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​​​Visit to see 19B's Boiler in Wales - by Andy Belcher

Following the kind invitation by the Darjeeling Tank Locomotive Trust, a group of supporters trekked over to North Wales to spend a weekend at Porthmadog that culminated in a visit to Boston Lodge on the Ffestiniog Railway to view the new boiler under construction for 19B.

 

The visit began for us all by meeting at Spooners Cafe at 09:30 on Saturday the 11th of April where Fuzz Jordan checked us in and gave us our tickets for the weekend's events.

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After a hearty breakfast partaken by most of us, we found our reserved coaches and climbed aboard the Welsh Highland Railway 'Harbourmaster' train to Caernarfon, pulled by the ex-South African Railways Garratt NG/G16, NG143. Here the group split up into those who had chosen to partake of First Class tickets and us lesser mortals in Second Class. I think that, although we didn't get armchairs to sit in, we got the better end of the deal as Jeremy Davey sat with us, and regaled us with stories of driving on the WHR, pointing out interesting and curious points on the line, as well as stories from his extraordinary life, all while passing through stunning scenery in beautiful sunshine. Very entertaining, and we thank Jeremy for it.

As we neared Caernarfon, it started 'looking a bit black over Will's mother's' as we say here in East Anglia, and, true to form, it being Wales after all, the heavens opened, just as we arrived to wander around the town. Having done our duty in perusing the gift shops (which seems to be every other shop in the town) to buy souvenirs for family members, we boarded the train for our return journey.

 

On Saturday evening, most of us went to Sima Tandoori for a fabulous meal at a very reasonable rate. I do feel sorry for the owner who had to rearrange tables to get twenty one of us seated comfortably. This was a very social occasion as some of us did not know each other previously, and, having met on the train, could now get to know each other in a relaxed surrounding. Judging by the amount of laughter, I think this was another great success. Several of us had walked from where we were staying around the town and, true to form, the heavens opened again for our various walks back.

 

Sunday morning found us again at Spooners Cafe for breakfast before climbing aboad the FR 'Mountain Spirit' train to Blaenau Ffestiniog, pulled by Double Fairlie 'David Lloyd George'.

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This journey was different in that now we all knew each other so chatted together as a group while looking at more fabulous scenery. Unfortunately, Jeremy was not with us on Sunday as he had been double booked by a higher authority, but there were enough experts in our coach to point out places and landscape of interest. We had all dressed with regards to Saturday's vagaries of weather but the sun continued to shine and, out of the chill wind, was quite warm as seen by the shedding of coats and umbrellas. Our journey up had been slowed by sheep on the track so we did not have long at Blaenau Festiniog. We then reboarded for our return journey.

 

Back at Porthmadog we had a bit of a wait for the line to clear, then we boarded a single coach and brake van, pulled again by 'David Lloyd George', for the short journey to Boston Lodge.

 

At Boston Lodge we were met by Will Smith, the Trust's Engineering Trustee, and Jon Whalley, the Boston Lodge Works Manager, who showed us the boiler shell and the parts still to be fitted, and explained how it was all made and then joined together. As a modeller who builds small boilers I was pleasantly surprised at the similarities between big and small boilers and that I understood everything that was said, including the intricaces of fitting the firebox to the shell. With the stripped-out boiler of Quarry Hunslet, 'Winifred', sitting beside 19B's, some of the processes with building a boiler could be illustrated, as well as the issues that caused the failure of the old one. Also, having Boston Lodge's resident welder, Bob Yates, who is doing the work on the new boiler, with us, we were given first hand information on how all the parts are measured and fitted.

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There were many questions as to how the boiler is fabricated and constructed and these were all answered most professionally.

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After seeing the boiler with all its parts, we were then treated to a tour of Boston Lodge, seeing some locomotives that are undergoing minor and major repair, and then being shown locomotives that are in service, parked in the shed. The capabilities of each locomotive were identified, along with an explanation of how those capabilities necessitated their places in the roster for each railway, It was all very interesting.

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We owe an enormous debt of thanks to Will, Jon and Bob for giving up their Sunday to show us and explain what goes into the new boiler, and for showing us around the site.

 

With the tour of Boston Lodge concluded, we were taken back to Porthmadog, again by 'David Lloyd George', for us to make our various ways home.

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All in all, an absolutely fantastic weekend.

 

A massive thank you to Fuzz, and everyone involved in planning a weekend that will be remembered for a long time.