News

Garratt No. 60, Drakensberg, Steams

The Vale of Rheidol Railway has completed the commissioning of Hanomag 2-62+2-6-2 Garratt NG/G13 works number 10551 built in 1927. The ex-South African Railway’s locomotive No. 60, named Drakensberg, will be available to haul VoR passenger trains in 2022 in addition to the line’s iconic 2-6-2Ts.

The German-built NG/G13 ceased work in South Africa in 1973 and was purchased by Swiss enthusiasts in 1986. It returned to steam in 1998 and ran on the 60cm gauge Schinznacher Baumschulbahn line in Switzerland until changes to the track layout rendered it unable to traverse the full circuit at the site. The name Drakensberg was applied in Switzerland, a reference to the area in central Southern Africa named Drakensbergen (Dragons’ Mountains) by early Dutch settlers, now known as Drakensberge in Afrikaans. The red dragon is an iconic Welsh symbol and Vale of Rheidol Railway runs from the sea into the mountains of Mid-Wales, the name is therefore highly appropriate and will be retained. A successful conclusion to three years of negotiations by Vale of Rheidol management resulted in the locomotive being transported across Europe to Vale of Rheidol Railway where it arrived on 17 July 2017. Although in generally excellent condition and certified to operate in Switzerland, UK regulations required a fresh boiler test. The decision was made to undertake a full overhaul at VoR’s Aberystwyth workshops. This has progressed between other work, including contract overhauls for other customers, and the suspension of engineering

work for periods during 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic. The locomotive undertook a successful light engine test and gauging operation over the full length of the Vale of Rheidol Railway from Aberystwyth to Devil’s Bridge on 16 October 2021. A loaded test hauling seven carriages to Devil’s Bridge followed on 18 October. The locomotive subsequently hauled a second test train with Directors and Trustees aboard and worked a demonstration freight train on 9 November for a photo charter.

Overhaul details;

Boiler – stripped and found to be in good condition. The boiler fittings were overhauled, new tubes fitted and a new boiler certificate secured. Power Bogies – stripped, wheels turned, axleboxes inspected, the motion overhauled, new piston and valves rings fitted and accurate setting of the valves. Brake gear – removed, checked and refitted with the addition of full VoR specification air braking including steam operated air pump. Although no longer functional the original vacuum train braking and locomotive steam brake equipment has been retained in the cab to conserve its original appearance. Other equipment – a correct early NG/G13 pattern chimney has been fitted and the loco equipped with VoR couplings and safety chains. The original crossed SAR/SAS (South African Railways/Suid-Afrikaanse Spoorweë) lettering on the bunker has been replaced by crossed VOR/VOR lettering in the same format.

Overhaul Complete for WLLR’s The Earl

The heavy overhaul of No.822, The Earl, from the Welshpool & Llanfair Light Railway was recently completed within our workshop at Aberystwyth and it has now returned to its home railway and begun to haul passenger trains, upon completion of testing.

During May, June and July there was a big push within our workshop to get the engine completed. The loco has had new springs fitted but first all the spring hangers and anchor points were built up and machined. This was so that the springs could move freely and reduce the chance of them breaking. The large rods on the motion were white metaled and machined and other parts of the valve gear were re-bushed. The motion was then finally reassembled. The valve timing was then set using our workshop winches. Once this was completed, the boiler could be re-fitted. The boiler had a hydraulic test before installation and two stays replaced. A new stainless steel smokebox and ashpan were then fabricated and fitted to the boiler. The boiler was then had the cladding re-fitted and was painted. The boiler was then finally placed in the frames. The tanks and new bunker were fitted and new fire iron hooks, to the original pattern, manufactured and fitted to the rear of the bunker. The cab was then fitted and a lot of the plumbing replaced with new copper pipes. All the fittings had previously been serviced and repaired and they were fitted back on to the boiler. The cab windows were refitted including a new one manufactured in the workshop. The loco was then finally painted and sign written before a final steam test in the workshop. The loco was then transported back to the WLLR and tested and commissioned over the next few days. A few minor isuues were sorted out and very soon the loco was out pulling trains for the rest of the season.

Vale of Rheidol Railway News Vale of Rheidol Railway in Detail Book Announced

Production Team left to right: ˆ Llyr ap Iolo - VoR Chief Engineer/Director Robert Gambrill - VoR CEO Robert Bance - VoR Archivist Stephen Phillips - Design, Illustration and research

Also published by the Vale of Rheidol Railway

‘Rich Mountains of Lead’ The metal mining industry of Cwm Rheidol and ystumtuen

by Ioan Lord

A fully detailed history of the lead, silver and zinc mines of Cwm Rheidol and ystumtuen.

isbn 978-0-95445-463-0

Dust jacket front cover illustration From an oil painting originally painted for the Metcalfe family.

Dust jacket rear cover illustrations © Vale of Rheidol Railway IN DETAIL

THIS unique volume of measured drawings describes in great detail the equipment and infrastructure of the Vale of Rheidol Railway. The result of many years’ research, the book draws on the railway’s own archives and archaeology going back to the opening of the line. As well as providing a comprehensive record of locomotives, carriages, wagons and buildings – some now long disappeared – the work brings the record up to date with extensive details of modern developments and equipment, researched in conjunction with the railway using primary 1923 to 1928 source information and close examination of surviving equipment.

