Updates: May 2016
As part of the ongoing consolidation of different scales and move to a new railway, another new loco has arrived - a Roundhouse Vale of Rheidol tank. Finished in Cambrian Invisible Green as 'Prince of Wales', it made some test runs on 14th May - photos in the gallery and details in the locos page. As with 'Parrot', it is expected to not see much use this year as the WLR fleet will work the bulk of the services.
A number of photos have been added to the 2016 services album too to reflect recent workings. In other news, No. 15 has been fitted with a whistle from DJB and an Accucraft IOM bogie coach has arrived. |
Start of 2016 season
The 2016 season got up and running with the first service trains in February half term, worked by No. 15. The first trains of March, on March 6th, were worked by No. 6 'William' - making its return after the best part of a year on the sidelines due to radio issues.
The main news is that 2016 is expected to be the last season on the WLR, before a move means the railway will be relocated, and renamed - plans are already in place with a relatively firm trackplan decided on.
With a view to this, an exercise of stock consolidation will be carried out with a number of items leaving and new items arriving. The first items to arrive on this are an Accucraft W&L sheep wagon (2138), another Accucraft IOM 4-wheel coach (1052) and a Roundhouse Stanley, seen in the picture on test. A couple of other items are already on order for delivery later in the year. Further pictures of the recent arrivals can be found in the Gallery (along with pictures of our December steam up), and more information will be posted here later in the year as and when it becomes available.
The main news is that 2016 is expected to be the last season on the WLR, before a move means the railway will be relocated, and renamed - plans are already in place with a relatively firm trackplan decided on.
With a view to this, an exercise of stock consolidation will be carried out with a number of items leaving and new items arriving. The first items to arrive on this are an Accucraft W&L sheep wagon (2138), another Accucraft IOM 4-wheel coach (1052) and a Roundhouse Stanley, seen in the picture on test. A couple of other items are already on order for delivery later in the year. Further pictures of the recent arrivals can be found in the Gallery (along with pictures of our December steam up), and more information will be posted here later in the year as and when it becomes available.
2015 summer updates
It has been a while since an update, but all has not been quiet! A number of quiet steam ups have been held since the last update, featuring visitors from the MVR as standard, although these have been simple affairs featuring only a small selection of the WLR's motive power roster.
Behind the scenes, the shed covering Amersham station has been re-roofed to avoid damp issues, while odd work on items of stock continues, including the construction of a sheep wagon which requires painting and new buffer beams prior to entering service.
However, the flagship news is the arrival of No. 16 (above), a Roundhouse L&M tank which has now entered service although a number of minor adjustments and modifications will be carried out once it has performed a few more turns and lessons have been learnt. It is hoped that a more ambitious steam up will be held at some point in the near future to formally welcome No. 16 to the fleet.
Behind the scenes, the shed covering Amersham station has been re-roofed to avoid damp issues, while odd work on items of stock continues, including the construction of a sheep wagon which requires painting and new buffer beams prior to entering service.
However, the flagship news is the arrival of No. 16 (above), a Roundhouse L&M tank which has now entered service although a number of minor adjustments and modifications will be carried out once it has performed a few more turns and lessons have been learnt. It is hoped that a more ambitious steam up will be held at some point in the near future to formally welcome No. 16 to the fleet.
Misbourne Valley Railway 10th Anniversary: 2/6/14
2014 marks ten years since the completion of the Misbourne Valley Railway, and we were delighted to pay a visit to our close friends for a gala to mark the occasion.
14 months has passed since the last MVR event, and a number of changes have taken place, forced by the life expired blocks on which Rutton station was created. Throughout April and May, the WLR paid a number of visits and assisted as a new timber deck was put in place, on which Rutton is now based. This new deck has enabled two new sidings to be installed - a new feature for the MVR - while another new feature is 'Potter Bridge', constructed here at the WLR.
Other than a bit of rain, the gala ran without hitch, with WLR Nos. 3, 5, 8 and 15 joining MVR Nos. 1 & 3 in operating the service. Pictures can be found in the gallery pages and, as always, thanks to the MVR for hosting.
14 months has passed since the last MVR event, and a number of changes have taken place, forced by the life expired blocks on which Rutton station was created. Throughout April and May, the WLR paid a number of visits and assisted as a new timber deck was put in place, on which Rutton is now based. This new deck has enabled two new sidings to be installed - a new feature for the MVR - while another new feature is 'Potter Bridge', constructed here at the WLR.
Other than a bit of rain, the gala ran without hitch, with WLR Nos. 3, 5, 8 and 15 joining MVR Nos. 1 & 3 in operating the service. Pictures can be found in the gallery pages and, as always, thanks to the MVR for hosting.
