Cross posted from NGRM, so apologies to those of you who will have seen this there already.
This weekend just gone I have been to Snowdonia for my first trip on the completed WHR all the way from Porthmadog to Caernarfon.
On the Saturday I was offered a guided tour of Boston Lodge - hard to say no to, so off I went!
I'd never been around the back of the sheds, or inside them. It's a VERY impressive facility with a lot going on.
Vale of Ffestiniog, Cricceth Castle and No. 87 outside the sheds.
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An NGG16 power bogie waiting behind the sheds.
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The view from Quarry siding back towards the works and carriage sheds.
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A Winson built carr being rebuilt.
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Britmoart being prepared for s special charter on the FR to Tan y Bwlch, and the WHR to Beddgelert.
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The shed housing the project to rebuild a Chinese C2.
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The more traditional looking tanks that were built some time ago for 'unsquaring' the Earl.
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The replica porthole bug box under construction. Very nice =P~
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The chassis of the sentry brake van. Should look very nice when it's done :)
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A carr receiving a refit and new lick of paint.
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Moelwyn, DLG and Merddin in the sheds. Note Merddin's temporary bogie.
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The Earl lurking in the sheds.
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The chassis of a replica coach being built for the L&B.
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Merddin's power bogie in the sheds.
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The wheels from Merddin's power bogie and Prince in the background.
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Prince being looked over.
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Hugh Napier and Prince in the sheds. HN had been under test the day previously.
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The Penrhyn Ladies lurking in the old loco shed.
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Palmerston, Lilla, Blanche and Linda in the old shed.
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On the Saturday evening there was a little snow which dusted the high points of Snowdonia around Beddgelert and Rhyd Ddu - very pretty when we arrived there.
Here are some pics from our trip if anyone is interested:
The work being carried out to widen the Cob didn't seem as intensive, presumably because it was the tail end of February half term, and trying to minimise the impact of the works on services.
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No 87 was our engine, here she is arriving from Blodge. We left Port at 10.45.
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Cricceth Castle was the station pilot helping shunt the WHR train into position for 87 to take to Caernarfon.
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I didn't take many photos until the return journey, hence the odd order, so here we are now in Caernarfon.
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The ex-DeWinton erecting shop next to the site of Caernarfon station.
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No 87 and train waiting to depart for Port.
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The big Romanian ballast wagon and some of the smaller diesel collection at Dinas yard.
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Caernarfon Castle was shunting a couple of B wagons around in the yard.
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The closer to Rhyd Ddu we got the more the snow appeared.
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At Rhyd Ddu we crossed no. 143 with the other service train.
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We returned back to Port at 17.05, a whole day of riding on steam trains through snowy mountains - brilliant! :)
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As I said, it's the first time I've ridden on the completed WHR. I really enjoyed it, and the slight dusting of snow was an added bonus. Seeing an NGG16 attacking the reverse curves around Beddgelert is superb!
I have about 20 minutes of video footage from the Caernarfon bound journey which will be on YouTube soon, when available I'll post the video in this thread.
Thanks for those fine shots, Tom
Thanks John.
Here is the video footage I took:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cK4ZwpgKe5A
Excellent. A trip behind the 'Purple People Eater'!