Nolwyn Valley Tramway Overview
Here I am at my first appointment, inspecting the Nolwyn Valley Tramway. They've certainly been stalling me enough since my arrival, treating me to tours of railway museums in Green Bay and Denver, so I would've expected they had time to cross their T's and dot their I's before the inspection. Unforunately this proved not to be the case, and the operators of this little tramway have a lot to answer for if they intend to stay open for business. Upon my arrival I was greeted by misaligned and unballasted track, with some rail joints seemingly held together by sticky tape and prayers-- no wonder the ride was so bumpy! The collection of locomotives and stock is woeful as well, with their solitary steam loco "Thornas" hastily pulled out of the rebuilder's shop to greet me. I think parts of that are held together by sticky tape as well!
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The passenger stock doesn't fare much better, as their pair of GVT-style coaches sit idle waiting for a locomotive strong enough to pull them around these painfully tight curves. (I don't know what the surveyer was thinking, but I have a feeling he mixed up the metric and imperial sides of his ruler!) Instead, I was taken on rides in freight wagons, brake vans, and locomotive cabs... worse than third class to be sure! It is a dubious honour to have created fourth-class passenger accomodation, but they seem to have done it!
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Moke, the little diesel that could (but probably shouldn't)
The backbone of the line's operation is a dinky little diesel named "Moke", and it certainly does live up to being a little pack donkey. Most trains that actually need to get to a destination are pulled by this little contraption which was knocked together in the quarry workshop from spare parts and an old skip. Just as I'd fear being kicked by a donkey, I also fear the operating end of this little loco with its (very negligently) exposed belt drive and various pulleys.
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Rumor has it that during the operating days of the quarry this locomotive claimed more than its share of drivers' lower extremities. The staff claim it's something to do with German efficiency and weight reduction (the loco, not the drivers), but I call it an accident waiting to happen. I recommend they cover it at once, lest the rumors prove themselves once again to be true.
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(Photo courtesy of Nolwyn Quarry Co. historical archive)
- M. DePuty
To be continued...
Nolwyn Valley Tramway
