Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland Railway Isengard Website

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Roger the Cat
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie Topic Starter

5 years ago

Just a slight digression, but as the F&WHR is an important adjunct to Welsh slate mining history I wondered if anybody here knows why Barrie Hughes' excellent website has not been updated since 1 December last year? Its very unlike. I hope all is well.

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JohnnearCfon
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

5 years ago

I had been wondering the same!

TheBogieman
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

5 years ago

Barrie often has a break around Christmas / New Year...

Haven't heard anything dire from him and apart from relaying work and building work on the south end of the Moelwyn Tunnel, it's mainly FR work going on this winter with only routine winter maintenance on the WHR's loco fleet at Dinas so little WHR goings on to report. Garratt 87 is nearly back together after its major 10 yearly overhaul and should be in service again early in the new season. The new-to-WHR Garratt, 130 is progressing steadily in its rebuild from scrap condition - it's expected in service later in the year.

Explorans ad inferos

JohnnearCfon
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

5 years ago

He normally makes comments on the running of the Santa Specials and other items this time of year though.

Roger the Cat
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie Topic Starter

5 years ago

Yes, dependable chap that he is he invariably informs his "audience" when he is leaving for a fortnights holiday or a working break on the railway and not to click too many times on the site in expectation while he is away!

TheBogieman
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

5 years ago

Some news literally from the horse's mouth a couple of days ago. He's fine but extremely busy scanning hundres of slides from Phase 1 and the first year of operation. He'll be updating the isengard website very soon.

Some further news, K1, the iconic first Garratt that has been awaiting a 10 yearly statutory boiler overhaul for the last 5 years left the WHR before Christmas for static loan display at the Statfold Barn Railway in Staffs. Since then, there have been talks between the SBR and F&WHR and a few days ago, the boiler was lifted off, tubes taken out, the insurance inspector has given the shell the ok. New tubes will be fitted very soon and it may be back in steam by their March open weekend.Stafold (Hunslet Engine Co) don't waste time! It is a 10yr loan to SBR but K1 will be back running on WHR metals periodically.

Explorans ad inferos

Roger the Cat
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie Topic Starter

5 years ago

Hi Bogieman. Many thanks for the update and look forward to normal service resuming on Barrie's site. I'm obviously pleased that older images are being scanned for posterity. Actually, I rather like romantic old images of abandonment - real archaeology.

K1 is a significant railway legacy and I am sure that SBR will be good custodians.