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Fairbourne Railway News 2012
Topic Started: 11 Jan 2012, 08:51 PM (1,151 Views)
Alex
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Well as its a new year its time for a new thread on the developments at Fairbourne this year. Hopefully we can continue to drive forward in improving the railway in these challenging times!

Locomotives

Current work being carried during the closed season

Sherpa

The locomotive is having its annual work on the valve gear where needed and possibly have its wheelsets reprofiled if needed. It will also being receiving its yearly boiler exam with the boiler insurer. As some of you may be aware in March the loco will be heading to the Littlehampton Railway for a hire period of 2 months for more information see - Littlehampton Railway Website. The loco is scheduled to return in May and back into regular use at Fairbourne for the summer season.

Yeo

The locomotive is having its annual work on the valve gear where needed plus its nearly boiler exam having operated the Santa Specials in December. Will most likely be the main service loco whilst Sherpa is away down south.

Russell

The locomotive is having its annual work on the valve gear where needed plus its nearly boiler exam. Not much work is anticipated as the loco has received regular attention to cure little problems throughout the season including modifications to the springing and spring hangers (Having had a spring pop out of its spring hanger whilst driving the loco last season).

Beddgelert

The loco is currently stored out of traffic awaiting overhaul when funds permit.

Lilian Walters/Sylvia

Here is the most recent update with reguards to the rebuild of the loco for those who are not following the railway through Facebook -

Quote:
 
Late last season, the Fairbourne Railway and FRPS announced that the large Diesel, formerly Sylvia and then Lilian Walter was to be rebuilt with a new body closely resembling that of the original Guest Engineering Sylvia and that also the name was to be reverted back to Sylvia.

Since then however, there have been some changes to these ideas with the aim of having the diesel ready for service by Easter. A discrepancy was found in the alignment between the two cabs and it was realised that reproducing “Sylvia” in its original form would be difficult at best. Due to some of the complex curves involved and the louvre doors in the side panels having been straightened by Mr Ellerton, the best we could have hoped for would have been something akin to a brick. We have therefore reverted to the original plan of the bodywork between the two cabs being roughly 18" narrower, in the style of some the BR freight loco’s and also the Ffestiniog Railway diesel 'Vale of Ffestiniog'. This eliminates the need for complex curves and gives better all-round visibility, more in keeping with modern safety standards. The cabs will still be roughly "Sylvia" shaped.

Mechanically, most of the work is complete, with just the throttle, brake, and auto gear linkage to be finished. A new silencer has been obtained and the required flexible pipework ordered. We are aiming at a trial run with the incomplete bodywork in the near future. It has now been officially decided to name the engine “Tony” as a tribute to Tony Atkinson when the rebuild is complete.


I attach a few recent pictures one of Sherpa from the summer and the other Monday showing "Tony" as its now to be known with some of the bodywork in place.

Any questions please ask away as normal.

Alex
Attached to this post:
Attachments: PICT0008.jpg (2.65 MB)
Attachments: Tony.jpg (97.59 KB)
Fairbourne Railway Driver / Talyllyn Railway Fireman
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Alex
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Deputy Manager
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News ahead of the start of the main 2012 season.

Locomotives

Sherpa

Is now officially away on holiday down south at Littlehampton Railway where she will be operating on selected dates over the next few months. See the other thread on Sherpa visiting Littlehampton for information on when she is running and videos of her.

Yeo

Is currently the main loco in use at Fairbourne and is expected to operate the majority of Easter services.

Russell

Is currently the spare engine to Yeo whilst Sherpa is on Holiday

Beddgelert

Is still stored pending funds for overhaul.

Tony (ex Lilian Walters/Sylvia)

Has had further work completed on the superstructure to hold the body panels in place when they are ready for attaching. The loco has recently been out on a number of tests including hauling a 9 coach train for the Branch Line Societies visit to the railway.

Gwril

Has been used regularly on winter works trains and has seen use frequently on the new diesel on demand service that is new feature for this years timetable for when it doesn't warrant having a steam engine in use.

If you use Facebook I would suggest following/becoming friends with the railway as our Facebook is frequently updated with news and pictures.

I will all being well be driving Yeo on Monday so here is hoping for some nice weather!

Alex

Fairbourne Railway Driver / Talyllyn Railway Fireman
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