Zillertal’s last season in Wales?
SERVICES at the Welshpool & Llanfair Light Railway (WLLR) for the first part of this season will be in the hands of Austrian U class 0-6-2T Zillertal.
As previously reported, the 1901 built Krauss is on loan from the Zillertalbahn for two years. With the end of that period rapidly approaching, a WLLR spokesman said: “It's definitely working this season in Wales. The contract with the Zillertalbahn includes options for extension and a return date to Austria has not yet been finalised.”
A test run to Welshpool in early April identified several leaking boiler tubes in both the smokebox and firebox tubeplates. These tubes were last replaced as part of the locomotive's overhaul in 2011. After consultation with its owners, it was decided to carry out a full retube before the resumption of services on May 1.
Overhaul
No. 822 The Earl, one of the WLLR's original locomotives remains under overhaul at the Vale of Rheidol Railway's Aberystwyth works – a task which is progressing well. It it hoped to return to the WLLR by late June or early July.
Initial hydraulic testing of the boiler has been successfully completed and the 1902 built locomotive has now been partially disassembled to allow painting to commence. Having latterly operated in black, The Earl is to emerge in GWR green. Work on assembling the motion is also well underway.
As part of the rebuild, a host of work has been carried out. The frames have been inspected and repaired – and all new horn cheeks have been manufactured and fitted. The axleboxes have been machined, and rewheeling is to be carried out shortly.
The cylinders have been remachined, while the slide bars have been machined and refitted to line up with the cylinder bore. The crossheads have had new white metal cast in them and are being machined to size. The pistons have been machined and new rings fitted.
The bodywork has also received attention – including on the cab roof, where the rain strakes have been replaced and the sun roof repaired. Beading on the water tanks has been straightened and riveted in place. A new coal bunker has been rivetted together – the previous one being corroded and twisted. A new stainlesssteel smokebox has also been fitted.
Improvements
Diema 0-6-0 diesel No. 17 returned to Llanfair Caereinion from Riley and Son (E) Ltd in Heywood on March 29 following remedial work, including attention to the final drives. The former Taiwanese sugar plantation locomotive, which is capable of being used on passenger services in an emergency, has also gained a shiny coat of red paint on the underframes.
Meanwhile, further challenges have been encountered with the overhaul of Franco-Belge 0-8-0T No. 699.01 Sir Drefaldwyn. Random material analysis of the firebox copper stays, prompted by a wider industry issue of falsified material certificates, identified low arsenic content in some of the existing stays believed to have been installed by the Styrian Government Railways in 1961. Due to the potential risk of future failures, these stays are being replaced by John Varley, the WLLR's boiler contractor. This work is being carried out at Llanfair workshop to allow the team to continue with other concurrent activities on the Austrian locomotive.
With their boiler certificates having expired, the WLLR's Kerr Stuart 0-6-2T Joan and Beyer Peacock 0-6-0T
No. 823 The Countess have gone on public display at Welshpool's exhibition shed. As previously reported, the building, which is also home to Bagnall 0-4-4-T Monarch and Andrew Barclay 0-4-0T Dougal, has recently been extended.