FR delivers WHHR new-build Pickering carriage by rail
The Ffestiniog Railway’s Boston Lodge Carriage Works enjoyed the rare event of delivering its latest new-build vehicle by rail on 23rd May.
A replica Pickering brake composite carriage, built under contract for the Welsh Highland Heritage Railway, was taken from Boston Lodge through Porthmadog on the Welsh Highland Railway to Pen-y-Mount junction, where the WHR and WHHR are connected.
Appropriately the FR rostered ‘large England’ 0-4-0ST ‘Welsh Pony’ to carry out the transfer. The loco was restored to steam in 2020 after 80 years out of service, while the original Pickering carriages were scrapped almost 80 years ago following closure of the Welsh Highland Railway, on which at times in the 1930s they were hauled by Welsh Pony.
Two brake carriages were built in 1907 for the North Wales Narrow Gauge Railway by R Y Pickering of Wishaw, Scotland – it is believed they replaced older brake composite vehicles.
When the NWNGR was absorbed into the WHR in 1923 the carriages were numbered 8 and 9 of the new line. The replica, funded by a generous sponsor who wishes to remain anonymous, has been painted and lettered as number 8.
The replica varies from the original in one major area, the first-class compartment converted to a wheelchair accessible compartment with room for two users. Double doors and a folding partition between the Guard’s compartment and the accessible compartment allow access.
The replica has also been fitted with a dual braking system, allowing it to run both with air-braked WHHR stock and the vacuum-braked Ffestiniog locomotives.
On the WHHR it will become part of an existing heritage train which includes the restored Gladstone Car, also no 8 and so called because it was once used by Prime Minister William Gladstone, restored buffet car no 10, restored toast-rack vehicle no 42 and a replica of an Ashbury corridor carriage no 9. The WHHR also owns Hunslet 2-6-2T ‘Russell’ the only surviving locomotive from the original WHR.
There is photo evidence of at least one Pickering brake carriage in use on the Festiniog Railway in the 1920s and in a further sign of the good relations the WHHR and FR enjoy these days, a slight design tweak alongside the dual brakes will allow the Pickering to be used on FR heritage workings.
The modern day Ffestiniog loading gauge no longer requires the carriage to be cut down as the originals were in 1923, but the footboards of the new vehicle have been reduced in width by an inch each to fit past the walls on the approach to Minffordd station. Before the transfer on 23rd May Welsh Pony took the carriage to Minffordd to check the fit.
The WHHR reopened on 29th May and the Pickering is expected to enter service soon.