{"id":2488,"date":"2020-08-25T13:48:25","date_gmt":"2020-08-25T13:48:25","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/ngtrains-com.stackstaging.com\/blog\/?p=2488"},"modified":"2020-10-31T12:17:23","modified_gmt":"2020-10-31T12:17:23","slug":"2488-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ngtrains.com\/blog\/2488-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Socially Distanced Playing Trains"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><a href=\"http:\/\/ngtrains.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Blanche_3.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft wp-image-2486\" src=\"http:\/\/ngtrains.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Blanche_3-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"400\" height=\"267\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ngtrains.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Blanche_3-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ngtrains.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Blanche_3-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/ngtrains.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Blanche_3-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/ngtrains.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Blanche_3-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/ngtrains.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Blanche_3.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><\/a><span style=\"color: #800000;\"><strong>N<\/strong><\/span>ormally, in late July and early August I usually do two weeks driving on the Festiniog Railway as my second or third stint of the year. This year has been a bit different with: &#8211;<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>The Covid19 Pandemonium<\/li>\n<li>My own health resulting in the removal of my gall bladder.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"color: #800000;\"><strong>T<\/strong><\/span>he first of them meant there have been no trains and the second meant I couldn\u2019t have driven them had they run. I was going to say Plan B, but its more like Plan X, Y or Z has finally seen trains run and me drive a few.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-2485\" src=\"http:\/\/ngtrains.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Blanche_2-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ngtrains.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Blanche_2-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ngtrains.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Blanche_2-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/ngtrains.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Blanche_2-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/ngtrains.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Blanche_2-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/ngtrains.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Blanche_2.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #800000;\"><strong>T<\/strong><\/span>he railway started to run trains in late July with a very different service to what has gone before. Priority has been safety and social distancing for both the people working the trains and for the travelling public.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #800000;\"><strong>A<\/strong><\/span>t the railways works the site has been split to keep the works staff and the train crews separated as much as possible with two entrances, two messes and washing facilities and no works access for visits. Social distancing even works in the sheds with the engines. This year has seen shorter trains and the little engines coming to the fore.<\/p>\n<p><strong><span style=\"color: #800000;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/ngtrains.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Blanche_4.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-2487 alignleft\" src=\"http:\/\/ngtrains.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Blanche_4-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ngtrains.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Blanche_4-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ngtrains.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Blanche_4-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/ngtrains.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Blanche_4-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/ngtrains.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Blanche_4-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/ngtrains.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Blanche_4.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a>T<\/span><\/strong>he Double Fairlies have been put away and the service has been operated by Linda, Blanche, Prince and Welsh Pony with Palmerston just returning to traffic as I write this after an overhaul. Each day three are used with one spare and they rotate so that there is a different spare each day and they are all kept warm. \u00a0The three for the service sit by the doors on 5,6 &amp; 7 roads with the spare one loco in on 7. The three go out at hourly intervals and sometime during the day the spare is moved from the back of 7 to either 5 or 6 ready for the next day.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #800000;\"><strong>T<\/strong><\/span>he trains in use are all compartment stock for separation and trains are only running to Tan-y-Bwlch. They depart from the open end of the platform at Porthmadog, so they don\u2019t create public congestion under the canopy. Passengers when they book are allocated a compartment which is then theirs for the full journey. Trains run non-stop to TyB where there is an hours break for the passengers before they return to Porthmadog.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #800000;\"><strong><a href=\"http:\/\/ngtrains.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Blanche_5.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-2483\" src=\"http:\/\/ngtrains.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Blanche_5-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ngtrains.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Blanche_5-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ngtrains.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Blanche_5-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/ngtrains.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Blanche_5-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/ngtrains.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Blanche_5-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/ngtrains.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Blanche_5.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a>I<\/strong><\/span>t all runs a bit slower than usual, but timings are still important. Firstly, as a driver, you mustn\u2019t arrive at TyB early so you don\u2019t unload your passengers before the down train has its loaded up.<\/p>\n<p><strong><span style=\"color: #800000;\">O<\/span><\/strong>n arrival the up train goes right up to the water tower so its in the right place to fill up and the rear is beyond the crossing to the car park. Once you\u2019ve taken water and the passengers are off the train is moved to the other platform via the top end placing the train down towards the footbridge below the car park crossing. The loco then returns to the up line to run round but has to wait for the departed down train to get to either Rhiw Goch or Minffordd for the token to be available.