Hi everyone. Well, after a lovely meal and a few pints at the "Eagles" last night, we awoke this morning ready for another day on the footplate of "Maid Marian". Arriving at the shed at 8:20am, the skies were threatening and the wind was howling loudly. It was an awful morning. I did the tubes under the cover of the shed, and the smokebox too. However, the loco had to be ashed out outside, and the fire lit in the pouring rain...lucky we had a small cab. And then, just like that, out came the hot morning sun. Then, it rained again, and then was sunny again. It went like that pretty much all day! The weather really couldn't make its mind up. Oh well, were nice and warm (if damp!) on "Marian". In the morning, with my cuppa', I indulged in some chocolate trains...still a big kid ay?!...
Myself and Eddie cleaned the cab brass whilst the heavy rain fell, and then cleaned the outside when sun showed itself briefly. It was quite different when we took out the first run though...the sun shone all the way. It really was beautiful...and very hot too! You would never have believed it. "Maid Marian" was built in 1903 as Hunslet No822. She worked, along with her sisters, in the Dinorwic slate quarries and was purchased by the Maid Marian Fund in 1965, for preservation. She is now based at Bala Lake and runs regularly, operating in turn with sister "Holy War" (who we took out last year)...
The loco shed at the base is quite simple, yet adequate. There are machines and many tools...more than enough to carry out substantial overhauls on these 2ft gauge engines. Those who have read my posts from last year's Bala visit will remember that cabless 0-4-0 "Alice" was almost finished, after a long overhaul. In fact, she steamed last summer and ran for a few months. However, a few months ago she failed a boiler exam as one of the inspection plugs didn't have enough material to be rethreaded. Therefore, she was stopped and the boiler removed. Poor "Alice". She now sits, boiler off, in the shed. The boiler is soon off to the SVR at Bridgnorth for heavy repairs. The loco will return to service asap. Shame really, she is a lovely machine...
Meanwhile, sister engine "Holy War" is enjoying a repaint of her saddle tank. The railway manager, Roger, has a good hand for loco painting and so has undertaken the job...
A quick view of the loco works. At the back you can see the green Peckett "Triassic". She is a basic machine; basically a baby "Sir Gomer"; but is powerful, so I hear. However, she now needs alot of work doing, including heavy boiler work. So, I fear, she may not return to work at Bala. On the right, under some sheets, you can see "George B"; the fourth and final Hunslet at Bala. "George B" is making slow progres is a heavy overhaul from scrapyard condition. She has never ran in preservation. Mind you, it is a 1st class job...absolutely no slop in the bushes or the slide bars; fabulous work by the Bala team...
Meanwhile, myself and Eddie had great day out on the footplate of "Maid Marian" again. Four trips, taking 1 hour each, gives a leisurely day, with 35 minutes break between runs. However, that 35 minutes also includes ashing out the loco, raking the fire and taking on coal & water. So, you normally end up with 15-20 minutes to have your free cobs and cuppa'. Below, I have included quite a few pictures and videos of the railway today. I hope you enjoy them and that they also give you an idea of our lovely little weekend in Wales. Oh, and, did I tell you we have adopted Welsh names? Fireman Shadwell takes a break on the footplate of "Maid Marian" as she descends towards Llangower with a Bala train...
"Maid Marian" waits at Bala with the 11:50am departure for the base. With less people expected today, we took 4 coaches instead of 5...
Below, we see a video taken from the footplate of "Maid Marian" on the run between Bala and Llangower. Driver Idrys takes the train along the snaking tracks on the edge of the lake...Down at Llangower, a Bala-train awaits departure behind a cab-first "Marian". The sun was out but the wind was VERY strong. It almost took our hats!...
"Have you ever seen such a beautiful view from a cab window?"...the train comes out of Bala towards the little iron bridge, bound for Llangower...
Running down the line towards Bala, the views of the lake really open up. They do look their best under the sun though! It really is lovely...
Midday at Llangower. The wind is howling yet the sun is shining. The view from "Marian" is almost like that of a seaside!...
Driver Idrys (Eddie) in enthusiastic mode as "Marian" makes her way towards Bala on an afternoon turn...
Action shot on "Marian" as we steam homeward. The mechanical lubricator (a preservation fitment, as these engines had hydrostatic lubricators) can be seen on the running board...
Below, "Marian" chugs along the meandering tracks towards Llangower. It is nice to get the odd footplate film now and again is it not?!...Up at base, the little red engine is admired by a party of Brownies. We were just about to take the engine off the train and coal up/water up ready for the last run of the weekend...
Below, Driver Idrys stands on "Maid Marian" at Bala as I take the trademark photograph, in front of the railway's very own sign!...
In sunlight, "Marian" waits to depart Llangower upgrade, with driver Idrys in the cab. I have just put on some more coal ready for the departure...
On any return trip on the BLR, the most taxing part is the last 1/2 mile back to base. This is a lengthy 1 in 70 incline and really makes the engine work pretty hard. Just before the start of the climb, "Pentrepiod"; a request halt; comes into view. This is known as "Last Chance Saloon". If you haven't got your coal on by here...it won't give you heat when you go up the bank! From "Last Chance" onwards, you're on your own. "Marian" seemed to attack the bottom of the hill, but then slowed to her 'own speed' as we neared the top...everytime! However, there is never any doubt that she will get up there. Below, "Marian" attacks the 1 in 70 on the very last run of the weekend, back to base. Sorry about the wind-noise, but hear "Marian" roar...Following the filming of the above, we arrived back on time. We then shunted the stock away, uncoupled the loco, raked her fire, took her into the shed and filled her with water. She also wore a chimney cap. We then disposed of her properly and then headed for a cuppa', followed by a shower. What a lovely weekend it has been. Thanks to Eddie (Idrys) and everyone on the Bala Lake Railway. It really is a fantastic little line and I would encourage anybody to go along and try it for themselves; its just great. Myself and Idrys will be crewing there again on August 13th and 15th, with me (Shadwell) crewing with another driver on the 14th too. Look out for posts on that as they happen! By 6:50pm tonight, we were on our way home and, after a good run, we were home by 9:10pm. Thank you all for reading. Comment if you wish. Goodnight!...
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