I am privileged to be a driver on the Festiniog Railway and at Beamish museum. Working in these places has the advantage of you getting to meet and make friends with people from other railways which can open opportunities for away days.

This year I’ve done 25 turns on the FR totally close to 700 miles (mileage down on earlier years as the post Covid turns are shorter in distance per day), done a weekend at Beamish and had one awayday driving someone else’s engine.

Beamish Transport Gala

This post reflects on the last turns of the year which started with a steam gala at Beamish and driving in the colliery. One day on the standard gauge driving the coffee pot and a day on the narrow gauge driving Glyder.’

This year was a but quieter than some of the previous events as Beamish feels its way out of Covid and has to be careful with what it spends on events.

All being well plans for an event on the first weekend of April 2023 should be a bit more grand and see some visiting engines for the narrow gauge.

This weekend was fun and we only got rained on a bit on the Saturday when I had the engine with no roof. Sunday, when I had a roof, was scorchio!

Festiniog Railway – Bygones/Vintage Weekend

We keep getting into trouble because we all know it as Vintage Weekend and keep calling it that. Pre Covid it was growing in to a thing not just for the railway but for the entire town and shops and residents got into the theme of it all. This resulting in large gatherings of folk in period costume around the railway and town

Bygones is supposedly the low key down played socially distanced version done with Covid in mind but also referencing that the weekend is also an end of season play with all the toys for staff and volunteers alike. We’re supposed to call it Bygones but old habits die hard. Hopefully, next year we can go back to the larger format.

As I am able I try to go down for a few days either side of the event to help set it up. Some years it means I drive the shunt engine that leaves no truck unmoved, other year I drive the service train so others can do the shunt.

This year was a service train day so on the Thursday I went to Blaenau with the afternoon train driving Merddin Emrys.

Friday was a day I could have done without. Started with a Tan-y-Bwlch and back with Blanche which went OK but then we were then the afternoon train to Blaenau and it all went wrong. We had some proper horrible coal which was initially blamed for our ills but steaming was poor and we had to stop for a blow up several times and were very late by the time we got to Blaenau. Disposing the engine took ages as the grate was encased in a mess of clinker.  We had a guest from Beamish with us and I don’t think he saw Blanche in the best of light.

I was off on the Saturday. Initially I was a bit miffed by this as I don’t do being a spectator well but after our Friday I was glad of it. My friend Clare had Blanche for the Saturday and I followed her progress, or lack of it. Several blow ups and a tow home but with a top link fireman suggesting something other than coal was ailing in Blanche.  That turned out to be the end of Blanche’s season as she was later diagnosed with leaking superheaters which explained a lot. With other boiler issues and an impending boiler overhaul she was stopped until repaired.

For Sunday I did a silly thing! I should have been driving Merddin on a turn at a pleasant time of the day and one which I didn’t have to prep or dispose the engine. Blanche’s failing messed that up. Clare should have been driving Blanche. Lyd moved to cover Blanche’s turn. Clare doesn’t do Lyd. I was bribed with a bacon buttie to swap and only after I had agreed was I told it was an 05:45 start. [Truth is I offered to swap but that isn’t as good a story]

It was a bit odd though as it was still dark as we rolled Lyd out of the shed to light up. The early start was for our first mission which was ECS to Minffordd (to collect our Bacon Butties) and then provide a service for the trustees down to Boston Lodge. Back at BL we swapped coach sets and then went ECS to Porthmadog to form a service to Tan-y-Bwlch.

At least after that early start we didn’t have to dispose the engine handing it over to a crew for the evening staff train.

Cultural Exchange – Part 1

I’m pretty sure you seen me mention my mate Andy before. For a day job he hides in a office whilst working for Cross Country trains. Occasionally they find him out an make him drive a Voyager or HST to somewhere. When he feels the need to drive a proper train he is a driver on the Talyllyn Railway. We’ve been mates for many years sharing an interest in model trains as well as antique kettles.

A good few years ago we started what we dubbed a cultural exchange. Andy would spend a day with me on the FR and then retaliate with a day on the TR. It was on course to become an annual event but Covid and a daughter put paid to that (Abigail’s impact was on the accommodation in Tywyn – there are no circumstances in which I would fit in a cot!).

This year we managed to reintroduce the exchange and the Monday post Vintage Bygones saw me down in Tywyn in Pendre sheds with No4 Edward Thomas being prepared.

As is often the case once Andy had got the train out of the sheds and down to Wharf he took on the role of supervisor and I drove for the rest of the day

A TR day is characterised by the catering. Starting with a raid on the bakery as it opens, teas almost every time the train stopped with cake to soak up the tea and finishing with a meal and a couple of pints. Now Abigail has graduated to a proper bed I was able to stay the night allowing the 2 or 3 pints but with a fairly early start back to Porthmadog for a late turn book on for a trip to Blaenau.

Cultural Exchange – Part 2 – The return leg

The aim was to get Andy a go on a Penrhyn engine but Blanche clearly heard he was coming and pulled a sickie. As a result we had Lyd for the day and that last time we were out together on Lyd it was Lyd’s turn to be not very well.

This day started very wet so most of the loco prep was done indoors before rolling it out to light it up. Our day was to be two round trips to Tan-y-Bwlch with the Woodland Wanderer (aka the Waistband Widener given it’s a train to a cake shop).

Following our Monday format Andy did most of the driving whilst I supervised and tried to keep out of the way of Tim, our fireman, as he shovelled in a confined space.

The day wasn’t plain sailing with the dodgy coal causing problems and the signalling deciding to have an off day.

It was also pretty soggy with almost continuous rain which was so persistent it defeated our waterproofs.

Once it was all put away and we managed to get dry we went for a beer and something to eat which isn’t that easy these days in Porthmadog with so many of the usual places struggling for staff post Covid.

So, Andy still hasn’t had a drive of a Penrhyn engine so the quest continues but next season should have both Linda and Blanche available,

Unless some surprise opportunity for a bit of steam pops up that’s steam engines done for this year.