April 2014 Steam Up
Another successful steam up was held on April 11th, with 'Russell' again visiting from the MVR, this time accompanied by their recently completed passenger train.
As with our January Gala this was a relaxed affair, with no formal timetable and only a proportion of the home fleet - Nos. 3, 6, 8 and 15 - appearing. A range of formations were run, including lengthy passenger and mixed sets, as well as a traditional WLR mixed. As usual, photos can be found in the Gallery page.
As with our January Gala this was a relaxed affair, with no formal timetable and only a proportion of the home fleet - Nos. 3, 6, 8 and 15 - appearing. A range of formations were run, including lengthy passenger and mixed sets, as well as a traditional WLR mixed. As usual, photos can be found in the Gallery page.
New Years Gala 2014
The WLR hosted the traditional New Years MVR/WLR steam up on January 2nd, with 'Russell' and the excellent recently completed brake van K3 visiting.
This event was a much more subdued affair than recent galas, with 'Russell' and 'The Earl' working short trains throughout the day - the only other loco appearing was No. 8, which worked a short train around the branchline before handling an ECS working. As always, many thanks to the MVR for a most enjoyable day, and photos can be found in the Gallery page.
This event was a much more subdued affair than recent galas, with 'Russell' and 'The Earl' working short trains throughout the day - the only other loco appearing was No. 8, which worked a short train around the branchline before handling an ECS working. As always, many thanks to the MVR for a most enjoyable day, and photos can be found in the Gallery page.
Coach progress
Four of the IP Engineering coaches are now in service, some 11 years after the first one was completed! These coaches are seen approaching Woodrow Girder Bridge (left) on 6th October, with the IOM Accucraft 4-wheeler. The two closed coaches are complete with painted passengers - more are needed for the two open coaches. The final coach, a 3-compartment coach, requires the paintwork finishing before entering service.
Recent Developments: 21/8/13
Over the past week or so there have been yet more recent developments to report on. (Click on the pictures for larger versions)
Firstly, as pictured in the top left picture, a new cottage has been built and located in the flower bed in the triangle between main line, branch line and Woodrow station. This was built from a ModelTown kit - assembled in a matter of minutes and then, when dry, painted with Humbrol enamels. Due to the location that the building sits in, the back of the cottage is undetailed (and half of the roof unpainted!). A few odd jobs remain, including fitting of the chimney pot, and picking out of the flower pot in an appropriate red. No 8 is seen running past it with a short freight (including recently outshopped No. 31). Also on the building front, Penn Street Halt has transformed from nothing to a respectable halt. The shelter was built way back in 2004, but sprayed appallingly. This has now been repainted in chocolate/cream and fitted with a number of vintage signs, plus a seated passenger inside. A Coopercraft station nameboard has been completed, and a flowerbed made from 3mm ply to break up the bare platform (which is a brick from the flowerbed demolished in railway construction sprayed black). Finally, the three IP coaches, built back in 2002/3, have finally been painted and tested. The finish is cherry red/white, slightly lighter than the originally planned (10 years ago!) crimson/cream. Of these, the open is the most complete, with door handles and vacuum pipes attached - the other two are awaiting these. The open and semi open also need the interior walls and seats painted, and the brake coach needs glazing. Now just to find the two unbuilt kits! |
Completion of the GW set: 8/8/13
Today saw the arrival the long awaited W&L brake coach required to complete the GW era set. Allocated WLR running number 1042, the coach made its first runs today as part of a short GW mixed, appropriately worked by No. 15. The only question remaining now is whether to get another one or not!
In addition to the picture of the set climbing to Woodrow Tunnel (left), a further shot can be found in the pictures album. A video featuring summer services, filmed yesterday, can also be viewed on the Videos page.
In addition to the picture of the set climbing to Woodrow Tunnel (left), a further shot can be found in the pictures album. A video featuring summer services, filmed yesterday, can also be viewed on the Videos page.
Summer Update: 1/8/13
The summer season is now in full swing on the WLR, meaning two-train running when running occurs, featuring all of the lines coaching stock and a range of locos.
Both the loco and stock fleet have been bolstered in recent weeks. No. 4 has re-returned to service after a minor niggle, while No. 8 has re-entered full service after gearbox repairs, ending a few years of restricted use. It's shown on the left at shed halt with a test train, featuring (next to the loco) No. 31 - which has now been painted and entered service, more than five years after completion!
Both the loco and stock fleet have been bolstered in recent weeks. No. 4 has re-returned to service after a minor niggle, while No. 8 has re-entered full service after gearbox repairs, ending a few years of restricted use. It's shown on the left at shed halt with a test train, featuring (next to the loco) No. 31 - which has now been painted and entered service, more than five years after completion!
