A new event has been added to the Events page.

Event name: Welsh Slate Museum - Model Railway Show

Date & time: 18/02/2010 to 21/02/2010 10am to 4pm

Details: From the Welsh Slate Museum's website - http://www.museumwales.ac.uk/en/whatson/?event_id=3296 

Join us at the National Slate Museum for a steam-filled spectacular with the Half-Term Model Railway Show.

There are plenty of activities to enjoy during the show from 18 to 21 February (10am - 4pm), including free rides for children on miniature steam engines and trains.

With daily demonstrations, talks, and various engines and layouts of all shapes and sizes on display - from 00mm to 32mm gauge engines – there’s something for everyone at this exciting annual event.

Big, small, real or model – all types of engines are on show, and don’t forget to bring your own 00 gauge trains and have a go on the children's test track layout!

This year will again see the special appearance of the Brush Battery Locomotive, a battery powered engine dating back to the First World War.

Built in 1917 and used in a mustard gas factory, it’s thought to be one of only three produced. Put to work in the Votty and Bowydd Quarries in Blaenau Ffestiniog, and the Wincilate slate quarry in Aberllefenni, its working life came to an end in 1983.

Donated to the museum this year and, having undergone major renovation to get it working again, the Brush Battery Locomotive will be one of the stars of the Model Railway Show. It can be seen alongside the museum’s other engines, including the Hunslet Quarry engine, Dorothea the coffee pot scale model and many other model railway layouts.

The National Slate Museum has a lively interest in rail heritage. Narrow gauge railways were fundamental to slate quarrying operations, and the museum’s own collections include the quarry steam engine UNA.

The Model Railway Show is a fantastic opportunity for people of all ages to enjoy numerous working and static displays, including contributions from local railway clubs such as Colwyn Bay, South Caernarfonshire, Wrexham and much further afield!

Full event: http://www.aditnow.co.uk/events/?uid=76 

Can anyone cast any light on the Brush battery loco that apparently worked at Foty / Bowydd?

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Not sure if this is relevant but there's mention of a battery loco from the Avonmouth mustard gas factory.

http://www.all-model-railroading.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=9823 

Edit: Another pic.

http://www.railrovers.org.uk/images/rails6/hpr.jpg 

Hmmmm... from an IR Society report on the Britannia Foundry, Porthmadoc http://www.irsociety.co.uk/Archives/49/Britannia.htm 

Probably the most important loco work on which the foundry was engaged in recent times was the Votty & Bowydd battery locos, three of which were built. The earliest reference to Votty locomotives is a quote of 25th May 1934 for a shed, which could not be made high enough for a locomotive. In his notebook for about December 1936 Owen, who was also the foundry's traveller, noted that the disc wheels for the "loco" were 143/8in outside diameter (over tread?), 2¼in wide and bored for a 2½in axle. Spur wheels were to have 70 teeth and the note "2 off" suggests that Owen was to make them; pinion wheels were to have 17 teeth and be 35/8in diameter. Confirmation of this comes in a letter of 11th December 1936 in which Votty urged delivery of the pinions and spurs for the battery locomotives. Owen's notebook at this time includes a note of the address of Wingrove & Rogers, which firm has not hitherto been implicated in any of the Votty locomotives.

On 18th December 1936 Owen offered £1 10s (£1.50) for scrap at Votty. This included rails on two inclines, old wagons, and the "loco". Finally, under the heading "Votty Battery Loco" on 14th February 1937 Owen noted that the wheels were cast steel, 19in diameter over the flanges, 3in wide on the tread, with axles 2½in diameter. The length of the locomotive was 6ft over the buffers, the frames were gin deep at the ends, and the wheelbase was 2ft 4in. It is not clear whether this refers to an existing or a proposed locomotive, although the inclusion of frame dimensions may suggest that it was a proposed design. Can anyone who has measured any of the Votty locomotives say to which these measurements might refer?

It is not clear what to make of this Votty information. Certainly Owen had a hand in the building, or repair, of some (at least two) of Votty's four battery locomotives. It may also be that Wingrove & Rogers at least supplied electrical equipment; possibly some of the "home made" locomotives were in fact rebuilds by Votty and Owen of Wingrove & Rogers locomotives.

From a different IRS report from 1963 http://www.irsociety.co.uk/Archives/5+6/north_wales_ng_1963.htm 

Two battery locos have gone from Votty & Bowydd (where the plant and equipment is being dismantled) to Aberllefeni quarries. One is ex-TAFFY (the one which does not have the Brush motor) and was painted green at Votty before despatch.

From the WMS Newsletter 55 (Autumn 2006) http://www.davel.f2s.com/hendrecoed/wms/newsletter/55.pdf 

Aberllefenni Slate Quarry The battery locomotive stored out of use in the old compessor house (photo NL 53) will have a new lease of life. Following the owner’s decision not to pursue the tourist operation, John Lloyd (MD of the Wincilate Group) has offered the machine to the Corris Railway Society. There are two conditions: it has to be used and that it has to have an appropriate plate indicating its history.

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I think you are getting several BE locos mixed up there Vanoord. The last report refers to the Clayton BE loco built in the early 80s (I think that is when it was built). I am pretty certain Portmadoc reference is referring to one of the "homebuilt" BE locos. The Brush locos are quite a different beast. Two were also at Manod and have centre cabs and a battery box for and aft. I think there is a photo of the Llanberis loco in the Llanberis album painted black (am just off out will check later) and update this message.

I think there must have been more than three of those locos built, as Hythe had 3, Manod had 2 and Aberllefenni had 1!

Aha!

🔗Llanberis-2-User-Album-Image-30386[linkphoto]Llanberis-2-User-Album-Image-30386[/linkphoto][/link]

😉

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Interesting bit of info, is it possible the ex mustard gas factory bit is misleading?

I am interested. Any one in the Rhondda willing to share transport?

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yeah I will give you a lift

[mod]Remember to play nicely, gents... :angel: [/mod]

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Votty BE Locos:-

4w 10 HP Brush (works no ??) c 1917 ex George Cohen, dealers, 7/1925. Sold/Scr ?

4w 10 HP Brush (works no ??) c 1917 ex B. E. White, dealers, 8/1925. Aberllefenni SQ, Corris, 8/1963. Later at WSM Llanberis.

4w 6 HP EAV works no 662 ex R. J. Winder, Leeds, dealer 2/1925 sold/scr after 1933.

4w 5 HP EAV (works no??) purchased at auction 6/1925 sold/scr?

4w 6 HP EAV works no 667 ex B. E. White, dealers, 8/1925 sold/scr after 1933.

4w 5 HP built at Votty using chassis incorporating parts of Vulcan steam loco "Taffy" c 1939. To Aberllefenni SQ, Corris 8/63.

4w ?HP built at Votty on a frame of a Deutz petrol loco (likely Deutz no 1325 of 1913) Later scrapped.

EAV = Edison Accumulator Vehicles.


Manod SQ BE Locos:-

4w 3 HP Brush works no 16303 1917 believed ex W. O. Williams, Harlech, dealers, sometime in 1920s.

4w 3 HP Brush works no 16303 1917 believed ex W. O. Williams, Harlech, dealers, sometime in 1920s.

These two are part of a batch built foe Min of Supply during WW1. Some were used at Queensbury Government Depot and were auctioned from there until at least 1925, this is a possible source.


Hythe Pier Railway, Hythe Hampshire.

4w 10 HP Brush works no 16302 1917

4w 10 HP Brush works no 16307 1917.

Both converted to 3rd rail pick up and batteries removed. There was a third similar loco here but scrapped.