Talyllyn Railway rolling stock

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This article gives details of the rolling stock used on the Talyllyn Railway (Welsh: Rheilffordd Talyllyn), a 2 ft 3 in (686 mm) narrow gauge preserved railway line running for 7¼ miles (11.8 km)[1] from Tywyn on the Mid-Wales coast to Nant Gwernol near the village of Abergynolwyn.

Contents

[edit] Locomotives

The line has six steam locomotives for passenger trains and four diesel locomotives that usually haul only works trains. It is unusual for all steam locos to be operable at one time, as there is usually one loco undergoing overhaul.[2] As of October 2007, loco No 6 Douglas has been stripped down for boiler overhaul, and will be unavailable for the 2008 season.[3]

[edit] Steam locomotives

No. Name Image Type Builder Works number Date built Cylinder size Boiler pressure (lbs/sq. in.) Notes
1 Talyllyn 0-4-2ST Fletcher, Jennings
& Co.
, Whitehaven
42[4] 1864 858 in x 16 in[5] 160[5] Original locomotive. Built as an 0-4-0 without a cab. By 1866 trailing wheels had been added to improve stability. At the same time it had a cab installed. Named after the railway.
2 Dolgoch 0-4-0WT Fletcher, Jennings
& Co.
, Whitehaven
63[6] 1866 758 in x 16 in[5] 150[5] Original locomotive. Ran under the name Pretoria for several years after the Boer War. Built without a cab, it later had one added. Named after the intermediate station and local waterfalls.
3 Sir Haydn 0-4-2ST Hughes,
Falcon Works,
Loughborough
323[6] 1878 718 in x 12 in[5] 160[5] ex-Corris Railway locomotive. Purchased in 1951 and subsequently named after Sir Henry Haydn Jones, owner of the railway prior to preservation.
4 Edward Thomas 0-4-2ST Kerr Stuart,
Stoke on Trent
4047[6] 1921 718 in x 12 in[5] 160[5] ex-Corris Railway locomotive. Purchased in 1951 and subsequently named after the general manager of the line prior to preservation.
6 Douglas 0-4-0WT Andrew Barclay, Kilmarnock 1431[6] 1918 678 in x 1034 in[5] 160[5] A "Modified E Class",[7] built for the depot railway serving RAF Calshot. Donated to the Talyllyn in 1953 and regauged from 2 ft (610 mm) gauge. Named after Douglas Abelson, who donated the locomotive.[8]
7 Tom Rolt 0-4-2T Talyllyn Railway n/a 1991 812 in x 12 in[5] 180[5] Built by TR from components from a Bord na Móna (Irish Peat Board) Andrew Barclay locomotive. It was originally intended to give the loco the jocular name Irish Pete. However, prior to completion of the loco, it was decided to name it in honour of L.T.C. Rolt, one of the founders of the TR Preservation Society.

[edit] Diesel locomotives

No. Name Image Type Builder Date built Power (hp) Wheel diameter Notes
5 Midlander 4wDM Ruston & Hornsby 1940 48[5] 1 ft 6 in[5] Purchased in 1957 from Jee's quarries at Hartshill.[9] It contains parts that were cannibalised off an identical locomotive. Named after the Midlands area group of the preservation society that donated the locomotive.
8 Merseysider 4wDH Ruston & Hornsby 1964 50[5] 1 ft 6 in[5] This was originally built using parts from three 3 ft (914 mm) gauge locomotives from Park Gate steelworks in Rotherham, acquired in 1969.[9] The superstructure was replaced c.2000. Has a Dowty hydrostatic transmission. The name was chosen by the donor of the locomotive.[10]
9 Alf 0-4-0DM Hunslet Engine Co. 1950 75[5] 2 ft[5] ex-National Coal Board, from Huncoat colliery in Lancashire.[9] Named after Alf Robens, chairman of the National Coal Board.[10]
10 Bryn Eglwys 4wDH Motor Rail 1985 110[5] 1ft 11 in[5] Originally a 2 ft 6 in (762 mm) gauge National Coal Board locomotive from Hem Heath colliery near Stoke-on-Trent.[11] It arrived on the Talyllyn September 1997,[12] and was re-painted into standard Talyllyn livery during summer 2005. The locomotive is named after the Bryn Eglwys slate quaries.

[edit] Self-propelled engineering plant

Name Image Type Builder Date built Notes
- Flail Mower Talyllyn Railway 1998 Rail mounted self propelled vehicle used to clear lineside vegetation. [10] Designed by John Bate (Chief Engineer 1963-1994) and built from chassis components from two Ruston & Hornsby locomotives, the framing and motor components of a Smalley excavator, the flail mechanism and cab from a McConnel flail mower and a new Perkins diesel power unit. [5]
- Ballast tamper Matisa[13] Rail mounted track tamper. Parts of two ex-MOD standard gauge tampers were acquired in 1989 and one complete machine was assembled and commissioned on 26 June 1990 [5]
Toby Permanent Way Trolley John Bate 1955 Small trolley used by engineers for transportation to worksites. Built from a second hand Austin 7 engine and gearbox, mounted on a custom-made chassis. [5]