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #800000;\"><strong>H<\/strong><\/span>aving run round you are ready to load up which you have to do before the next up arrives which explains whilst the up mustn\u2019t arrive early.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #800000;\"><strong><a href=\"http:\/\/ngtrains.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Blanche_1.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft wp-image-2484\" src=\"http:\/\/ngtrains.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Blanche_1-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"400\" height=\"267\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ngtrains.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Blanche_1-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ngtrains.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Blanche_1-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/ngtrains.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Blanche_1-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/ngtrains.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Blanche_1-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/ngtrains.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Blanche_1.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><\/a>W<\/strong><\/span>e even managed a social bubble with our loco as for the four days the roster was Blanche, me driving and Claire firing all made easier as Claire and I were sharing accommodation.<\/p>\n<p><strong><span style=\"color: #800000;\">H<\/span><\/strong>ow did I get on? Well, four days was enough although I was getting back into it. There were some issues caused by my reconfigured innards but manageable so I will be back to do a bit more soon.<\/p>\n<p>On our first day we got caught by the paparazzi. The pictures in the article were all taken by Chris Parry and are used with his permission and my thanks. We also got caught by the Moving Pictures Video team so you can follow a trip with us to\u00a0 Tan-y-Bwlch in the second half of that video.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/phMH9ROO-3I\" width=\"560\" height=\"314\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<div class=\"post-views content-post post-2488 entry-meta load-static\" data-pvc-type=\"post\" data-pvc-id=\"2488\">\r\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"post-views-icon dashicons dashicons-chart-bar\"><\/span> <span class=\"post-views-label\">Post Views:<\/span> <span class=\"post-views-count\">1,128<\/span>\r\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n<div class=\"pvc_clear\"><\/div>\n<p id=\"pvc_stats_2488\" class=\"pvc_stats all  \" data-element-id=\"2488\" style=\"\"><i class=\"pvc-stats-icon medium\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><svg aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\" data-prefix=\"far\" data-icon=\"chart-bar\" role=\"img\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 512 512\" class=\"svg-inline--fa fa-chart-bar fa-w-16 fa-2x\"><path fill=\"currentColor\" d=\"M396.8 352h22.4c6.4 0 12.8-6.4 12.8-12.8V108.8c0-6.4-6.4-12.8-12.8-12.8h-22.4c-6.4 0-12.8 6.4-12.8 12.8v230.4c0 6.4 6.4 12.8 12.8 12.8zm-192 0h22.4c6.4 0 12.8-6.4 12.8-12.8V140.8c0-6.4-6.4-12.8-12.8-12.8h-22.4c-6.4 0-12.8 6.4-12.8 12.8v198.4c0 6.4 6.4 12.8 12.8 12.8zm96 0h22.4c6.4 0 12.8-6.4 12.8-12.8V204.8c0-6.4-6.4-12.8-12.8-12.8h-22.4c-6.4 0-12.8 6.4-12.8 12.8v134.4c0 6.4 6.4 12.8 12.8 12.8zM496 400H48V80c0-8.84-7.16-16-16-16H16C7.16 64 0 71.16 0 80v336c0 17.67 14.33 32 32 32h464c8.84 0 16-7.16 16-16v-16c0-8.84-7.16-16-16-16zm-387.2-48h22.4c6.4 0 12.8-6.4 12.8-12.8v-70.4c0-6.4-6.4-12.8-12.8-12.8h-22.4c-6.4 0-12.8 6.4-12.8 12.8v70.4c0 6.4 6.4 12.8 12.8 12.8z\" class=\"\"><\/path><\/svg><\/i> <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"16\" height=\"16\" alt=\"Loading\" src=\"https:\/\/ngtrains.com\/blog\/wp-content\/plugins\/page-views-count\/ajax-loader-2x.gif\" border=0 \/><\/p>\n<div class=\"pvc_clear\"><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Normally, in late July and early August I usually do two weeks driving on the Festiniog Railway as my second or third stint of the year. This year has been a bit different with: &#8211; The Covid19 Pandemonium My own health resulting in the removal of my gall bladder. The first of them meant there [&hellip;]<\/p>\n<div class=\"pvc_clear\"><\/div>\n<p id=\"pvc_stats_2488\" class=\"pvc_stats all  \" data-element-id=\"2488\" style=\"\"><i class=\"pvc-stats-icon medium\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><svg aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\" data-prefix=\"far\" data-icon=\"chart-bar\" role=\"img\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 512 512\" class=\"svg-inline--fa fa-chart-bar fa-w-16 fa-2x\"><path fill=\"currentColor\" d=\"M396.8 352h22.4c6.4 0 12.8-6.4 12.8-12.8V108.8c0-6.4-6.4-12.8-12.8-12.8h-22.4c-6.4 0-12.8 6.4-12.8 12.8v230.4c0 6.4 6.4 12.8 12.8 12.8zm-192 0h22.4c6.4 0 12.8-6.4 12.8-12.8V140.8c0-6.4-6.4-12.8-12.8-12.8h-22.4c-6.4 0-12.8 6.4-12.8 12.8v198.4c0 6.4 6.4 12.8 12.8 12.8zm96 0h22.4c6.4 0 12.8-6.4 12.8-12.8V204.8c0-6.4-6.4-12.8-12.8-12.8h-22.4c-6.4 0-12.8 6.4-12.8 12.8v134.4c0 6.4 6.4 12.8 12.8 12.8zM496 400H48V80c0-8.84-7.16-16-16-16H16C7.16 64 0 71.16 0 80v336c0 17.67 14.33 32 32 32h464c8.84 0 16-7.16 16-16v-16c0-8.84-7.16-16-16-16zm-387.2-48h22.4c6.4 0 12.8-6.4 12.8-12.8v-70.4c0-6.4-6.4-12.8-12.8-12.8h-22.4c-6.4 0-12.8 6.4-12.8 12.8v70.4c0 6.4 6.4 12.8 12.8 12.8z\" class=\"\"><\/path><\/svg><\/i> <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"16\" height=\"16\" alt=\"Loading\" src=\"https:\/\/ngtrains.com\/blog\/wp-content\/plugins\/page-views-count\/ajax-loader-2x.gif\" border=0 \/><\/p>\n<div class=\"pvc_clear\"><\/div>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2488","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-commentary"],"a3_pvc":{"activated":true,"total_views":609,"today_views":0},"post_mailing_queue_ids":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ngtrains.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2488","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ngtrains.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ngtrains.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ngtrains.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ngtrains.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2488"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/ngtrains.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2488\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2498,"href":"https:\/\/ngtrains.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2488\/revisions\/2498"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ngtrains.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2488"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ngtrains.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2488"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ngtrains.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2488"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}