27 June 2017
Over the weekend of the FR Society AGM and Quirks and Curiosities II event on the railway, the new frames for Welsh Pony were viewable in the Erecting Shop on their wheels. The old frames and cylinders were available for inspection alongside.
During the second week of May the boiler passed its hydraulic test, being the third boiler built at Boston Lodge and the fourth that Welsh Pony will have carried.
The boiler is now installed in the new frames, showing the unique England design where the frames effectively end in front of the firebox.
As part of this feature, the firebox actually becomes part of the load bearing part of the frames.
The firebox has had the plates fixed to the rear to allow this feature to be retained.
At the rear of the boiler, some of the brass fittings that have been made have been polish finished and affixed to the boiler. These include the regulator quadrant, gauge glass fittings (subsequently removed again) and the safety valve bonnet cover. The high quality finish on these items is apparent.
In the carriage shed, the new, completed tender is for painting.
Also now in the carriage shed, is the cab from the loco. It went away for grit blasting and has now returned to the warmth and dry of the carriage shed prior to required repairs and painting.
The project to restore to Welsh Pony has very nearly exhausted the £170,000 of funds raised for this purpose. Despite now having a new boiler, wheeled frames, repaired saddle tank and many other components, there is still a lot of work (and money) required to complete the job.
If you would like to contribute to get this historic loco in traffic:
Donations may be made by post to:
Ffestiniog Railway Society
Stanegate
North Road
HALTWHISTLE
Northumberland
NE49 9BR
Online donations may be made here.