Two evocative photos from Iain Ross during shunting after the arrival of 5580 on Saturday, including the Class 108 operating the early season passenger service. Please note that 03162 was not under power in the consist, it remains stored out of use and will not be available for the Diesel Day shuttles. 08195 was doing the shunting honours, as shown in the top photo!
Bridge repairs at Carrog are now complete, so loco-hauled trains can perform normal run-rounds without the need for shunt releasing.
08195 has returned to Llangollen and should now be available to work bespoke brake van shuttles at Llangollen station on Saturday.
Class 31 5580 arrived last night and was unloaded successfully at Llangollen this morning.
Heanor’s Volvo tractor and trailer unit awaits unloading this morning.
The sight that greeted me upon arrival. Dreadful!
A 1970’s BR Blue fest on the stabling road!
More news to follow about 6940’s availability during the week. Everything crossed for seeing these two EE powered machines accompanying D5310 next Saturday…..
The public timetable for our Saturday 26th March Diesel Day is now available:
The file is also available to download by clicking: Llangollen Railway Diesel Day 26th March 2011 or by visiting the event page here
The post-winter inspection of Class 37 6940 found a problem which was initially thought severe enough to prevent the locomotive from taking part in the March Diesel Day and subsequent April running days.
We are very relieved to update you that the fault has now been traced to a few faulty elements in the locomotive’s heat exchanger. This has already been removed, the faulty tubes sealed and the unit reinstalled. An oil change is now required and we are hopeful that the locomotive will still be available for the 26th March, subject to there being no further issues resulting from the severe 2010 winter or other faults found when the locomotive is started and FTR’d.
There is further good news on Class 31 5580, the locomotive was successfully started at Elsecar yesterday and now just requires a final check that all is well after standing for a couple of days following running. The locomotive is scheduled to be transported to Llangollen at the end of this week.
The event timetable will be published very soon.
Tez Pickthall
Wales 2011 or Scotland 1961? The atmospheric image of a slightly work-stained D5310 between duties at Carrog yesterday, where the Type 2 was acting as station pilot and shunt releasing BR standard 4 tank 80072 due to the run-round loop being out of action due to repair work on Carrog road over bridge. Photo by Simon Searle. Note the roof and cab door are both work-in-progress paint repairs.
Repairs to Class 47 D1566 continue to make progress with welding repairs to the radiator manifold now thought possible instead of replacement. All radiator elements have been tested with only one proving faulty – much better than was expected. Whilst empty, the radiator bay will also be cleaned and painted.
Class 26 D5310 will make a short visit to Pentrefelin carriage works to for the (tip)top coat of roof paint in a couple of weeks time. The overhauled marker discs will also be refitted, with the hinge pins being replaced with brass to prevent rusting up and jamming problems which we have experienced with the original steel pins.
Provisional traction for our April and May running days has also now been allocated – please see our running dates page for more information.
The Spring Diesel Day page has been updated with latest news on the 26th March event.
Work has also resumed on the overhaul of D1566. The photos below show work in progress to repair the locos leaking cooling system. This information is also available on a new page on D1566’s section of the site that will record the progress of the overhaul this year. Click here to see it
Good to see the Type 4 back in the sunshine, paintwork looking a little shabby, but that will be sorted out later on this year. 😉
Dai Thrash at work on the removed bottom radiator manifold after removal. This component was not designed for easy removal, so assistance of the gas-powered variety has been sought.
The problem. Rusted through in several places. It’s likely this section of the pipe will have to be replaced with a new piece of steel channel utlising the original fittings. Over to Mr Owen’s A-Team in LR Engineering we suspect…..
D5310 is seen in Colin Cooper’s photo under cover in the shed at Llangollen for a roof repaint in preparation for her visit to the Wensleydale Railway’s diesel gala on 8th-10th April.
Our Spring Diesel Day will take place on Saturday 26th March and will see the first diesel operation of the year at the Llangollen Railway. More details will follow in due course, including timetables. Resident locos Class 26 No D5310 and Class 37 D6940 are expected to take part, along with one of the Llangollen Railcar Group’s DMUs.
The Llangollen Diesel Group are delighted to announce a visiting loco for 2011 which is planned to debut at the Spring Diesel Day. A1A‘s Class 31 No 5580 (31162) will be joining us for a 21 month visit until the end of 2012. The locomotive will undergo a B Exam this weekend to confirm fitness to take part at the Spring event. All being well, the recent severe weather has been kind to the 1960-built machine during winter storage at Elsecar.
The lengthier visit of our guest locomotive will help offset transport costs and ensure plenty of enthusiasts can sample a Class 31 working on the Llangollen Railway for the first time. 5580 will also be used on some of our regular 4 trip mileage accumulation days, the 1960’s weekend on 30th and 31st of July, the new Bus Rally on 27th & 28th of August and our Autumn Diesel Day on 24th September.
The locomotive will also be available for driver experiences, private and photo charters, the latter of which we hope will be popular seeing as 5580 is in early BR blue livery and matches our resident Class 37 6940 perfectly.
Further news about the visit of the loco will appear on our website in due course.
5580 is seen in November 2007 at Sheringham during her spell on the North Norfolk Railway. The train heating boiler is currently out of ticket, with A1A considering the possibility of overhaul when funds allow. Photo courtesy of Mark Atmore
Tez Pickthall. 18th January 2011.