Llangollen works visit
New Build
© Geoff’s Rail Diaries 2017
Geoff’s Rail Diaries
12 May 2017
This trip was organised by the B17 Steam
Locomotive Trust, who were visiting
Llangollen to view progress on their project to
recreate a Gresley 3-cylinder express
passenger 4-6-0. Their kind invitation
extended to the Shropshire Railway
Society ensured their trip was viable,
and provided us with an interesting
day out.
The group had sole use of a coach attached to the
day’s passenger service - we could spend all day riding
the line if we wanted! The first trip provided us with
shelter from the gradually-easing rain, the second trip
provided us with a buffet lunch, and the third trip:
perhaps not... Our works visit would be at 5pm, but some of
us needed a leg-stretch - let’s have a walk up to the
Horseshoe Falls, and have a look at the recently-restored and
re-opened chain bridge at Berwyn. We’ll
probably see trip three while we’re out.
Eventually, we’re in the works. Fascinating!
Sir Nigel Gresley’s boiler is in the boiler shop,
there’s a D49 in bits, there’s the rolling
chassis of unrebuilt (and not yet built!)
“Patriot” 45551 The Unknown Warrior. 6880
Betton Grange looks to be nearing completion
(but the boiler is borrowed and
unserviceable). There are the frames and
cylinders of a new 47xx 2-8-0 - and the
frames of a B17, 61673 Spirit of
Sandringham...
New steam locomotives (and even
“new” ones assembled largely from
existing standard components) are not
built quickly - but one day, who knows when, four fine
new locomotives, each representing
an extinct class, could emerge from
this unlikely centre of steam
engineering. Something to look
forward to in these strange times.
Links:
•
Llangollen Railway
•
B17 Steam Locomotive Trust
