularly for the stereotypical "lets visit a railway" family.
ReplyDeleteJay, I think it is very reasonable. I dread to think what it costs to watch a football match. This is much better and children go free.
Delete