OPEN SHUT IN DETAIL

OPEN SHUT The VALE OF RHEIDOL RailwayGas on-o valve

Composite/Brake Composite

First GWR livery, full arm, wing and mantle. See GWR Swindon painting diagram No. 65932-D of 1923.

Partition

Standard GWR communication apparatus tted May 1929 4' - 6"

Partition Lamp moved 1926 for Brake conversion

Partition Extra lamp 1926 for Guard’s comp’t

GWR twin-pipe gas lines

Handbrake one side

VALE OF RHEIDOL RAILWAY 1906 TO 1913

OPEN SHUT

Black lettering shaded white on light grey, black running gear and ironwork. Capacity and Tare lettering not known, presume painted on bottom rail. Presumed livery as delivered new in 1906.

Steam heating (shown on end view) tted for Winter 1925/26 Pipe lagged with felt, wrapped with canvas OPEN SHUTrailway’s official archives Gas on-o valve Compiled from the

Screw-tightened couplers tted until c.1930 Centre door fastened shut ISBN 978-0-95445-464-7

Cambrian number both ends

Steam heating pipe not shown Steam heating (shown on end view) tted for Winter 1925/26 Pipe lagged with felt, wrapped with canvas

THE VALE OF RHEIDOL RAILWAy Park Avenue, Aberystwyth, Ceredigion Sy23 1PG Label holder (position varies) 09 780954 454647 www.rheidolrailway.co.uk

Drawn by S. Phillips for Vale of Rheidol Trading Ltd © 27 July 2017 (rev 27 July 2019) Renumbered by Cambrian Nos 4-9

LOAD 5 TONS TARE I.?.?. TARE I.?.?.

5

Scale feet

10 Compiled from the railway’s official archives The VALE OF RHEIDOL Railway IN DETAIL

THE Vale of Rheidol Light Railway opened for goods traffic during the second week of August 1902 and passenger traffic on 22nd December 1902. It has enjoyed continuous operation for more than a century, forty years of which were under the ownership of British Railways, leaving a rich legacy of historical information.

Working closely with the railway the author has carefully surveyed, researched, recorded and drawn this material – past and present – and the results of this work are presented in this volume. The highly detailed drawings include locomotives, passenger carriages, goods stock, service vehicles, bridges, signalling, trackwork, station buildings, lineside equipment, water columns etc.

The book features a fascinating selection of photographs, documents and ephemera from the railway’s own archives, from opening to the present day, many reproduced here for the first time, and many in colour. Carefully prepared livery diagrams illustrate the myriad of paint schemes used by the railway, including Brighton ochre and rail blue.

Present day operations and developments are covered in detail, providing a unique behind-thescenes insight into the engineering and operation of a modern preserved narrow gauge steam railway. The Vale of Rheidol Railway occupies a unique position amongst the narrow gauge railways of the British Isles, it is hoped that this book will enable readers to get to know it in greater detail.

Handbrake one side

CAMBRIAN RAILWAYS POST 1913 TO c.1923

White lettering on light grey, black running gear and ironwork. Capacity and Tare white letters (conjectural). Note: Lettering style CAMBRIAN was used after 1915. Prior to 1915 CAM RYS was used with Prince of Wales’ feathers motif centred between the words. Vale of Rheidol Railway is delighted to announce the forthcoming publication of Drawn by S. Phillips for Vale of Rheidol Trading Ltd © October 2016 No photographs showing CAM RYS applied to the 1906 wagons have been seen so this style must remain conjectural. Photographs do exist showing both styles applied to the ex-Hafan wagons, albeit without the Prince of Wales’ feathers.

the most comprehensive book ever produced about this unique line.

Many years have been spent researching the railway’s own archives and archaeology dating back to the opening of the line in 1902 to produce this sumptuous volume. With the research coupled with detailed measured drawings, the book presents an unrivalled description of the Railway’s history, equipment and infrastructure. The production team could not have been better placed to undertake this work. They comprise of Stephen Phillips who undertook Design, Llyr ap Iolo, Robert Gambrill and Robert Bance (VoR Archivist). The highly detailed drawings include locomotives, passenger carriages, goods stock, service vehicles, bridges, signalling, trackwork, station buildings, lineside equipment, water columns etc. Also featured are a fascinating selection of photographs, documents and ephemera from the railway’s own archives from opening to the present day. Many of these illustrations are being reproduced for the first time with many in colour. Carefully prepared livery diagrams illustrate the myriad of paint schemes used by the railway, including Brighton Ochre and BR Rail Blue. In addition to providing a comprehensive record of locomotives, carriages, wagons and buildings, some now long disappeared, aided by primary source information and close examination of surviving equipment, the work brings the record up to date with extensive details of modern developments and equipment. This includes a unique behind-the scenes insight into the engineering and operation of a modern preserved narrow gauge steam railway. The book will become available, only from the Vale of Rheidol, in January 2022. With the initial print run being limited in numbers and interest expected to be high, early ordering to avoid disappointment is recommended.