[edit] Former locomotives

No. Name Type Builder Date built Power (hp) Year with-
drawn
Notes
5 "Ford"[4] 4wPM David Curwen 1952 20[4] 1953 Built by member David Curwen using the engine from a Model T Ford, the transmission from L.T.C Rolt's narrowboat and the wheels from a Talyllyn Railway slate wagon. Worked the Fridays-only winter passenger service.[4] Out of use with a failed gearbox by 1953, dismantled in 1954.[5] Converted to flat wagon No. 19 (see below).[14]
7 "Charley's Ant" 4-2-0 Talyllyn Railway 1954 c.1958 A Mercury tractor that had been adapted to push standard gauge rolling stock by the addition of a buffer beam. Further adapted in 1954 for use on the Talyllyn using an ex-Ashover Light Railway bogie [4]. It was converted to run on paraffin instead of petrol. It was little used after 1958 and later scrapped. It was nicknamed after Charles Uren, the railway's chief engineer.[9]
  • PM = Petrol-Mechanical -Petrol loco with mechanical transmission

[edit] Visiting locomotives

Because of the unusual gauge, there has only been one visiting locomotive to date (spring 2008). This was Motor Rail Simplex diesel No. 5 Alan Meaden from the Corris Railway. However, there are plans for Corris loco number 7 to visit the Talyllyn in 2009, as part of the celebrations of the 150th anniversary of that line.

No. Name Image    Type    Builder Date built Notes
5 Alan Meaden 4w DM Motor Rail Simplex 1965 Ex-Staveley Lime Products, Hindlow, Derbys. Formerly 2 ft (610 mm) gauge. Named in honour of the Corris Society's founder.

[edit] Carriages

The Talyllyn railway has a total of 23 carriages:[15]

No. Image Builder Date built Notes
1 Brown, Marshalls c. 1867[4] Original 4-wheel carriage, seating 18.
2 Brown, Marshalls c. 1867[4] Original 4-wheel carriage, seating 24.
3 Brown, Marshalls 1866 Original carriage, seating 22. No. 3 was the first to be delivered [5], and is 1 foot shorter than Nos. 1 and 2.
4 Lancaster Wagon 1867 Known as "Limping Lulu" to railway staff. Original carriage, seating 24.
5 Brown, Marshalls c. 1866 [4] Original guards van
6 Falcon Works 1885 Guards Van, ex-Corris Railway
7 Believed de Winton. Converted by the Talyllyn Railway unknown. Converted in 1953 ex-Penrhyn Quarry Railway carriage 'H'. Converted in 1986 [5] to a wheelchair saloon with guards compartment
8 Penrhyn Quarry Railway. Converted by the Talyllyn railway Between 1904 and 1908. Converted in 1953 Open sided, ex Penrhyn carriage 'P'.
9 W.G. Allen & Tisdales 1954 Bogie carriage, capacity 48.
10 W.G. Allen & Tisdales 1954 Bogie carriage seating 30, with guards compartment
11 Penrhyn Quarry Railway. Converted by the Talyllyn Railway unknown. Converted in 1955 Open sided 4 wheel carriage, seating 24
12 Talyllyn Railway 1956 Open sided
13 Talyllyn Railway 1957 Open sided
14 Midland R.C.&W. 1892 ex-Glyn Valley Tramway
15 Midland R.C.&W. 1892 ex-Glyn Valley Tramway
16 Kerr Stuart & TR 1961[16] Guards compartment
17 Metropolitan C.&W. 1898[17] ex-Corris Railway
18 Talyllyn Railway 1965
19 Talyllyn Railway & Tisdales 1969
20 Talyllyn Railway & Tisdales 1970 Wheelchair saloon
21 Talyllyn Railway & Tisdales 1971 Wheelchair saloon
22 Talyllyn Railway & Tisdales 1972 Guards compartment
23 Talyllyn Railway & Tisdales 1975

[edit] Goods wagons

The original Talyllyn Railway was primarily constructed for conveying slate. It had a large number of slate wagons for this purpose, some of which survived into the preservation era. It also had a number of other general and special purpose goods wagons. Since the takeover of the railway by the Preservation Society a large number of additional wagons have been purchased and built. The following table lists the main types of wagon used during both periods:

