TRACKBED PROGRESS
The first section of Penrhyn trackbed was cleared yesterday morning. Our tactical team entered the trackbed within the Felin Fawr site with flail machines to open the area up for the first time in years. It was becoming increasingly important that the vegetation was cleared so that our structural engineers can carry out detailed surveys of the surrounding retaining walls. The flail machines were fitted with heavy duty flails and joystick controls mean that they can be operated with accuracy. Work began at the centre of the trackbed within the Felin Fawr site, initially working South towards the quarry and then North towards the Port, returning to finish off the Southern end before light was lost. The vegetation, in places, was twice the hight of the tractors and proved to be a real challenge. We hope that volunteer parties will have access to this section in February to clear the site and tidy the area generally. More photos of the days activities at 'gallery 3'.
Some of the wheelsets on the RNAD wagons were removed today. The axleboxes are now being removed prior to the axles being sent away for regauging. The flat wagons have taken priority as they will be needed for construction work. Hopefully by the time the sets return the wagons will be fully overhauled with the braking system modified accordingly.
 The wagons are lifted one by one to remove the wheelsets |
 Axle in transit to the workshop |
 Gareth works nights at the workshop with his ingenious little axlebox puller (MK 4!) |
We recently discovered that a planning application had been submitted to the local authority to demolish the locomotive buildings at Felin Fawr. The planning application was withdrawn within three days of lodgement when it was discovered that the whole episode had been a problem of understanding. The Trustees would like to thank our members for the amazing efforts in dealing with this crisis.
 The loco sheds at Felin Fawr |
 Internal view of the main shed |
 A little history! Wooden shelving used to store parts within the loco sheds still carry some interesting names |
Our presence at the Corwen Country Show was a great success. Members
worked in shifts throughout this weekend to promote the project. Quarry
Hunslet “Alice” provided a wonderful centrepiece for the
two days.
Many new members have now been enlisted to the society, and the profile
of the project raised significantly. Much needed funds were raised through
the sale of items at the stall. Thanks to everyone who worked so hard
to make it work
 Paul one of our members helps a visitor onto Alices' footplate |
 Bryce lets off some steam!! |
 The closing scene on Sunday evening |
The Henschel 0-8-0 locomotive currently being modified and restored has finally been named. Members were developing various nicknames and things can get a little confusing! We felt that the loco now needs an identity of it’s own. Apparently the name was chosen on the day it was purchased, so now with the owners permission, we are pleased to announce that the locomotive will carry the name “Joseph”
SHOPOur on-line shop has been a great success over last twelve months. A big thankyou to all who have supported the Trust and its aims. We now feel that we can offer the few items featured on-line at our shop at a reduced rate. We will no longer charge for postage & packing to UK customers. As time permits we will add to the items (mainly Penrhyn branded goods featuring OUR slate wagon logo) and develop on-line payment methods.
We have added yet another feature to the 'Articles' section of the website. The feature entitled “Penrhyn Excursion” movingly documents Mr Alisdair McNicol’s encounters on a visit to the Penrhyn Railway as a young teenager in 1964.
Added some colour images to the archive gallery (gallery 2)
The images are part of a collection taken in the early 1960's by Mr David Elliott who was studying at Bangor University at that time. David has generously donated his Penrhyn collection to the Trust. The images at the gallery feature some of the disused locomotives on the blacksmiths siding at Felin Fawr.
We are to attend
our first public event on the 17 th & 18 th of September at the
North Wales Steam and Country Show at the Legends Park Showground near
Corwen. The weekend will see the launch of the Society and it will be
a unique opportunity for everyone to meet up face to face for a friendly
chat. Members will be at hand (or in the beer tent!) to answer all your
questions and to chat about this important project.
Hopefully it will be an opportunity for members to unwind and relax
for the first time in 18 months.
The steam and country show at Corwen is usually an amazing event with
hundreds of attractions from fairground rides to traction engines, it
always proves to be a wonderful day out for the whole family.
Now obviously, no Penrhyn weekend event would be complete without a
quarry Hunslet!! So for the first time in its history, the show will
be blessed with one!
We look forward to meeting you. (Just keep your eye out for the Hunslet
and we wont be far away!)
Added "Hugh Napier" article to the 'Articles' section.
Future coaching stock has always been a subject of great interest within the Trust, as the railway was mineral line and did not carry passengers as such, there is little we can replicate in the future. Replica quarrymans coaches will be built and will run with replica Penrhyn saloon coaches, very similar to Lord Penrhyn’s saloon coach now preserved at Penrhyn Castle. Being of very similar length and width, the RNAD Trecwn flat wagons will form the base for the new saloon coaches and a prototype will be built utilizing wagon No. 412
Our younger computer wiz kids have been busy coming up with visualizations of the finished product. Thanks to Gareth“gazzer” Parry for coming up with the adapted image below.
