Welshpool enters workshops for assessment
THE OVERHAUL of Welshpool & Llanfair Light Railway Beyer Peacock 0‑6‑0T No. 823
Countess got under way on the weekend of December 9/10, when the locomotive entered the workshops at Llanfair for an initial condition assessment.
Withdrawn for overhaul in February 2021, the cab, tanks and boiler have been removed to allow a detailed inspection to take place, with particular attention being paid to the 1902‑built locomotive’s boiler and ‘bottom end’. The railway said: “This work is an important first step to help us determine the likely extent of work required, and associated cost, labour and timescale commitment to return Countess to operation. A detailed project plan for overhaul based upon this information will be presented to the board in due course and we will keep the membership updated.”
Meanwhile, the W&LLR’s former Sierra Leone Government Railways carriage No. 1066 returned to the railway on December 15 following refurbishment at Statfold Engineering Ltd near Tamworth.
The work involved changing the original bench seating
The refurbished interior of the Welshpool & Llanfair Light Railway’s Sierra Leone carriage No. 1055.
configuration for upholstered seating bays and tables, increasing passenger comfort and making the vehicle more suitable for catering activities. This aim has been furthered by converting the former toilet/guard’s compartment into a small servery, with storage and a fridge. Other work done has included fitting steam heating and LED lighting, making the vehicle suitable for operations throughout the year, while the carriage has been repainted to reflect how it would have appeared when operating in Sierra Leone.