Body Type Image Builder Modern numbers Number owned Capacity Origin Notes
Corris open end door unknown 1[14] 1 2 tons Corris Railway Acquired in 1951 from the Corris Railway.[4] One remains in use.[14]
Corris open side door unknown 4[14] 1 1 ton Corris Railway Acquired in 1951 from the Corris Railway.[4] One remains in use.[14]
TR open end door unknown 5, 8, 11, 13, 15, 17[14] 10 A variety of general purpose open wagons. [18]
Underframe only unknown 6, 7, 9[14]
Flat wagon David Curwen 19[14] 1 Converted from the original locomotive No. 5
Ballast hopper unknown 20, 21, 22, 23, 24[14] 5 Winchburgh Shale Oilworks Acquired in 1956.[4] One remains in service.[14]
MoD covered van unknown 28[14] 1 Ministry of Defence Obtained from Trecwn and regauged from 2 ft 6 in (762 mm) gauge
Tool van unknown 29[14] 1
FR Bolster wagon unknown 30, 31, 33[14] 3 Ffestiniog Railway Open frame wagons used in pairs to carry timber. [18]
FR Flat wagon unknown 32, 34, 35[14] 3 3 tons Ffestiniog Railway Acquired in 1956, regauged from 1 ft 11½ in (597 mm) gauge. [4]
Bowaters flat unknown 36[14]
Bowaters flat with crane unknown 37[14]
Tipper wagon various 40, 41, 42, 43, 50, 52, 53, 54, 55[14] 9 Cefn Coch quarry A set of 2 ft 6 in (762 mm) gauge wagons obtained in 1975. Four, Nos. 40-43 remain in service as tipping wagons. [5]
MoD flat wagon unknown 60, 61, 62[14] 3 Ministry of Defence
MoD bogie brake van unknown 70[14] 1
MoD Boflat unknown 71, 72[14] 2 Ministry of Defence
Slate wagon unknown 101, 136, 164[14] 115 [4] 2- and 3-bar wooden slate wagons. [18] Three remain in the Narrow Gauge Railway Museum collection: two 2-bar and one 3-bar wagons.[14]
Incline wagon unknown 117[14] 5 1 ton General purpose wagon, built with sheet iron sides and designed to prevent spillages while hauled on the Abergynolwyn village incline. [18]
Covered van unknown 146[14] 3 All withdrawn by 1932. [18] One remains in the museum.[14]
Gunpowder van unknown 1 Special purpose wagon for transporting blasting powder to Bryn Eglwys. Scrapped in 1955. [18]
Corris mail wagon unknown [14] Corris Railway

[edit] Liveries

The standard livery for locomotives on the Talyllyn is bronze deep green,[19] lined in black and yellow, although since the 1980s there has been a policy of varying some of the liveries for a period of time. It is usual to have one steam engine painted in the guise of one of its fictional counterparts from the Skarloey Railway and wearing a face on the smokebox. - this is usually No 3 or No 4, as the red livery closely resembles the colour carried by these locos on the Corris Railway.

The liveries carried by the steam locos in 2008 are as follows:-

  • No 1 - Black with red and white lining.[20]
  • No 2 - In a lined maroon livery.[21]
  • No 3 - In Indian Red, due to appear as "Children's Engine" Sir Handel for 2008.[22]
  • No 4 - In standard Talyllyn green.
  • No 6 - This loco is dismantled for overhaul, but previously appeared as "Skarloey Engine" Duncan.
  • No 7 - In standard Talyllyn green.

The vintage rolling stock and the carriages built for the line after preservation, are cherry red, lined with deep bronze green. Additionally, the railway has preserved rolling stock from other railways. These retain their original liveries.

The Corris coach (Talyllyn Number 17) and brakevan (Talyllyn Number 6) are brown lined with gold leaf and the two Glyn Valley Tramway coaches (Talyllyn Numbers 14 and 15) are green lined with white.[19]

[edit] References

  1. ^ Official Talyllyn Railway about page.
  2. ^ Talyllyn website - 100% availability.
  3. ^ Talyllyn website - No 6 Douglas dismantled for overhaul.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Boyd, James I.C. (1965). Narrow Gauge Railways in Mid Wales. The Oakwood Press. 
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa Bate, John L.H. (2001). The Chronicles of Pendre Sidings: a personal account of the first railway preservation society in the world: The Talyllyn Railway Preservation Society 1950-2000. Rail Romances. ISBN 190062205X. 
  6. ^ a b c d Cox, David (1983). Welsh Narrow Gauge in the 1980s. Battenhall Books. ISBN 095085770X. 
  7. ^ Hatherhill, Ann and Gordon (2004). Narrow Gauge & Industrial Album. RCL Publications. ISBN 0953876357. 
  8. ^ Brief history of Talyllyn Railway.
  9. ^ a b c d Potter, David (1990). The Talyllyn Rail. David & Charles. ISBN 094653750X. 
  10. ^ a b c Morland, R. J. (2005). The Talyllyn Railway in Colour. R. J. Morland. ISBN 0-9549893-0-9. 
  11. ^ "Engineering Report", Talyllyn News, issue 175 (September 1997), p6. 
  12. ^ Talyllyn Railway other locomotives.
  13. ^ Manufacturer's website.
  14. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z Talyllyn Railway stocklist.
  15. ^ Talyllyn Railway Carriage Summary.
  16. ^ Vintage Carriage Trust - Coach number 16.
  17. ^ Corris Railway re-opening information.
  18. ^ a b c d e f Boyd, James I.C. (1988). The Talyllyn railway. Wild Swan Publications Ltd.. ISBN 0906867460. 
  19. ^ a b Talyllyn Railway livery details.
  20. ^ No 1 'Talyllyn' update - January 2008.
  21. ^ No 2 'Dolgoch' - more pictures.
  22. ^ TR Council report June 2007.