Messages

1

Sandy River & Rangeley Lakes Railroad / Re: Why weren't the 2-6-2's preseved?

« on: September 29, 2013, 11:07:45 PM »

For those interested, the Brecon Mtn Rwy has a website that has some photos of their Sandy River #23 under construction. Go to this website page:
http://www.breconmountainrailway.co.uk/no-3-locomotive
Then click on the link to see photographs, & scroll down the gallery page to the section called "Workshop". In that section there are a couple of photos of the tender under construction, and also their #3 (SR #23). Also there are stacks of parts for other locos under construction (including another "Baldwin") and other rolling stock.
Please note that there are also other photos of the Pacific elsewhere on the gallery page.
As you will see, this is a very serious operation, with every intention of building/rebuilding several Baldwin locomotives, and they have numerous stockpiles of the needed parts to do just that! They are primarily interested in the bigger Baldwin locomotives because only they are big enough to pull trains up the grade of the new section of track they have rebuilt. They cannot operate reliably on that section until they have two of the bigger locomotives. The Pacific is the first. Besides, I understand that the owner is a fan of the SR&RL!

2

UK (Welsh, British) Two Footers / Re: Welsh Highland latest - March

« on: March 12, 2009, 09:25:49 AM »

Plus a video of the Vale of Ffestiniog doing a test run first:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VKHx4mnI7aU
Enjoy!
Phil

3

UK (Welsh, British) Two Footers / Welsh Highland latest - March

« on: March 12, 2009, 08:41:09 AM »

The first train has travelled from Porthmadog to Dinas in a move of coaching stock, including the new observation car.  This was also the first train to use the CTRL (Cross Town Rail Link) through Porthmadog.  Photos on this link, with more promised later.
http://whr.bangor.ac.uk/whlatest.htm
Phil

4

Two Footers outside of the US / Re: A New Baldwin 2-4-2

« on: March 01, 2009, 10:51:42 PM »

I believe it has been mentioned before on this board, but the 2' gauge Brecon Mountain Railway in Wales is also working on several Baldwin locos.  They are currently refurbishing a Baldwin 4-6-2 (that previously ran there and is down for repairs).  They are rebuilding another Baldwin from Brazil, but their website doesn't give a hint as to what wheel arrangement it is.  And they have two more replica Baldwin locos (from original drawings) planned.  Perhaps they might be a source for replica Baldwin parts - or even have them make a third Baldwin while they are at it!  (Again, they don't say what it is they are planning, but their line is noted for having steep grades. My guess is that it would be some sort of 6-coupled loco: 2-6-2, or 4-6-2, or 4-6-0, or 2-6-0.)

It is nice to dream!
Phil

5

UK (Welsh, British) Two Footers / Re: WHR 'Golden Bolt' Ceremony

« on: March 01, 2009, 10:33:49 PM »

Indeed! May I add my CONGRATULATIONS?!?!! I have watched via the web since 1996, and marvelled at the diesel "Castell Caernarfon's" first display before the track was begun!  I have ridden on both the Ffestiniog and the short section of the Welsh Highland at Porthmadog.  I look forward to riding through from Blaenau Ffestiniog to Caernarfon with my luggage as part of a trip to see the castle!  A job well done!

Again, Congratulations!

Phil

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UK (Welsh, British) Two Footers / Re: Welsh Highland #87 video

« on: January 30, 2009, 10:37:34 PM »

If you liked the photos, check out the YouTube video of #87, and watch for the "little" Fairlie next to it!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wTa8cpL7LFY

Phil

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Other Narrow Gauge / Patten Travel Visits... EBT?

« on: January 30, 2009, 10:25:22 PM »

In fact, David, who runs the B&B, works for the EBT!
Phil

8

Two Footers outside of the US / Re: A New Baldwin 2-4-2

« on: January 30, 2009, 10:19:43 PM »

As it says in the RYPN announcement, it will have higher pressure, and a few other refinements. Actually, the pressure is planned to be 210 lbs, with superheat and piston valves!  It was originally 180 lbs, with slide valves.  So that the purists won't be too upset, the piston valves will be hidden in a chest that looks like the old slide valves!  With the higher pressure and other modern improvements, it will be more powerful and also more economical to run.  There has been some discussion on another forum about whether it should have the straight stack like most Baldwins, or the traditional British chimney with a flared capped copper top.

