Llangollen Diesel Group

The radiators were removed from 37240 last Sunday in order to repair the corrosion damage that is causing the loco to lose water. In order to remove a 37’s radiators,  the roof section containing the radiator fan must first be removed. The bolts on the roof section came out OK, but those holding 240’s rads down proved a little more stubborn (lord knows when they were last removed), so a bit of gentle persuasion was required in the form of Mr Perry and a gas axe. In scenes more reminiscent of Booths of Rotheram, 240’s rad room was left filled with metal smoke! The difficult bit was keeping Mr Perry from carrying on ; >.

Next, the fan module was lifted clear using the crane:

With the roof section removed the radiators then followed suit and are seen ready to be moved into the shed for repair and being beautifully modelled by Messrs Smales, Evans and Jones. Rad VEG!

The empty radiator room – which will now be cleaned and painted.

Cheers to Colin “Bryn, where are my keys” Cooper for the phots.

Tez Pickthall

A chapter in the history of the Llangollen Diesel Group came to a close today when 46010 left the railway for the GCRN on an Allelys low loader.

Many thanks to Peter Cheshire for the excellent photos.  First we see her on her way through Acrefair. The rainbow seems very apt;  as one rather sad chapter closes, a new and happier one begins.

And then making her way slowly through Rossett on the A483.

Good luck in your new life old girl. You really are a true survivor!

More photos and information can be found on the Western 46 Group website at http://46010.co.uk/, to whom we wish every success at their new home in Leicestershire.

Cheers

Tez Pickthall, Publicity Officer

We’re pleased to be able to confirm that Class 46 No 46010 will soon be moving to a new home at the Great Central Railway (North), at Ruddington, Leicestershire. The announcement (along with lots more information about this impressive heritage line) can be found here: http://217.158.157.207/railways/GCRN-Diesel/news.htm.

We can also confirm that the ‘Peak’  will be cared for by a new owning group; The Western 46 Group, formed of 4 former members of the LDG. The new group takes its name from the fact that 46010 is the only surviving Western Region allocated class 46 ‘Peak’, having been allocated to Plymouth Laira depot until being withdrawn for storage at Swindon in 1980.

The Group have launched a new website for the loco. Have a look at http://46010.co.uk

The Western 46 Group will be looking for plenty of additional support in the future, so please have a look at their website and register your interest. The LDG hopes to retain close links with the Group and it goes without saying that we wish them every success at their new home.

Whilst the LDG are very sad to see 46010 leave the railway, we’re happy that she’s going to the GCRN along with a very dedicated bunch of supporters who will secure her future. The GCRN is an excellent railway and being and ex-main line, she will look most at home working there. The presence of an NR connection should also allow her to visit other heritage lines in the future, something that has not been possible while she has been at Llan.

The loco was scheduled to leave Llangollen on Monday 23rd November, but we’ve just heard that roadworks in Cheshire has delayed this. Further updates will be made when we know the revised departure date.

Tez Pickthall, Publicity Officer

26010 on River Siding

Image by Mark Smales.

A big thank you to the folk who turned out to support D5310’s public debut yesterday. Her busy four trip schedule went well, the only minor gremlin being a few brief engine shutdowns. This has been traced to a grumpy enclosed contactor in the electrical cubicle, which does not seem to like the vibration caused by passing over one particular rail joint when travelling down Berwyn Bank! The relay will be removed for cleaning and checking in due course.

With all of her owners in preservation present, and several others who put a lot of work into her overhaul at Bo’ness, our new recruit proudly looked and sounded the part as she ran through the Autumnal colours of the Dee Valley hauling a 5 coach train, including the railway’s new GWR Observation Saloon. This lovely vehicle is available for private hire.

Here’s a couple of my photos of her at work during the day, first reversing the stock into Llangollen:

And running round in the wonderful Autumn sunshine at Carrog

And here’s some video footage  (watch your speaker volume for the tunnel horn-o-thon):

Best wishes

Tez Pickthall

D5310 made a successful test run from Llangollen to Carrog and back last night after services had finished, hauling a dead D1566 as weight and insurance.  The photo below shows her coupled to D1566 in the yard at Llangollen.

She made some lovely sounds as she made her way through a darkening Dee Valley, particularly through Berwyn tunnel. All systems go for Saturday!

Here’s a super little Youtube video to whet your appetite for the debut of Class 26 No D5310 at Llangollen on the 26th September. The video shows D5310 being put through her paces at the SRPS Diesel Gala on the August bank holiday weekend. It’s worth keeping watching right through to the end, which features some fruity 6LDA action as the old girl gives it some beans on load 6. Enjoy!

Many thanks to Gordon for capturing this important bit of history in D5310’s life in preservation.

There were some big smiles all round when D5310, our new resident Sulzer Type 2, arrived safely in a very sunny Llangollen yesterday just after 3pm. Thanks to Simon Searle and Richard Jones for the photos.

Squeezing her way off Mill Street onto the Dee bridge

Bringing the centre of Llangollen to a standstill!

Reversing up Abbey Road…..

Finally, she’s in the yard!

Gently lowered onto Llangollen Railway metals for the first time

Welcome to Wales old Girl!

She was started with no problems only a few minutes after this photo was taken and shortly afterwards moved under her own power for the first time on Welsh metals with driver Mark Smales in the chair.  She will perform a gauging and test run up the line at some point in the next couple of weeks then undergo a thorough wash and brush up in preparation for her all-important public debut on Saturday 26th September.

Phew! It’s been quite a week.

Tez Pickthall

25313 is now safely in Leeming Bar yard at the Wensleydale Railway:

Thanks to Jonathon Kirby at the Wensleydale Railway for the photo.

This afternoon, D5310 left Bo’ness on the same loader:

Thanks to David Dibben for the photo.

All being well, D5310 will arrive at Llangollen on Wednesday (8th September).

Shortly after 13:00 today 25313 left the Llangollen railway, her home for the last 21 years. The photo below shows her being secured on the low loader in the yard and then making her way along Mill Street, heading towards Ruabon.

Thanks to Keith Whitehead for the photos.

She arrived safely at Leeming Bar only 4.5 hours later for unloading. Good luck in your new life old girl, we hope to see you back one day in the not too near distant future.

The Group wishes her new owner every success with her overhaul and we’re sure her new custodians, the Wensleydale Diesel Traction Group, will also take good care of her.

The loader will now be heading to Bo’ness to collect D5310 and bring her South for her new life in North Wales.