WLR10 Gala: 24/6/13
As mentioned in many posts so far this year, 2013 is 10 years since the final completion of the WLR, and the first MVR/WLR gala. The first event to commemorate this was a fitting celebration on 24th June, with the MVR bringing some stock around to operate an intensive timetable.
An ambitious timetable was set in the days leading up to the event, featuring eleven operational locos, a wide range of stock, and a variety of different operations. These included an 8-coach, wrong line passenger working (pictured), and shuttles between Amersham and the new halt near the shed. However, the highlight of the day was the pairing of recently overhauled No. 3 with the three original tipper wagons, two of which have now returned from a loan to the MVR, which ran to almost nine years.
Throughout the gala, everything ran more or less as planned, with MVR No. 3 'Blackbird' the only casualty, and 'Earl of Radnor' was re rostered prior to the start of the day. I would like to express thanks to the MVR for another great gala.
Comprehensive pictures are now online on the Photo page, with in depth captions detailing the operations. For those who are interested, I have also uploaded the WLR10 timetable (an Excel file), which can be downloaded by clicking below.
An ambitious timetable was set in the days leading up to the event, featuring eleven operational locos, a wide range of stock, and a variety of different operations. These included an 8-coach, wrong line passenger working (pictured), and shuttles between Amersham and the new halt near the shed. However, the highlight of the day was the pairing of recently overhauled No. 3 with the three original tipper wagons, two of which have now returned from a loan to the MVR, which ran to almost nine years.
Throughout the gala, everything ran more or less as planned, with MVR No. 3 'Blackbird' the only casualty, and 'Earl of Radnor' was re rostered prior to the start of the day. I would like to express thanks to the MVR for another great gala.
Comprehensive pictures are now online on the Photo page, with in depth captions detailing the operations. For those who are interested, I have also uploaded the WLR10 timetable (an Excel file), which can be downloaded by clicking below.
wlr10.xlsx | |
File Size: | 19 kb |
File Type: | xlsx |
Nos. 3 & 4 returned to service: 15/5/13
A number of efforts are being made to get the fleet all operational for the 10th anniversary of operations in August. The joint longest absentee from the fleet (with No. 2) is No. 4, which has been repaired and tested - photo on the photos page. To mark the anniversary appropriately, No. 3 is having a spruce up. A number of additions and modifications have been accompanied with some repainting. While a number of tasks are still to be completed, 'Jonathan' was also tested on 15th May, and is seen here posing on Amersham bank. These works bring loco availabilty to Nos. 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 11, 12 and 15. Still a few holes to fill in!
Naming of No. 15: 8/5/13
No. 15 was officially named 'The Earl' today, working an evening GWR mixed train around both the main and branchlines. A series of photos can be found on the photo page, and the history page has been updated to explain where the loco stands in the order of things, from a fictitious point of view. The loco page has also been updated as No. 15 has now joined the roster.
In other news, the Isle of Man bogie coach has now had its couplings modified, meaning it can work with the Bachmann coaches without a converter wagon. The modification also means, for the first time, Nos. 7 or 11 can haul the service set without the need for the small flat wagon acting as a converter.
In other news, the Isle of Man bogie coach has now had its couplings modified, meaning it can work with the Bachmann coaches without a converter wagon. The modification also means, for the first time, Nos. 7 or 11 can haul the service set without the need for the small flat wagon acting as a converter.
The arrival of a new loco: 1/5/13
The clear out of a lot of OO stock recently has funded the arrival of a new loco - an Accucraft Countess. This arrived on Saturday 27th April, and was first steamed on Monday 29th. An initial problem with a battery pack has been resolved, and the loco was successfully tested today - alone, with a short GW freight train, and finally with a service train. It is planned that the loco will be out again later in the week, before being stopped for the application of transfers and nameplates. In the meantime, a few photos are available to view on the photo page. Update 2/5/13: No. 15 worked service trains today - some photos and videos are available on the appropriate pages.
Fictitious Centenary
As outlined below, 2013 represents the centenary of the line, based on the fictitious history outlined on the 'History' page. This was duly celebrated on 21st April, with a busy days running, using Nos. 8903, 5, 6 and 12. A special timetable had been drafted which saw No. 6 working the service train while the other locos worked vintage rakes representative of 1913, the 1930's and the 1940's. The day went more or less to plan, with the return to traffic of the Toastrack coach and GW van after overdue repairs, and a comprehensive video can be found on the video page - some pictures will follow (the one with this article shows No. 6 in service last week).