Adapted from an original image by Andrew Goodwin
WHR (P)
The Feldbahn was moved out into the sunshine a couple of weeks ago to have the dome and tanks lifted off and to have the boiler lagging removed. The clay mud was analysed and the specialist company employed returned to carefully remove the substance. Work continues with cleaning up the boiler prior to inspection. Contact has been made with other owners with the view to working together to make up bulk orders of new parts.
Another little contribution was made recently
to our rail stock. The rail, mostly flat bottomed, was advertised for
sale on an internet website and was noticed by one of our members. Little
did we know that the rail was located just a few miles away at one of
our neighbouring groups!
The Dolgarrog Railway Society are working hard to re-open the old standard
gauge branch line that once linked the Dolgarrog Aluminium Works with
the Conwy Valley line. The narrow gauge rail that we have purchased
was originally used at a site near Tal Y Cafn and formed part of an
earlier project but now obviously it is way too light for the groups
current activities. On inspection, six 24ft lengths of Penrhyn bullhead
were discovered, apparently this rail was purchased by one of their
society members in the mid 1970’s from the festiniog Railway!
This latest purchase is not a great advancement, but it’s yet
another small step in the right direction.
Why not visit the Dolgarrog Railway Society website HERE
Some of the various types and lengths of rail photographed before delivery to Bethesda
Work continues on the loco and the
careful dismantling process to reach the point of solid construction
so that the rebuilding can commence. The cab has now been removed along
with the coal bunker and side tanks. The backhead and firebox wrapper
have now been de-scaled. Initial visual examination of these areas and
the inner firebox looks promising
Before they were removed measurements and photographs were taken of
the tanks to help visualise planned changes
 Carefully dismantling the cab sheeting "Alang" style! |
 Thats better! Slowly the cab comes apart. |
 A before and after shot of what might be! |
For those who have not worked it out already,
the locomotive that arrived last week was built by Henschel & Sohn
in 1917 number 15540 an 0-8-0 featuring the renowned Klien-Lindner Axle
Articulation System. It served in France during the First World War,
and after the War it was sold to the British owned Sena Sugar Estates
in Mozambique and became “Sena No 1”. Believe it or not
the loco worked there up until the early 1980’s when it was withdrawn
from service along with several others. The loco then became one of
several that were purchased in 1999 and imported to the UK.
The loco has now been purchased privately by one of our members and
all associated work will also be privately funded, with the exception
of perhaps volunteer labour provided by interested members. Final agreements
between the Trust and the owner will hopefully be finalized shortly.
To address the various issues that members and indeed the wider general public might have with regard to this loco.
Obviously the loco is not and never has been a Penrhyn loco, members should be assured that this is just one loco and will probably be the only non Penrhyn steam loco to return to the line. What it now gives us is the opportunity to be imaginative and the chance to prove ourselves and carry on the Penrhyn tradition of buying up what was available and making it work.
Members can also be assured that it is our intention to return at least two original Penrhyn locos as stable mates for the above. We chose to return this particular loco last week because it was becoming a target for thieves and vandals and therefore in danger.
The other side of the coin here might be those who are concerned as to what modifications we intend to carry out on the loco.
All parts removed and not reused on the loco will be labelled and placed in storage and there will be no alterations to the structure of the loco meaning that it will be quite possible to return the loco to it’s original appearance.
The consensus at the moment seems to be that nothing will change below footplate level; any modifications above this level will depend on the condition of the boiler. If a new boiler is required (which we hope it isn’t) undoubtedly the loco will then be fitted with a saddle tank, otherwise it will retain side tanks although slightly shorter than the originals. The cab sheeting will need replacing due to its condition, so the opportunity will be taken to give the loco what we believe to be a more graceful look. The chimney was stolen in the last few months; this now probably means that the replacement will be of a Hunslet style. The only other major addition will be a bolt on extension to the front buffer beam, basically creating around 12’’ ahead of the smokebox; well the sand buckets’ got to sit somewhere!! We will keep you updated as to progress on the strip down and boiler removal.
Our strategist Mathew Spence tragically died
in the early hours of yesterday morning.
We would all like to extend our deepest sympathy to his family and friends.
Mathew’s foresight and devotion to the Penrhyn Project was truly
inspiring and commendable.
Gareth Owen (Director PRG) “Mathew was an extremely genuine, modest
young man. His involvement with this project along with even more complex
projects around the world will now stand as testaments of his achievement.
My sincerest condolences to those close to him”
Jonathan “There are few words that can describe the way I feel
at the moment, I have know Mathew for many years, as someone once said,
friends are not friends unless you can trust them! Mathew was definitely
my friend, one of the most trustworthy loyal individuals you could ever
wish to meet. We will never forget you Matty”
Its exactly forty years since the last locomotive
worked at Penrhyn in 1965.
