A really excellent cab view video. I'm pleased to see the line in such lovely condition - it's always been a most charming little railway - a real credit to its volunteers and supporters.
Thank you for a very nice video 👍 ! More of a bufferbeam view and that's even better. Last time I was at Tanllann it was a field where the PW department grew standard gauge sleepers, to be sawn in half by the likes of me.
Wow if I remember rightly the station at Welshpool never use to look like this in the mid 70s, as I use to ride on this mist weekends that I was down at the caravan with my grandparents at Dolgead hall which as also altered since I was last there in 1980, wonderful day trips on the light railway as it was called back then
Passenger services to Welshpool resumed in 1981 and the station building, dating from 1863, was relocated from Eardisley in Herefordshire and opened in 1992. [TA]
This is great. I went on this railway in 1979, as part of a cycle trip qwith my Father. We stopped off at Llanfair Caereinion at a farmer's field for three days and took a trip on the line on the second day. It hadn't been extended at that time and we only travelled for a shorter run than this. But it was great, and I intend to come back soon.
The line used to finish at Castle Caerinion just before the 1in 29 descent towards Welshpool . I must admit the journey after leaving Welshpool climbing up the Golfa Bank, especially from the Verander on the first coach . You can see all that the crew have to do to get to the summit at Castle Caerinion . BTW locomotives No’s 1 & 2make the best fist of the job , well , they were built for the line back in 1902.
A wonderful trip down memory lane for this now 80 year old ex Kirkbymoorside, North Yorkshire town. Our station was closed during the Beecham, money saving administration, but my memories remain to this day, rekindled by this incredible Welsh railway documentary.
Thank you very much for this fine video. I do like also the given informations about gradients and the allowed speed. I had been on the W&L trains several times, so your video is a good addition. Best wishes Dirk
Thanks Dirk. The gradients are as shown on the official 'as built' gradient profile, though if you ask anyone who has worked the line they may beg to differ in some places! [TA]
@@WelshpoolSteam I calculated something like that. In Sweden we count vertical meters per 1 km, per 1000 meters. Not percent but promille. One railroad as an average of 10 per 1000 on a distance of 15 km. I guess the heaviest pieces are like they are on the railroad in the video.
We've made this journey so many times I can't count, but it never gets old. I enjoyed every minute on our 65" TV - almost like being there! Thank you, a million times.
Thank you for your encouraging comment. For those of us who work the line every trip is different and the charm of the W&LLR keeps us coming back. [TA]
That was fantastic footage and all the little extras throughout really finished it off. The railway has long been my fav since a child and I loved watching this. Thank you 🙂
Thank you for uploading this lovely video I enjoyed it immensely. What a beautiful part of the world this is I have placed the railway on my list of places to visit this year. It also prompted me to look at the history of the line and its subsequent preservation, very interesting. Thank goodness some far sighted people 60 years ago decided to restore and reopen the line.
Thank you for your comment. The story of the railway's preservation is a tribute to the vision, commitment and creativity of some remarkable people all those years ago and we're delighted to be celebrating 60 years of preservation this year (2023). We look forward to welcoming you when you come and visit us. [TA]
Great video. My first ride on this line was in the very early 1970s and it is probably what prompted me to visit Austria for the first time in 1981 to experience the OBB class 298 tank locos . Visited many times since including 2022 to sample ZB2 Please keep up your fantastic work and maybe in the distant future you could acquire an OBB class 2095 diesel. That would be very useful loco.
Hi Phil - a 2095 diesel could be useful, but we've got the Alishan Forest Railway diesel DL-34 arriving this season which will be a big help. Watch out for more news of this soon. [TA]
Excellent video with the useful addition of gradients, which gives a good idea how steam crews must have to be on the ball with lots of ups and downs.. The standard of track maintenance is something the W&LLR can be justly proud of, I made a return trip on the line before the pandemic and was impressed by the smooth ride.
