Bachmann Skarloey and Rheneas

[Mark Shenstone]

Having just ordered myself a Bachmann Skarloey and Rheneas from the US it got me thinking of their real life counterparts on the Talyllyn Railway.

Is there a particular reason that Talyllyn and Dolgoch have buffers? Or is it just a quirk of the Talyllyn Railway? As buffers on UK narrow gauge seems pretty unusual.

[Hobby]

It isn't just the TR that used buffers on NG, I've seen it in Germany and Poland. Don't know why, though, as it would increase the costs over a normal NG coupler.

[clayliner]

All the locos on the Furzebrook railway in Dorset had buffers, as did 'Tiny' and 'Thames' on Fayle's Tramway.

David.

[Elmgate]

It is a complex question, and one to which there may not be a definitive answer!  :) However, it appears that the existing wagons in the Bryn Eglwys quarry had extended solebars, so it is likely that buffers were fitted to match these - unlike, for example, Festiniog and the Penrhyn and Dinorwic quarries, where the crude couplings were central hook and loop. I understand that Corris quarries had similar wagons to Tal-y-llyn, and the line had a mix of buffers (passenger) and central hook and chain (quarry). I also guess that the TR followed standard gauge tradition of the time, rather than developing the style of other narrow gauge railways - which after all, were rare in the 1860's!

If I recall correctly, the FR only adopted the "Norwegian" chopper coupling after preservation, previously they had used a central buffer, with hook and chain, to match the wagons, even on passenger stock (?)

[B.Meldon]

Perhaps it is worth mentioning that the minimum curve (including points) on the TR works out at about 52 inch radius in 4mm scale.
However the minimum curve on the FR/WHR is about 21 inch radius.
If side buffers were used on the WHR/FR they could cause problems on the tighter curves. (Just as side buffers do on any 009 layout with 12 inch or less curves.)

Perhaps this is why most NG railways do not have side buffers?? The curves are just too tight??

Brian Meldon

[Mark Shenstone]

Thanks gents :) That makes sense. Interesting anyway. 

[danny]

It is a complex question, and one to which there may not be a definitive answer!  :) However, it appears that the existing wagons in the Bryn Eglwys quarry had extended solebars, so it is likely that buffers were fitted to match these - unlike, for example, Festiniog and the Penrhyn and Dinorwic quarries, where the crude couplings were central hook and loop. I understand that Corris quarries had similar wagons to Tal-y-llyn, and the line had a mix of buffers (passenger) and central hook and chain (quarry). I also guess that the TR followed standard gauge tradition of the time, rather than developing the style of other narrow gauge railways - which after all, were rare in the 1860's!

If I recall correctly, the FR only adopted the "Norwegian" chopper coupling after preservation, previously they had used a central buffer, with hook and chain, to match the wagons, even on passenger stock (?)

I recall reading the Corris stockbook a few months ago and noticing the lack of side buffers on the original locos (3 & 4) compared to No. 7. Have the preservation society perhaps chosen to move closer to Talyllyn practice to allow exchange of stock between the lines? If the Ffestiniog have changed their couplings then is this for safety reasons or just availability of components?

Another interesting example is Bala Lake. Being a new build line equipped with Quarry Hunslets and probably a few Hudson based PW wagons initially, you might expect centre buffers. I believe side buffers were chosen as the initial plan was a miniature line based on the old standard gauge trains that ran on the route (with the buffers more accurately mimicking standard gauge stock). I think it was the availability of the Hunslets that killed off this idea but it survives in the design of the coaches and the miniature outline Severn Lamb diesel.
Danny