We felt that something should be done to coincide with that sad time.
Now obviously we don’t have much scope yet, so we did the only
thing we could do, move one of our steam locos to Penrhyn.
The loco chosen was purchased by one of our members recently and the
intention is to incorporate its vital components in a modified outline.
Although its outward appearance might be a little daunting, underneath
it all it is in remarkably good condition.
The loco arrived at Port Penrhyn yesterday morning after its long journey
and all eleven tons of it was lifted onto a trailer, it then set off
on a emotional final six mile journey up the Ogwen valley pausing briefly
on what was once the Penrhyn Railway before leaving the Port. (See photos
at gallery 3)
After unloading the loco the little team returned to the Port to collect
the skip wagons that have been generously donated to the Trust.
A very big thankyou to everyone involved, you know who you are! We really
do appreciate it. (Photos of the day’s activities have been posted
in gallery 3 at the homepage)
This week will probably prove to be our most exciting
time to date. Assuming everything goes to plan, you will read about
it here towards the end of this week.
The latest journal will be out soon members, please be patient with
us.
The galleries have been added to recently and they are set out as follows-
gallery 1 (locomotives in preservation) gallery 2 (historic) gallery
3 (our latest project photos)
If you have a photo that you would like to see in any one of the galleries,
send them to us. All photos will be credited to the owner.
Additionally, if you have a fond memory of the Penrhyn Railway that
you might like to share, why not write an article for the “articles”
section? Again all work submitted and used can be credited to the author.
All submissions to admin@penrhynrailway.co.uk
At 8am this morning, (an hour earlier than expected)
our first artic load of wagons arrived at Bethesda from South Wales.
Although it was teaming down with rain the operation went smoothly and
they are now safeley stored and await modification and restoration.
 One of the 2.5 ton boxvans is lifted off the lorry using the big tractor, special thanks to JGAC for the loan of two tractors today. |
 One of the flat wagons is lifted off the stack |
 Our first consignment of rolling stock blends with the dramatic surroundings |
We apologize for the lack of news items over the
last few weeks and hopefully we can make up for this lost time.
Membership applications have recently been suspended due to the fact
that we have more than doubled expectations and targets over the last
nine months. Applications from local residents are on target and applications
from the locality are still being accepted for the time being.
We have recently updated our shop area and many more lines will be added
shortly.
With this in mind we prefer to continue with the traditional method
of ordering by mail. Orders will normally be sent out by return of post.
RAIL
A small quantity of much needed light flat-bottomed rail was donated to us recently and it arrived at Plas over the Easter period. It was cleaned up and will be laid near the workshop to store rolling stock on and some lengths will be laid within the buildings. We still don't have quite enough but this is definitely a good start.
Photo- little tractor unloads lengths of rail
A quantity of various types of wagons was purchased by members recently for use on the railway. These will arrive at Plas shortly. Full details and plenty of photos will be added here as soon as they arrive.
DANGERS
Some work was carried out today
at cutting 1A (near the slate embankment) to make the area as safe as
possible for future volunteer parties.
The recent high winds and gales had brought down a substantial oak branch,
and it was lodged dangerously with one end wedged in the tree and the
other resting on the slate pillar fencing. After a few minutes working
out the best means of attack, chainsaws cleared a minimal amount of
scrub to open up the working area and then progressed with the part
of the branch that was resting on the fencing to ensure that as little
damage as possible occurred to the pillars.
Within ten minutes the branch came crashing down and was sawn up into
manageable sections.
 The scene on arrival, the branch can be seen at the top of the image |
 The site after some clearance work |
 The branch comes down with little damage to the fencing |
 The branch is cut up into sections for removal. |
The good news is that a
meeting recently with the Ffestiniog Railway has been successful and
we will purchase our rail chairs at scrap value.
The bad news is that they are unsure at this time if they can provide
us with enough bullhead rail to match them. If the rail is available
it will be sold to us at a figure that is yet to be agreed, not at scrap
value.
SHOP
Added a small selection of books to the shop section
of the website complete with downloadable order form
Due to a sudden influx of new
members over the last two weeks or so, things have become a little strained.
For those who have applied for membership recently (over the Christmas
period) and have heard nothing, please do not fret, a journal and that
is on the way to you.
For existing members Journal No.3 is currently being published and will
hopefully be an improvement on the last two.
A useful addition is currently being made to our permanent way stock
These useful nicely proportioned hopper wagons
are to be purchased. Please don't be alarmed, we realize they are hardly
Penrhyn originals but they will be essential and very useful for the
day-to-day movements of materials in construction.
The wagons will be transported to the temporary workshops for refurbishment
within the next month or so.
