Vanoord
  • Vanoord
  • 54.4% (Neutral)
  • Newbie Topic Starter
18 years ago
Split from Manod thread:

"LAP" wrote:

"Miles" (for you only) since your the Ffestiniog gang exppert, it would be interesting to know whether you've ever been on a BVE? 🙂



"'The' Miles" wrote:

Ffestiniog expert? me? naaa. biggest gob perhaps but the two don't go hand in hand...

BVE? as in the battery logos? nope, nope been on a moving one anyway.



"LAP" wrote:

Did maenoffern ever use BVE in the ater years.
linden 😉



"'The' Miles" wrote:

They do have a BVE but it doesn't look like it has run in a long time. The yellow one was the last one used u/g I think.



"merddinemrys" wrote:

Yes, and apparently in the late 90's when the power came on every Sunday afternoon it was possible to drive it! I wouldn't know of course! 😉



No, I'm sure you wouldn't... :lol:

Odd off-topic thought - could such a thing be used, eg on the Ffestiniog? (subject to re-gauging etc) I'm not aware of any ex-quarry battery locos knocking about in north Wales?? - one for merddinemrys I think?

EDIT: am I imagining that there's pictures of a blue and red one being restored somewhere?
Hello again darkness, my old friend...
Miles
  • Miles
  • 50.2% (Neutral)
  • Newbie
18 years ago
Re-gauging? The gauges are the same already unless I'm mistaken.

Mind you, here is one in Ffestiniog already:

http://www.mine-explorer.co.uk/view_picture.asp?id=2867 

where it is now I don't know.

Yes you could drive them on the FR, but I doubt they'd get to Portmadog on one set of batteries 😃
merddinemrys
18 years ago
Providing it was the right gauge (1'11.25") I don't see a problem. The FR used on for boring the new Moelwyn Tunnel. I would ask first though before you buy on and come down the line to meet a passenger train! Lol :lol:
Vanoord
  • Vanoord
  • 54.4% (Neutral)
  • Newbie Topic Starter
18 years ago
"merddinemrys" wrote:

Providing it was the right gauge (1'11.25") I don't see a problem. The FR used on for boring the new Moelwyn Tunnel. I would ask first though before you buy on and come down the line to meet a passenger train! Lol :lol:



I wonder if the battery locos had the same variable gauge as the trucks, with the wheels loose on the axles? Surely not - while I can imagine it not being to bad to lump a truck back onto the rails if it fell off, a battery loco would be somewhat heavier.

As for meeting something little like Prince head on, I'm not sure I'd bet against the weight and low centre of gravity of the battery loco.... :standsbackandawaitsflaming:
Hello again darkness, my old friend...
Miles
  • Miles
  • 50.2% (Neutral)
  • Newbie
18 years ago
"Vanoord" wrote:

"merddinemrys" wrote:

Providing it was the right gauge (1'11.25") I don't see a problem. The FR used on for boring the new Moelwyn Tunnel. I would ask first though before you buy on and come down the line to meet a passenger train! Lol :lol:



I wonder if the battery locos had the same variable gauge as the trucks, with the wheels loose on the axles? Surely not - while I can imagine it not being to bad to lump a truck back onto the rails if it fell off, a battery loco would be somewhat heavier.

As for meeting something little like Prince head on, I'm not sure I'd bet against the weight and low centre of gravity of the battery loco.... :standsbackandawaitsflaming:



nope, BEV logo has fixed, single flanged wheels. Now I sound like a train spotter. This won't do.

UserPostedImage
JohnnearCfon
18 years ago
Two were used at MO laterly, the Clayton (yellow one now in mill) was used underground (Floor 😎. I too have heard stories of it being run up and down at various times (alledgedly). They also used a BEV (NOT BVE!) in the mills this was moved to Llechwedd at some time and now resides at far end of the Quarry Tours "Miner's Tramway" apparantly kept there as a maintenance/emergency loco. Although when I was shown it it looked as if it needed rescuing itself!
merddinemrys
18 years ago
My flat mates laughed at me when I was telling them about flanges and how they squeal when you go round tight corners!

Miles is spot on there - I'm guessing the battery locos would only have been used on the main haulage tramways which were probably better laid - for short trips manpower would suffice.
Miles
  • Miles
  • 50.2% (Neutral)
  • Newbie
18 years ago
"JohnnearCfon" wrote:

Two were used at MO laterly, the Clayton (yellow one now in mill) was used underground (Floor 😎. I too have heard stories of it being run up and down at various times (alledgedly). They also used a BEV (NOT BVE!) in the mills this was moved to Llechwedd at some time and now resides at far end of the Quarry Tours "Miner's Tramway" apparantly kept there as a maintenance/emergency loco. Although when I was shown it it looked as if it needed rescuing itself!



