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TR Have A Go Gala 2012

Posted: Fri Jul 20, 2012 12:52 am
by dougrail
Three weeks later, after a holiday on Wight and several things, I finally get my albums developed :)

FRIDAY

Was mostly spent socialising and eating curry and beer, so there were little to report on the Darjeeling front. After most folk had gone home, a twilight session began.

A usual suspect lights up again after a magnificent run trundling around solo..

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A 'Countess' comes out from the gloom..

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Showing off the new nameplates Narrow Planet had supplied...

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On shed...

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Blowing down and settling for the night...

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And so we went our ways and took our charges with us, sleeping that night dreaming of little engines and wonderful journeys made in miniature...

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SATURDAY

Saturday became quite busy! In the morning I had no camera or engines as I had instead ashovel and helped "ballast" the garden as the torrential showers had turned the area into a 16mm equivalent of "Glastonbury"! Soon after the clouds dispersed and the sun began to shone...

...and then one "big chunky engine" tried to cadge a ride on another big chunky engine!

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Charge!

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After this, it was time for another trip - this time taking a trip on No.8 "Merseysider" to thrash up and down Wharf Cutting on the Diesel Driver :D I love that little engine...!

Cab View...

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Aaaaaaand a video [click on it to play; you may be redirected to PB direct]

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After lunch saw play resume at Llechfan itself. Most of the afternoon I was in the more scenic lower loop as the visitors were piling up like mad to steam on the Upper Circuit. No matter, it was fun :)

A chap from Malvern newish to the TR had recently bought a Mamod and then souped it up in one swoop. Introducing "Peggy":-

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In the meanwhile, while we chatted 'shop', Mr Rickett ran his Corris Bertie + train and a fine sight it was too!

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A photo op was not to be missed. As some know, I was originally aiming to have a RH Bertie as my first 'proper' engine, until the "Caradoc" trade came along :) So a comparative lineup was organised...

In the RED CORNER...

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In the GREEN CORNER...

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Compare!

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~

Meanwhile, back at the Lower Loop, the oscillators were waking up...

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And a double header with the one stable TR coach that didn't keep jumping the rails went ahead, inaugurating wee 'Peggy':-

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Line-up at Lakeside Station:

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Peggy went for a solo spin then...

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...before she ran out and Swordbreaker relieved her.

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And out from under the tunnel..

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#

It was at this point that the coaches kept derailing. It was a pain to say the least and soon all but the 1st class Glyn were confined to the sides. They were in gauge but some work needed occuring.

Two engines

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Cadno took a spin with the TR coaches too.

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The coaches has already had a good amount of weight under them put on [metal tyre weights, for reference.] However it was found that the wheels were loose on the axles and so 'wobbled', causing the instability. Not the end of the world and that was a job to be done during my stay in Tywyn but at 3:20pm, a trip on the all-important Upper Circuit beckoned.

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Cadno was fired up and chosen for this trip as 'Swordbreaker' had started to once again fail. The gasjet required looking it, it transpired. As for Cadno...

Llechfan-NWNGR Express

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And 'right away'...

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Gently and powerfully taking the train on up the valley and bank...

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This reminds me of a 'Thomas' scene from the early [Ringo] era - anyone care to place it??

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Around the far half..

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Closeup :

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And crossing with a train on the lower loop - a Bertie as a matter of fact.

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Elsewhere, a wild Zach Bond [and River Alde] appeared! T'was a pleasure to meet Zach who'd guessed I was in the area as soon as he'd clapped eyes on Swordbreaker :D

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'Alde' in action...

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Other locos being fired up for a 'Megatrain'...

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SUNDAY

Sunday saw 'Swordbreaker' being steamed first and being entrusted with the 'NWNGR Express'.

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It was able to lamely complete a couple of trips on the Upper Circuit but after it kept putt-puttering [most disappointing!] I pulled it off the line so as not to cause delay.

'Cadno' was therefore called in to take a 'Llechfan Special' later in the day using some 'in house' coaching stock. Bachmanns actually go rather well...

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While 'Cynfal' was being prepared to share the Upper Line with Cadno - and had the pleasure of borrowing my TR coaches. On the better-laid main line, they didn't derail as much and so were acceptable to bring out for revenue earning service.

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Cynfal actually goes quite well with the TR stock...!

Cadno coming on through the station yard

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Two Accucrafts...

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At one point the coaches had to be rescued as Cynfal ran out of steam and anti-clockwise working was initiated!

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With Cynfal safely retrieved, the proper direction running was restored...

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And into the dusk at the closing of the Gala, Cadno pilots the train home...

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~

Overall, it had been a fun weekend and a pleasure meeting everyone who attended. :) But with a poorly Swordbreaker and rogue coaches, things did not bode well. But there was a sequel to this Llechfan adventure which happened on the following Thursday....;)

Posted: Fri Jul 20, 2012 8:22 am
by Narrow Minded
Great set of photo's there Doug, looking forward to the rest of the saga! :D

Posted: Fri Jul 20, 2012 8:32 am
by 90733
Great Pics, I'll have to post the couple I have too. I like that bright yellow coach, I wonder who's it is :lol:

Posted: Fri Jul 20, 2012 9:31 am
by hussra
Great photos, thanks for sharing!

Posted: Fri Jul 20, 2012 10:01 am
by dougrail
Narrow Minded:72978 wrote:Great set of photo's there Doug, looking forward to the rest of the saga! :D
Cheers mate :D The next step happened on the following Thursday, and some phone-based photos will be available before I go away tomorrow ;)
90733:72980 wrote:Great Pics, I'll have to post the couple I have too. I like that bright yellow coach, I wonder who's it is :lol:
Please do, I didn't know you were there!!
hussra:72981 wrote:Great photos, thanks for sharing!
You're welcome. :) More to come too - and with drastic improvements...

Posted: Fri Jul 20, 2012 5:29 pm
by Keith S
Good stuff, Doug. I especially like how your "swordbreaker" goes with the TR coaches. It's the perfect size and I find the engine has the right shape with that tender to appear authentic with them.

Posted: Fri Jul 20, 2012 8:40 pm
by LlanpwllBrynwyn
Looks great :D Would love to get to the Lechfan one day, bit far from Kent atm though...

Posted: Fri Jul 20, 2012 9:19 pm
by LMS-Jools
Wot a lot of















pictures, Most interesting too. :D 8)

Posted: Sat Jul 21, 2012 10:09 pm
by Dr. Bond of the DVLR
Excellent! Awful picture of me but oh well! I was actually there on Sunday...

Great to meet you, see you again next year hopefully!

Posted: Sun Jul 22, 2012 6:16 pm
by PeachBottom