News from February 2013

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Cranein' 'n' paintin' 'n' trainin' – 2 February 2013

February 2013 - Out and About – 6 February 2013

2013 - February 9/10 - Loco Working Party – 10 February 2013

Hudswell Clarke Update – 12 February 2013

Steamy Valentines Day – 14 February 2013

Come and join Outdoor Week – 15 February 2013

No.3 'Sir Haydn' to head back to Birthplace! – 18 February 2013

The Return of the Native – 18 February 2013

Lottery Grant for Abergynolwyn Playground Project – 19 February 2013

Stars of Sandstone Festival

The Sandstone Heritage Trust, based at the Sandstone agricultural estate in South African is holding a Narrow Gauge steam and heritage festival between 04 and 12 May 2013. The festival will feature up to 22 working steam lcocomotives on the extensive 2 foot gauge railway alongside other working heritage assets including steam lorries, traction engines, agricultural and military vehicles. The estate is large enough to permit more than one simultaneous acctivity and the festival promises to be an outstanding steam railway event. Geoff’s Trains, a UK based tour operator, is working with Sandstone to offer a package that makes getting to the festival easy. They have included transport to and from Johannesburg Airport, local transfers, accommodation and the festival itself. Full details can be found here:
http://geoffs-trains.com/SouthAfrica/Sandstone13.html
For images from previouis Sandstone events, look here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/geoff-cooke/sets/72157632299057472/
The Sandstone Festival is followed by a tour to Natal for Garratts on both 2 foot and Cape Gauge, and then a tour to Zimbabwe for the Cape Gauge Garratts to Victoria Falls. Combine them for the narrow gauge event of the year!
For more information, call Geoff Cooke on +44 (0)1562 632000.

Posted by Geoff Cooke on 21 February 2013

BEV 551 appeal for information

The owners of BEV No.551 are appealling for information on this locomotive to help with restoration.
BEV 551 is based at the Steeple Grange Light railway, and is an 18” gauge battery electric locomotive. It was built by British Electric Vehicles in 1924, before the company was taken over by Wingrove and Rogers.
No.551 was supplied to the Gurnos tinplate co. near Swansea, before its way to the John Player tinplate works at Clydach on Tawe. Eventually it went to the narrow gauge museum at Gloddfa Ganol. From here it was purchased by an SGLR member.
We are primarily asking for information about the motor, which is missing. We hope to find a replacement, but knowing the voltage, horsepower, RPM, current, make, model etc would help greatly. We also need the dimensions and number of teeth of the drive gear on the motor. So far we have found two similar looking locomotives, one at Llechwedd slate caverns and Works no. 640 “Welsh Pony”, based at the West Lancashire Light Railway.
We would also be interested in any details of its paint, as well the history/old photographs. We know of one picture of it at Gurnos, which appears on page 67 of “Industrial Narrow Gauge Railways in Britain” (Bradford Barton).
Please contact agswookieAThotmailDOTcom (replace AT=@ and DOT=.) if you can help.
The work will take a long time, but we hope to get No.551 fully operational.

Posted by Phill Spowart on 23 February 2013

Happy Birthday!! – 24 February 2013

February, 2013 Work Weekend – 14 February 2013

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