Also of note was the appearance of a new IOM bogie coach, purchased second hand a few weeks back. This entered service last Thursday, and some photos of it in use are on the Photos page. It will shortly enter the works for a modification to the couplings so it can be used without the caboose acting as a coupling converter.
Finally, the gala was the last event appearance of No. 8903 in GWR livery, as it is intended to stop the locomotive before our 10th anniversary and restore it to 2003 condition. It is expected that a new locomotive will arrive in the near future, which will be turned out in GW livery to keep a full GW train.
Also of note was the appearance of a new IOM bogie coach, purchased second hand a few weeks back. This entered service last Thursday, and some photos of it in use are on the Photos page. It will shortly enter the works for a modification to the couplings so it can be used without the caboose acting as a coupling converter.
Finally, the gala was the last event appearance of No. 8903 in GWR livery, as it is intended to stop the locomotive before our 10th anniversary and restore it to 2003 condition. It is expected that a new locomotive will arrive in the near future, which will be turned out in GW livery to keep a full GW train.
10th Anniversary Year
As some of our readers will know, 2003 represents 10 years since the start of WLR operations, following the completion of construction of the main line in 2002 (the branchline was finished later in 2003), and our fictitious Centenary. We intend on holding a number of events throughout the year to celebrate this, hopefully including a visit of MVR No. 1 'Russell', which first visited us in 2003 and has visited every year since. The return of the two tipper wagons, which were the first items of stock on the line, is also anticipated. More to follow.
To start the ball rolling, we have uploaded some pictures from 2003 and 2004 to the photo gallery page, which show some significant changes over the past decade!
To start the ball rolling, we have uploaded some pictures from 2003 and 2004 to the photo gallery page, which show some significant changes over the past decade!
MVR April 2013 gala
The MVR held their first event of 2013 today, a year on from their previous event. Despite the weather gradually improving over the past few days, today it took a turn for the worse, which led to what has to be our most unsuccessful MVR/WLR event yet! After realising that MVR No. 1 'Russell' was still in 32mm mode, we steamed up 'Rhys', which only managed a light engine run around the line, making its first (hopefully not only) MVR appearance. After lunch, 'Russell' was steamed up again, but the poor conditions were affecting gas pressure, as they did with Rhys, and only hauled a short train of WLR stock. While steaming up WLR No. 6, a strong gust of wind took some stock off the line, and it was decided it was sensible to stop running. Thanks to the MVR for an enjoyable, if unsuccessful, day, and we look forward to the next one!
While I took no pictures during the event, I did take a few video shots (a screengrab is presented above). As we only had a very short session, I couldn't get the shots I wanted, but they are presented below as a record of the day.
While I took no pictures during the event, I did take a few video shots (a screengrab is presented above). As we only had a very short session, I couldn't get the shots I wanted, but they are presented below as a record of the day.
Start of 2013 season: 28/3/13
The first trains of 2013 ran today, unusually worked by No. 11, seen here pictured in the last of the snow at Amersham. A video of today's workings can be seen on the new Videos page.
Hopefully the next few weeks will present a number of running opportunities, and next week we will be paying a visit to the MVR for another of their events.
Hopefully the next few weeks will present a number of running opportunities, and next week we will be paying a visit to the MVR for another of their events.
September 2012 Gala
As has become custom, we held a gala this September, which was the first since the big changes to the track layout this summer, giving extra operational flexibility.
Another custom at a gala is the visit of locos and stock from the MVR - 'Russell' and 'Blackbird', along with some stock including the MVR's LGB coaches, one of which has recently been refurbished.
Joining the MVR visitors were WLR Nos. 3, 6, 7, 8 and 12 - with Nos. 5 & 9 staying tucked away despite being available. A number of new operations were tried throughout the day, including parallel departures from Woodrow using the new stretch of double track, which can be seen in this photo taken by the MVR. The recent work on the inner circuit means that it is now much more reliable, and 'Rhys' happily trundled around the circuit with various short trains.
All in all, an excellent day was had with a wide variety of trains in use, and we look forward to the next gala.
Another custom at a gala is the visit of locos and stock from the MVR - 'Russell' and 'Blackbird', along with some stock including the MVR's LGB coaches, one of which has recently been refurbished.
Joining the MVR visitors were WLR Nos. 3, 6, 7, 8 and 12 - with Nos. 5 & 9 staying tucked away despite being available. A number of new operations were tried throughout the day, including parallel departures from Woodrow using the new stretch of double track, which can be seen in this photo taken by the MVR. The recent work on the inner circuit means that it is now much more reliable, and 'Rhys' happily trundled around the circuit with various short trains.
All in all, an excellent day was had with a wide variety of trains in use, and we look forward to the next gala.