The blue BEV and Yellow one are both still in the Maenofferen mill, along with two 1936 Rushtons.

There is a loco at the end of the miners tramway, looks like it needs a bit of love.
JohnnearCfon
18 years ago
Apparantly one of the DeWs at Dinorwic had double flanged wheels. That is the only case of a loco with double flanged wheels I have heard of. (stands back and waits for correction on that).
merddinemrys
18 years ago
It might be. I've seen photographs of a tramway where the flanges were on the outsides of the wheels!
JohnnearCfon
18 years ago
"'The' Miles" wrote:

The blue BEV and Yellow one are both still in the Maenofferen mill, along with two 1936 Rushtons.

There is a loco at the end of the miners tramway, looks like it needs a bit of love.



Sorry Miles, the blue BEV loco (with wiring missing) has been out of use much longer. The loco at end of Miners Tramway is DEFINATELY the one from the mill at MO. It is even shown in a video (now DVD) by INGR. It was fimed in use in 1995. (now who sounds like a train spotter?)
Miles
  • Miles
  • 50.2% (Neutral)
  • Newbie
18 years ago
We could do with a loco really. Vanoord - could you weld up some kind of unfolding pocket loco for next time we're in a level with tramline still in it?
Miles
  • Miles
  • 50.2% (Neutral)
  • Newbie
18 years ago
"JohnnearCfon" wrote:

The loco at end of Miners Tramway is DEFINATELY the one from the mill at MO. It is even shown in a video (now DVD) by INGR. It was fimed in use in 1995. (now who sounds like a train spotter?)



Fair enough. The blue one does look rather knackered! Have you seen the electric car in there?
Vanoord
  • Vanoord
  • 54.4% (Neutral)
  • Newbie Topic Starter
18 years ago
"'The' Miles" wrote:

We could do with a loco really. Vanoord - could you weld up some kind of unfolding pocket loco for next time we're in a level with tramline still in it?



It would seem we know where there's a spare one... :confused:
Hello again darkness, my old friend...
JohnnearCfon
18 years ago
"merddinemrys" wrote:

It might be. I've seen photographs of a tramway where the flanges were on the outsides of the wheels!



There was a standard gauge(or near standard)railway in Kent that had a steam loco like that, must have been a nightmare at points!
merddinemrys
18 years ago
It would probably be possible to make something quite lightweight with a lawnmower engine that 4 people could carry down into [Place with Tramway in situ]. Use a p-way trolley as a basis for it.

Love the picture Miles - its been a while since I've seen you - I'm sure you didn't look like that!
Vanoord
  • Vanoord
  • 54.4% (Neutral)
  • Newbie Topic Starter
18 years ago
"merddinemrys" wrote:

Love the picture Miles - its been a while since I've seen you - I'm sure you didn't look like that!



Ah, these moderation tools are all too fun 😞
Hello again darkness, my old friend...
Miles
  • Miles
  • 50.2% (Neutral)
  • Newbie
18 years ago
"merddinemrys" wrote:

Love the picture Miles - its been a while since I've seen you - I'm sure you didn't look like that!



Vanoord put it there, and I've already plotted his downfall.
Vanoord
  • Vanoord
  • 54.4% (Neutral)
  • Newbie Topic Starter
18 years ago
"'The' Miles" wrote:

Vanoord put it there, and I've already plotted his downfall.



That won't be too difficult!

Moving swiftly on, I assume there were at least three battery locos in M, two of which are in the mill and one in Llechwedd? (Plus a couple of Emicos) Which one was, er, usable most recently?
Hello again darkness, my old friend...
Vanoord
  • Vanoord
  • 54.4% (Neutral)
  • Newbie Topic Starter
18 years ago
Transferred in, probably more relevant here...

"LAP" wrote:

Take a video, to show us the demonstaration.
what was it with the Rhosydd wagons - were they only single flanged?



"merddinemrys" wrote:

Rhosydd Waggons were single flanged because the Floor 9 adit had three rails with a short section of 4 rails in the middle to facilitate passing. If they had used flanged wheels they would have needed points and therefore a man to change them in order for trains to pass.



Single flanged on the inside of both sets of wheels, as is traditional?

I assume as it was a continuous ropeway that there were fixed places along the wire that trucks could be attched?


Hello again darkness, my old friend...

Disclaimer: Mine exploring can be quite dangerous, but then again it can be alright, it all depends on the weather. Please read the proper disclaimer.
© 2005 to 2023 AditNow.co.uk

Dedicated to the memory of Freda Lowe, who believed this was worth saving...