As some of you may know, I recently sent off my much loved (and as it turned out, very well worn!) Roundhouse Millie "Gwydion" to DLR Dan for an overhaul of the chassis. Replaced were the bearings, axles (they had grooves in them!), eccentrics and eccentric straps, and the rod bearings were bushed to remove a horrendous knock the loco had developed. The running was still nearly perfect though despite the various things wrong with it! Anyway, it returned to the ANLR a week or two back, and with running at the Belah Valley railway being curtailed somewhat by the wind, today was the first chance I got to run it properly. I was so desperate to run it that I took a fine drizzle as being perfect conditions to run in...
Taking the curve round by Ty Pren halt
Emerging from the green tunnel at Glanyrafon
Heading past the quarry towards the tunnel
Rounding the headland coming back down the line
Steaming back up the line
And the results?
Gwydion is now very much back to its best, the knock has gone, the rear axle dosn't wobble and the locos traction has also improved, perhapes because it was so worn before hand the the timing was sent slightly out, causing slipping from poorly balanced power strokes. However today, despite the greasy conditions, and a 4 coach train, I didn't see Gwydion slip once.
Many thanks to DLR Dan for restoring Gwydion to its former glory