Phil

9

Other Narrow Gauge / Re: The East Broad Top Railroad!

« on: January 02, 2009, 08:32:39 PM »

Actually, there are two 2' gauge connections with the EBT!

One: at Robertsdale, there was a short 2' gauge (I think) handcar track from the EBT to the Post office, which use a small handcar to carry the mail to the train!

Two: The volunteers from the 2' gauge Bucksgahuda (sp?) & Western RR in St. Mary's, PA, rebuilt their 2' gauge tie inserter so it would also work on the 3' gauge EBT!  They then helped rebuild track 3 past the shops.

When the time comes to replace ties on the WW&F (as opposed to laying new track), it might be worth considering contacting the B&W if there are a lot of ties to replace!

Phil

10

Other Narrow Gauge / Chinese 2'6" railroad

« on: January 02, 2009, 08:24:11 PM »

For those interested in such things, the following link will take you to a page by an American who toured China several times, and actually operated some of the Polish-designed, Chinese-built 0-8-0 C2 locomotives.  One of the locos he saw is now in Wales, to be rebuilt by Ffestiniog volunteers for future use on the Welsh Highland & Ffestiniog Railways.  The C2's are part-way down the page and include a link to a video of two narrow gauge trains passing on double track, taken from the cab of one of them!

I realize that importing one for use on the WW&F is a non-starter (it isn't historic), but it is interesting to think about such a loco and what it could have pulled on some of the Maine railroads.  I wonder if turning it into a 2-8-0 or 2-8-2 would improve its looks or handling?

http://www.livesteaming.com/china05.htm

Phil

11

Other Narrow Gauge / Re: Waynesburg & WASHINGTON!

« on: January 02, 2009, 08:08:05 PM »

Hi Folks,

A minor correction: it is the "Waynesburg & WASHINGTON", as it travelled between those two namesake cities.  It is an excellent book, as I have a copy myself (autographed by both authors!), and have helped work on both the W&W #4, and the track at the museum that it ran on for a few years.  Nice little loco, with restored and working vacuum brakes!

Phil

12

Museum Discussion / Re: Roster of Surviving Maine 2' Locomotives

« on: December 04, 2008, 10:02:24 PM »

Thanks, Ed, I also appreciate this concise history!  Perhaps it could be a "sticky" post at the top, so those of us with a limited knowledge of the Maine two-footers would find it when first surfing this site?
Phil

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Two Footers outside of the US / Re: Leek & Manifold Valley Light Railway video

« on: October 12, 2008, 09:18:35 PM »

Ooops - I apologize - I should have put this in the "Narrow Gauge" section, since it is 2'6" rather than 2'!
Sorry!
Phil

14

Two Footers outside of the US / Leek & Manifold Valley Light Railway video

« on: October 12, 2008, 09:15:03 PM »

The Leek & Manifold Valley Light Railway (a 2'6" line) now exists only as a paved fotpath, which I have walked on.  In a beautiful area of England, it closed in 1934, but carried standard gauge cars on special wagons.  The following video shows them in action and how they were loaded (pushed by the crew!) .  The locos were 2-6-4T's (2 of them), with headlights (never used!)  , which made them look "colonial", as the British referred to them!  I hope you enjoy the video, made in the 1930's!

Phil

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=dWZbZGGnE6E

15

General Discussion / Re: Baldwin Class 10-12-D 4-6-0T.......

« on: August 13, 2008, 07:15:07 PM »

If you click on "previous" or "next", you can navigate through the rest of the Baldwin 4-6-0T photos, and also the Ffestiniog Alco 2-6-2T photos - or go to the thumbnail page:

http://narrowperspectives.ukgeeks.co.uk/c1345894.html

As you can see from the Ffestiniog photos, the Mountaineer does her job well, pulling up to 9 coaches up the grade from Porthmadog.

Phil