The line has been called 'the mid-Wales roller coaster'! Thank you for your kind comments about the standard of our track. Our almost entirely volunteer track gang, led by one of our staff, are out every week keeping it all in fine fettle. [TA]
What a great video! It not only clearly shows the speed and slope, but also introduces interesting scenic spots, which is very helpful for us to know the scenery along your railway line.
Very nice video, 25 years odd since I last fired on the line, The Llanfair- Welshpool direction was always the tricky one to get right as with the checking behind and flagging the crossings , you had less time to keep the fire right. The other way was a doddle 20 mins to get a perfect fire whilst siping tea at Welshpool and then just managing the injector up the bank. Always interesting to see how much coal was need to fill up back at the yard. Do still use those forked shovels and big buckets ?
Hi James - your description is still pretty much how it is, though with different types of coal or coal substitute recently it's had its challenges for crews sometimes. And yes, we're still using the 'potato forks' to shovel coal into the coaling buckets. [TA]
Hi Ray - this was filmed from our visiting steam loco, ZB2 'Zillertal' from the Zillertalbahn in Austria. The loco passing us at Cyfronydd is The Earl (one of our two original locomotives) which returned from a major overhaul in 2021 in GWR green livery. Countess is currently out of service following expiry of its boiler ticket and on display in Welshpool. [TA]
@@WelshpoolSteam Thanks.happy days indeed,up to the Black lion in the village for our evening meal and a few pints.Most of the crowd from then have now passed on,i think there`s only two of us from that original crowd.
Cool video of the narrow gage track and country side. One question tho, I've always wondered why the UK used such whimpy whistle on their steam loco's?? I mean dang, you hear a Steam Loco's whistle in America, like on a Big Boy or even a Shay or Heisler, you HEAR a whistle. They echo off hollows and hills for miles. Oh well, just wondering.
Hi Michael - the loco on this trip is from Austria and has a characteristic central European whistle. Most days you can hear our locos whistle a mile or more away long before you can see them. All part of the charm of this line, embedded in its rural landscape. But yes, US chime whistles really are something! [TA]
This is one of several small under-bridges on the line where the rails are laid directly above substantial girders that span the gap. The girders aren't easily visible because they're below the rail. The steel stretchers you can see, looking like thin metal sleepers, are clamped to the girders and the rail fixings are bolted to these to hold the rails.
Really worried about the train running over completely unsupported tracks near Mill Curves! The track bed seems to have been washed away in several places.
The line round Mill Curves (and in some other places) runs over small girder bridges. Because the supporting girders are directly below the rails it can look like you're leaping across a gap but be reassured, the rails are very well supported and can carry the weight of the heaviest locos to work the line. [TA]
Thanks for the question. T marks the end of the temporary speed restriction, the start being indicated by the yellow speed limit sign. So T is where the speed limit Terminates. [TA]
Thanks for the complement Gerald. Our track gang is out at least once a week (in all weathers!) looking after our line and the result is a very good and comfortable ride. [TA]
As a member of the Signalling Record Society I am intrigued by the unusual signalling on the line. Is the "Limit of shunt" signal going to be restored by the workshops, it only seems to be missing an arm ? Also why is there the absence of an entry gantry into Welshpool and fixed distants for the passing places and both Llanfair and Welshpool ? It's a delightful well maintained line, but I would like to see some inprovements to the signalling arrangements, however I'm sure finance is the issue ! Best wishes to all who contribute to the running of the line, long may it continue. John Wickens, Harrogate, North Yorkshire
Hi John - the signalling on the line exceeds the requirements of the original light railway order in that there were no signals until Castle loop was equipped for passing trains in 1909, these signals being removed in 1931. Due to the low train speeds and more than adequate signal sight lines fixed distants are not required. The current signalling arrangements meet our operating needs and the requirements of the ORR and so far as possible with regard to safety we aspire to preserve the light railway ambience which is part of our heritage and educational remit. [TA]
