Locomotive Performance

Welshpool and Llanfair Railway
 
I am a regular visitor to North Wales, and frequently break my journey from the Midlands at either Llangollen/Carrog or Welshpool/Llanfair Caerinion. In the case of the latter, my rail journies invariably commence at Llanfair Caerinion, so that I can have a pleasant riverside walk and a snack at the railway's excellent cafe.

From a Locomotive Performance point of view the eastwards journey to Welshpool is a series of short sharp gradients to the summit of the line beyond Sylfaen. There are many level crossings, some of which require a stop. Westbound to Llanfair Caerinion the main interest is the formidable "Golfa Incline", as steep as 1 in 24 in parts, that starts shortly after leaving Welshpool. The linespeed throughout is 15 mph.

The Steam Locomotive fleet comprises the two ex GW 0-6-0T nos 1 (822) The Earl....and 2 (823) Countess....The Franco-Beige 1944 built 0-8-0T no 10 Sir Drefaldwyn....no 14, a 1954 built Hunslet 2-6-2T from Sierra Leone (SLR 85)....no 12 Joan, a 1927 built Kerr Stewart 0-6-2T...and Orion, a 1948 built 2-6-2T from Belgium, known as the Turbize after the name of the manufacturers. 

At the Late Summer 2002 Gala, the steam locos in operation were Earl, Countess, SLR no 14, and Orion. Sir Drefaldwyn is in for overhaul, and Joan sits on a plinth painted in "Thomas" blue to attract attention from the main A458 road at Llanfair Caerinion.

I have a total of 20 logs of "both way" journies, and have chosen a selection of at least one return journey for each locomotive. There is also a log of a one way journey on Chevalier, a visitor to the line in 1991. I have yet to travel behind Orion.

19/08/1985....no 12 Joan was on the 4.15pm from Llanfair Caerinion and the 5.15pm return from Welshpool. Load was 1+2, and the total running time 80min 36sec. Maximum speed was 17mph and Golfa incline was taken with ease.[view log of no 12 Joan].

 26/06/1986....no 14, SLR 85, had load 1+2 on the 1.45pm from Llanfair Caerinion, 3.00pm return from Welshpoll. Max speed was 18mph, and running times totaled 83min 36sec. [view log of no 14 SLR 85]

31/08/86....Countess had a heavy 1+3 load on the 3.00pm from Welshpool, 4.15pm back from Llanfair. A steady climb was made up Golfa, with some slipping towards the top. On the return were were 3 mins late away, and were treated to some vigorous driving. Too vigorous in fact, for we had to stop for a "blow up" at Dolarddyn, and again approaching Castle Caerinion. More hard running but we were 7 mins late into Welshpool. The running times back from Llanfair, if we generously deduct the "blow up" times, were a record 37min 29sec. Overall running times totalled 81min 00sec. An interesting trip  [view log of no 2 Countess]

16/07/89....Another run on Countess, again with a heavy 1+3 load. 1.45pm from Llanfair, 3.00pm from Welshpool. A steady climb up Golfa, but a 19mph max after Heniarth. Overall running times, after allowing 2 mins for a lineside fire stop after Castle Caerinion, were 84min 04sec. [view log of no 2 Countess]

01/09/91....Gala weekend and my first run behind no 10 Sir Drefaldwyn. With a 2+2 load, it was rather a plod. Perhaps next time will be better. But we did get a 17mph. Overall times totaled 87min 32sec. [view log of no 10 Sir Drefaldwyn]  

01/09/91....Chevalier was a visiting engine at the 1991 Gala weekend, and was on the 1.45pm from Welshpool. With a 1+2 load, the loco struggled up Golfa Incline and needed a "breather" at the top. Thereafter the loco ran well. [view log of Chevalier]

04/09/93....Another Gala weekend, and no 2 Countess and no 10 Sir Drefaldwyn were double heading on the 10.45am from Llanfair, and 12.00pm return from Welshpool. With a 2+2 load, heaving with passengers, it was easy work, though with extra trains running, there were some slight delays. We reaches 19mph twice, once in each direction [view log of nos 10 Sir Drefaldwyn and no 2 Countess]

02/08/2000....A glorious sunny day, Swiss (or was it Austrian) dancers, packed trains, and my first run with Earl, on the 2.30pm from Welshpool and 4.15pm return. The railway was in festive spirit, and so was Earl's driver, who gave us some superb running with a heavy 2+2 load. We even got a 20mph on the way back.[view log of no 1 Earl]

Oh, and the "next time" with no 10 Sir Drefaldwyn wasn't any better.   
Below is a summary of all my recorded ascents of Golfa Incline, measured between New Drive Crossing, Welshpool, and milepost 2.75, approaching Golfa. The distance between the two points is 1.17 miles. There are severe reverse curves at a location known as "Hangmans Tree", which carry a 10mph restriction. 
 

date

loco

load

time

avge speed

 

09/08/1984

12 Joan

1 bogie+2 4w

5min 53sec

11.9 mph

09/08/1984

12 Joan

1 bogie+2 4w

6min 18sec

11.1 mph

19/08/1985

12 Joan

 1 bogie+2 4w

5min 00sec

14.0 mph

26/06/1986

14 SLR no 85

1 bogie+2 4w

5min 55sec

11.9 mph

26/06/1986

14 SLR no 85

1 bogie+2 4w

6min 02sec

11.8 mph

31/08/1986

2 Countess

1 bogie+3 4w

6min 17sec

11.2 mph

26/05/1987

2 Countess

1 bogie+2 4w

5min 28sec

12.8 mph

26/09/1987

14 SLR no 85

1 bogie+3 4w

6min 12sec

11.3 mph

14/05/1988

12 Joan

1 bogie+2 4w

6min 22sec

11.0 mph

22/07/1988

2 Countess

1 bogie+2 4w

5min 37sec

12.5 mph

08/10/1988

2 Countess

1 bogie+1 4w

4min 40sec

15.0 mph

16/07/1989

2 Countess

1 bogie+3 4w

6min 34sec

10.7 mph

15/07/1990

2 Countess

1 bogie+1 4w

6min 10sec

11.4 mph

01/09/1991

10 Sir Drefaldwyn

2 bogies+2 4w

6min 50sec

10.3 mph

01/09/1991

Chevalier

1 bogie+2 4w

7min 14sec

9.7 mph

04/09/1993

no 10 and no 2

2 bogies+2 4w

6min 11sec

11.3 mph

04/09/1993

14 SLR no 85

1 bogie+3 4w

5min 55sec

11.8 mph

09/07/1997

10 Sir Drefaldwyn

1 bogie+2 4w

5min 14sec

13.4 mph

02/08/2000

1 Earl

2 bogies+2 4w

5min 06sec

13.7 mph

23/07/2001

1 Earl

1 bogie+2 4w

5min 17sec

13.3 mph

 

Best climbs were no 12 Joan on 19/08/85, 14.0 mph with a 1+2 load...... no 2 Countess on 08/10/88, 15.0 mph with a light 1+1 load...... and no 1 Earl on 02/08/2000, 13.7 mph with a heavy 2+2 load.