by AndrewT
Release issued this earlier this week...
Video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nk-XcHHINis
Traditional railway engineering skills alive and well in the top left hand corner of Wales
August 9, 2010: Replica Lynton & Barnstaple Railway locomotive Lyd moved for the first time under its own steam at the Ffestiniog Railway’s Boston Lodge Works at 1346 on Thursday August 5th. The loco, which has taken 15 years and £350,000 to reach completion, will undergo further trials over the next few weeks in the build up to its first public duties at the Welsh Highland Railway Superpower gala in September, followed by visits to the Launceston Steam Railway and the Lynton & Barnstaple Railway in Devon.
Later the same day, Lyd made its first trip across The Cob to the Ffestiniog’s Porthmadog Harbour Station. The engine was put to good use shunting carriage stock, moving five carriages seemingly without effort. To date, no major issues have come to light with the first brand new loco to be built at Boston Lodge since David Lloyd George in 1992. The works has produced four brand new steam locos in the last three decades, in addition to numerous rebuilds and restorations.
Intensive trials are continuing and visitors to the railway should keep their eyes peeled for a handsome black locomotive popping up unexpectedly over the next few weeks. Although based on a 1925 design, Lyd contains numerous improvements on the original, including the use of modern materials in its construction. The loco is oil fired, but has been designed to be capable of conversion to coal if required.
For the immediate future, the loco will stay in plain black as rectifying the inevitable snagging list will mean the risk of scratches. It's likely that the loco will receive its final livery over the winter.
Although the loco will spend most of its time working on the Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland Railway between Caernarfon and Blaenau Ffestiniog, it is likely to be a frequent visitor to Devon, where the original Manning, Wardle engines worked on the Lynton & Barnstaple Railway until its closure in 1935.
The outshopping of Lyd means that Boston Lodge – the oldest operational railway works in the world – now holds the unique accolade of having built new steam locomotives in the 19th, 20th and 21st Centuries, starting in 1879 with Double Fairlie Merddin Emrys, which is still in regular use today. The works continues to build and maintain locomotives and carriages, not only for the F&WHR, but for other heritage railways.
/ends/
Hi res pix are available at http://www.festrail.co.uk/press in the Locomotives section.
Notes to Editors:
The Ffestiniog Railway
The Ffestiniog Railway is the oldest independent railway company in the World, being founded by Act of Parliament in 1832. The railway was built as a gravity and horse drawn line to transport slate from the quarries in the mountains around Blaenau Ffestiniog. As the slate industry flourished, so did the railway and the town of Porthmadog. Slates from Blaenau Ffestiniog were exported all over the globe - many in ships built in Porthmadog.
The Ffestiniog introduced many innovative engineering solutions to cope with the rapid increase in output from the quarries and in the number of passengers it carried, including introducing the world's first bogie carriages. The Ffestiniog Railway has influenced the design and construction of railways in many countries.
Since the 1950s, the Ffestiniog Railway has become a leader in railway preservation and is now one of the UK’s top tourist attractions.
Boston Lodge – the oldest operational railway works in the world – has now produced new steam locomotives in the 19th, 20th and 21st Centuries, starting in 1879 with Double Fairlie Merddin Emrys, which is still in daily use today. In August 2010, replica Manning, Wardle locomotive Lyd was outshopped as the culmination of a 15 year programme.
The Welsh Highland Railway
The Welsh Highland is North Wales' newest railway and when open throughout from Caernarfon to the Ffestiniog Railway's Harbour Station in Porthmadog in 2011, the two lines will form a heritage railway more than 40 miles in length.
Welsh Highland trains cross the width of the Snowdonia National Park, past the foot of Snowdon and the beautiful village of Beddgelert, before travelling the length of the Aberglaslyn Pass - voted the most beautiful spot in the UK by members of the National Trust. This year an additional three miles of track has been brought into service to a new southern terminus at Pont Croesor, alongside the RSPB's Glaslyn Osprey Centre.
A new halt at Nantmor has also been opened, allowing walkers the option of walking through the Aberglaslyn pass in either direction and returning by train.
In addition to employing some 65 full-time staff, independent research shows that the Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland Railways generate over £15 million for the local economy each year and create a further 350 jobs in the area. Over 1,000 volunteers regularly visit the railways to work in every aspect of their operation, from tracklaying to engine driving.
Visitors to both railways can enjoy the outstanding natural beauty of Snowdonia as they pass through areas inaccessible by road undisturbed by the sights and sounds of modern life.
