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Jonesy83
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie Topic Starter

15 years ago

Just thought id say hello, My names Meredydd i grew up in North wales with mines growing out of my ears. I have only just finished reding some of Alun John Richards' books, and my interest in mining in North wales is only growing and growing, after all its part of my heritage, unfortunately, i now live in Cardiff and it took this move for me to realise how lucky i was growing up in North wales! Does anybody go mine exploring up there often? Im a bit of a novice, only having some rambling experience, mostly in dorothea or dinorwig, but would love to find more for myself!! Id be interested in hearing back from you!! M.

Dyfal donc a dyr y garreg

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merddinemrys
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

15 years ago

Welcome to the site Meredydd. There are loads of us who explore the mines around here, and loads more who live away and come here especially to do so. Have a search on here for the places you know about and you'll find a wealth of photographs of various places some you may have known about and others you haven't.

Do you ever make it back here? If you do, perhaps we could arrange to take you somewhere for a trip?

ME

Jonesy83
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie Topic Starter

15 years ago

Hi Myrddin! Thank you for the welcome, and yes I do return from time to time as i have a 6 yr old daughter living in pwllheli. It would be great to meet and go exploring, get some pics etc, uncover history an all that. I notice you have the nameplate myrddin and you worked for FR? lucky man!! I have quite an interest in railways, paticularly our native narrow gauge railways and lesser known tramways. I will admit my favourite loco is/was "Beddgelert" the hunslet 0-6-4T that worked the Bryngwyn branch (backwards i read somewhere due to wheel arrangement and gradient????)

Dyfal donc a dyr y garreg

merddinemrys
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

15 years ago

Yes I did work for the FR up until about two years ago. I now work out of Pwllheli as it happens. The Fairbourne Railway have a nice half scale model of Beddgelert - I agree she has lovely lines. I think there is a theory that the boiler was inclined by about 2 or 3 degrees for running on the Bryngwyn Branch - I think Johnnearcaernarfon will be able to clarify.

Tamarmole
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

15 years ago

As I understand it the inclined boiler thoery is a myth - If memory serves Boyd (amongst others) debunks it.

(Thus exposing myself once more as a choo choo nerd!)

hcd563
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

15 years ago

The inclined boiler myth is very much fact. Boyd based his info on the works drawings which, as you would expect, show the boiler horizontal. The loco was rebuilt by Hunslet in 1895 and the smokebox end of the boiler was raised a few inches.
I assume this was to keep water over the firebox when running cab first uphill. Have a look at the FR Heritage site, lots of info on the WHR locos.

Martin

Jonesy83
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie Topic Starter

15 years ago

So does anyone think a "new build" Beddgelert might be in order after FR complete the L&B loco or am i just purely hoping? Anyone else like to see the beautiful lines of a large hunslet running through the Aberglaslyn Pass??

Dyfal donc a dyr y garreg

JohnnearCfon
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

15 years ago

Yes, I think that would look very nice. Probably a better idea than their current ideas of rebuilding Welsh Pony. To my mind Welsh Pony would be better if it was conserved rather than having a major rebuild, propably leaving little of or nothing of the original (although how much is original anyway?), to enable it to re-enter service.

A lot of Boyd's work should be treated with caution. I will say no more, I think my thoughts on that matter are quite well known! By the sound of the above, that's another one to add to the (long) list!

Jonesy83
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie Topic Starter

15 years ago

True, I recall the days of Welsh Pony standing on a plinth outside harbour station on the FR, at the time I wanted to see her running, I used to think it was a shame she was made to stand out in the elements after all, she is one of the originals, unlike the garrats which seem to have a monopoly on the WHR. I often do point out my arguement that Beddgelert was a Hunslet 0-6-4T a type that i have no knowledge of surviving examples. Surely a new build of a lost loco/class would be a better idea than butchering an original to working order?? I read the magazine Steam Railway often, as it helps provide me with current news on the WHR / FR. Such a shame they cant get along! I have my own theories and ideas of what i would do with the whole lot, but these will remain a dream!!

Dyfal donc a dyr y garreg

viewer
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

15 years ago

#10

John....Not a Boyd fan?!?......

So I don't send my Boyd fanclub membrship application to you anymore?

:lol:

Catch you soon

cheers

:thumbsup:

'Learning the ropes'

JohnnearCfon
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

15 years ago

#11

Watch it you!!! :lol: :lol:

viewer
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

15 years ago

#12

will give you a call in the next few days / weeks.....

catch up on MO, recent books, genral catch up

cheers

'Learning the ropes'

merddinemrys
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

15 years ago

#13

Anyway, there's far too much railway talk going on here. What mines have you explored or would you like to explore Jonesy?

Jonesy83
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie Topic Starter

15 years ago

#14

Awww not a railway fan eh? Well, id love to go to llyn y gadair, glanrafon, cwm bychan, dinorwig (in depth) dorothea, pen yr orsedd, gorseddau, prince of wales, rhosydd and croesor but to name a few!!! Which ones do you explre? are there any in paticular better than others so to speak?

Dyfal donc a dyr y garreg

JohnnearCfon
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

15 years ago

#15

I am happy to show you round dorothea, pen yr orsedd, gorseddau, and prince of wales.

merddinemrys
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

15 years ago

#16

I am a railway fan, but there are other forums for railway discussion. I think all the ones you mention are open workings (and ones which used locomotives so the railway theme continues :lol: ). I must admit to leaning towards the Ffestiniog and Corris districts. Rhosydd, Cwmorthin, Wrysgan to name but a few.