Age & Beauty

[jlancasterd]

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M9, Summarit 35mm, f9.5, 1/180sec, Lightroom 3

 

The steam locomotive ('Lyd' - a replica of a Lynton & Barnstaple Rly Manning, Wardle 2-6-2T) is brand new - it moved under its own power for the first time on 5 August. The building project has cost £300,000 and taken 15 years - mainly due to construction being 'on and off' as money was raised.

 

The diesel is 93 years old. Originally built with a 'gasoline' engine by Baldwin of Philadelphia in 1917 for the French artillery railways on the Western Front.

 

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[pauledell]

John,

 

A great picture of this old-timer. Nice composition, colors and sharpness. These old locomotives have a personality of their own.

 

Paul

[Peter Roworth]

A fine looking loco John. Credit to all those who helped to build her. Nice composition and exposure, the M has handled the black colour well.

Peter

[elansprint72]

John,

Bound where for? WHR?

I guess the Baldwin must be due for its second oil change in the next couple of years?

[jlancasterd]

John,

Bound where for? WHR?

I guess the Baldwin must be due for its second oil change in the next couple of years?

 

Hi Pete

 

Lyd is designed to run on either the Ffestiniog or the Welsh Highland. It's equipped with two interchangeable sets of eaves for the cab - one to the original Lynton and Barnstaple profile for the WHR and one with a slightly lower profile (shown in the photo) to enable it to pass though Garnedd tunnel on the FR.

 

Tests to date indicate it as being an 8-car engine on the FR (ruling gradient 1 in 80) and 4 cars on the WHR (ruling gradient 1 in 40). It's to visit the Lynton and Barnstaple project at Woody Bay later this year.

 

The Baldwin is (I think) on its fourth engine - one Baldwin petrol unit 1917-1955 and three secondhand Gardner diesels out of scrapped lorries since then...

[elansprint72]

Hope you saw the FR & Western Front footage on Dan Cruickshank's new series last night.

Can't wait to ride the whole route, is there a confirmed date?

[jlancasterd]

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Hope you saw the FR & Western Front footage on Dan Cruickshank's new series last night.

Can't wait to ride the whole route, is there a confirmed date?

 

I didn't see the Cruickshank programme (we don't have a TV) but I know about the filming - I'm including an article about the number of TV programmes filmed on the FR and WHR recently in the next issue of the FR Magazine.

 

We expect the first through WHR passenger train, from Caernarfon to Porthmadog Harbour Station, to operate in September or October. It will be a special for the people who covenanted regular payments to help pay for the rolling stock. Public trains are likely to start at Easter next year.

[wda]

John, that is a wonderful achievement and interesting narrative story. I look forward to visiting those railways next year. The nearest I will get this year will be to two minor railways further south, near Newcastle Emlyn (TVR) and Carmarthen. You have whetted my appetite. A visit planned within a few weeks.