For further information and high-resolution photography, or to arrange a visit, please contact Andrew Thomas on 01766 516000 [email protected] Or visit the company's website at http://www.festrail.co.uk
Video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nk-XcHHINis
Traditional railway engineering skills alive and well in the top left hand corner of Wales
August 9, 2010: Replica Lynton & Barnstaple Railway locomotive Lyd moved for the first time under its own steam at the Ffestiniog Railway’s Boston Lodge Works at 1346 on Thursday August 5th. The loco, which has taken 15 years and £350,000 to reach completion, will undergo further trials over the next few weeks in the build up to its first public duties at the Welsh Highland Railway Superpower gala in September, followed by visits to the Launceston Steam Railway and the Lynton & Barnstaple Railway in Devon.
Later the same day, Lyd made its first trip across The Cob to the Ffestiniog’s Porthmadog Harbour Station. The engine was put to good use shunting carriage stock, moving five carriages seemingly without effort. To date, no major issues have come to light with the first brand new loco to be built at Boston Lodge since David Lloyd George in 1992. The works has produced four brand new steam locos in the last three decades, in addition to numerous rebuilds and restorations.
Intensive trials are continuing and visitors to the railway should keep their eyes peeled for a handsome black locomotive popping up unexpectedly over the next few weeks. Although based on a 1925 design, Lyd contains numerous improvements on the original, including the use of modern materials in its construction. The loco is oil fired, but has been designed to be capable of conversion to coal if required.
For the immediate future, the loco will stay in plain black as rectifying the inevitable snagging list will mean the risk of scratches. It's likely that the loco will receive its final livery over the winter.
Although the loco will spend most of its time working on the Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland Railway between Caernarfon and Blaenau Ffestiniog, it is likely to be a frequent visitor to Devon, where the original Manning, Wardle engines worked on the Lynton & Barnstaple Railway until its closure in 1935.
The outshopping of Lyd means that Boston Lodge – the oldest operational railway works in the world – now holds the unique accolade of having built new steam locomotives in the 19th, 20th and 21st Centuries, starting in 1879 with Double Fairlie Merddin Emrys, which is still in regular use today. The works continues to build and maintain locomotives and carriages, not only for the F&WHR, but for other heritage railways.
/ends/
Hi res pix are available at http://www.festrail.co.uk/press in the Locomotives section.
Notes to Editors:
The Ffestiniog Railway
The Ffestiniog Railway is the oldest independent railway company in the World, being founded by Act of Parliament in 1832. The railway was built as a gravity and horse drawn line to transport slate from the quarries in the mountains around Blaenau Ffestiniog. As the slate industry flourished, so did the railway and the town of Porthmadog. Slates from Blaenau Ffestiniog were exported all over the globe - many in ships built in Porthmadog.
The Ffestiniog introduced many innovative engineering solutions to cope with the rapid increase in output from the quarries and in the number of passengers it carried, including introducing the world's first bogie carriages. The Ffestiniog Railway has influenced the design and construction of railways in many countries.
Since the 1950s, the Ffestiniog Railway has become a leader in railway preservation and is now one of the UK’s top tourist attractions.
Boston Lodge – the oldest operational railway works in the world – has now produced new steam locomotives in the 19th, 20th and 21st Centuries, starting in 1879 with Double Fairlie Merddin Emrys, which is still in daily use today. In August 2010, replica Manning, Wardle locomotive Lyd was outshopped as the culmination of a 15 year programme.
The Welsh Highland Railway
The Welsh Highland is North Wales' newest railway and when open throughout from Caernarfon to the Ffestiniog Railway's Harbour Station in Porthmadog in 2011, the two lines will form a heritage railway more than 40 miles in length.
Welsh Highland trains cross the width of the Snowdonia National Park, past the foot of Snowdon and the beautiful village of Beddgelert, before travelling the length of the Aberglaslyn Pass - voted the most beautiful spot in the UK by members of the National Trust. This year an additional three miles of track has been brought into service to a new southern terminus at Pont Croesor, alongside the RSPB's Glaslyn Osprey Centre.
A new halt at Nantmor has also been opened, allowing walkers the option of walking through the Aberglaslyn pass in either direction and returning by train.
In addition to employing some 65 full-time staff, independent research shows that the Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland Railways generate over £15 million for the local economy each year and create a further 350 jobs in the area. Over 1,000 volunteers regularly visit the railways to work in every aspect of their operation, from tracklaying to engine driving.
Visitors to both railways can enjoy the outstanding natural beauty of Snowdonia as they pass through areas inaccessible by road undisturbed by the sights and sounds of modern life.
For further information and high-resolution photography, or to arrange a visit, please contact Andrew Thomas on 01766 516000 [email protected] Or visit the company's website at http://www.festrail.co.uk
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