Sandy River Replica Locos

[Bill Sample]

While enjoying Stephen Hussar's contribution on the near-completion of the standard gauge "Tornado" in England I thought of the project to replicate two Sandy River locos in Wales, at the Brecon Mountain Railway.  Does anyone have any recent news?  I just checked their website and there was just a vague reference.

[Glenn Christensen]

Hi Bill,

The only news I have is from some videos I saw on Myspace.  It looks like the fols at Brecon Mountain are focusing on the Brazilian, Baldwin 2-6-0 they bought from Mike Hart??? at the Ffestiniog a couple years ago.  It also looks like they have been slowly manufacturing and stockpiling parts for the replicas on #23 and #10.

Since the Brecon and the Rheidol lines are both owned by the same folks, it is an interesting exercise to consider how the Sandy River locos would perform on the Rheidol.

I'll keep my eyes peeled.


Best Regards,
Glenn

[o anderson]

I was at Brecon Mountain this March.  The larger, operating Baldwin was down for a heavy overhaul, running gear work mainly, I believe.  I saw the frame of the smaller engine down in the rear corner of the shop.   A German tank engine provided service but they were looking to get the big engine going so it could open service on a significant extension of the railroad, where steeper grades prevailed. No workers were around to ask questions so I am sorry to not know any more than that what I saw. 
O. Anderson

[Matthew Gustafson]

Nice engine! Hope one day it can vist the WW&F in the future!

[Eric Bolton]

I doubt that it ever will. Thats a long boat ride.

[Ira Schreiber]

Check out the latest locomotive for the Welsh Highland Railway.

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=267412

[Duncan Mackiewicz]

Ira,
What beautiful piece of machinery.
Duncan

[Steve Klare]

Amen to that!,

A few years back I had an active E-mail correspondence with a British friend (since past on) who asked me why the Beyer-Garratt never caught on in the U.S. As best as I can tell it was two things 1) The limited tender capacity didn't match with our long distance needs, especially where such a powerful wheel arrangement was used and 2) It was a pretty unconventional design coming around at a time when US railroads were trying to standardise around established practice.

Still the same: It's a neat engine!

[Ira Schreiber]

Check these photos out taken two days ago.

http://www.roger-dimmick.fotopic.net/c1632319_49.html

Ira

[Phil Raynes]

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