{"id":6448,"date":"2025-12-18T17:28:09","date_gmt":"2025-12-18T17:28:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ngtrains.com\/blog\/?p=6448"},"modified":"2025-12-18T19:07:40","modified_gmt":"2025-12-18T19:07:40","slug":"ricketrescue-iv","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ngtrains.com\/blog\/ricketrescue-iv\/","title":{"rendered":"RICKETRESCUE IV"},"content":{"rendered":"

The following is an extract from the Winter Festiniog Railway Magazine penned by me. Blanche aka Ricket is very dear to me (both as in close and expensive). It used to be that I referred to Blanche as “the other woman” though Annie now says she’s the other woman as I’ve known Blanche longer.\u00a0 <\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

My first footplate ride was 0n Blanche in 1977, I learnt to fire & Drive on Blanche. I ran the first RicketRescue [RR1] in 1992 & 3 to get her overhauled and back in traffic for the Hunslet 100 celebration. Since then we’ve done RR2 & 3 at 10 year intervals. Now its time for RR4.\u00a0 The following article explains the current situation, plans and opportunities to help.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

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RicketRescue IV update<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n

Blanche remains available for traffic and can run into next season on its boiler ticket. Mechanically you might not want to do that! The joke at Boston Lodge at the moment is that its friction free and that it couldn\u2019t run a bearing hot if it tried as nothing touches anymore!<\/p>\n

Three seasons ago it was declared that, with the return of Linda, Blanche would be the low mileage engine. Didn\u2019t happen. Linda was later into traffic than planned and Blanche did most of the Quarryman service for an annual mileage of 4230. She didn\u2019t really take it easy in 2024 with a mileage of 3317. Finally this year she did with 860 miles to mid November with possibly another 50 to be added with coal trials although as Matt commented \u201cHaving now written that no doubt some crisis will occur and it will end up doing 1500! \u201c<\/p>\n

This season Blanche has mostly been running trials with a different coal type which, if we can get the engines happy with it, offers potential for smoke reduction and consistent supply. She, of course, ventured out for the 70th<\/sup> weekend and during Bygones doing a lot of double heading with Linda. In October she stepped in for nearly a week of Quarryman\u2019s when Linda decided she\u2019d had enough of living at Glan-y-Pwll (failed tender bearing). You may have seen her with \u201cBlanche\u2019s Begging Bucket\u201d on the smokebox. The bucket also had an outing to The Greatest Gathering at which we offered a free ride but placed the bucket on the exit with a QR code upgrade for electronic contributions.<\/p>\n

Whilst at the `The Greatest Gathering\u2019 I received the comment, \u201cI\u2019m waiting for more on donation incentives\u201d so hear goes.<\/p>\n

The return of the replica Name & Works plate reward<\/strong>. In 2004 a significant amount towards Blanches new boiler was raised by offering `replica\u2019 name and works plates cast from moulds taken off the originals fastened to the loco. They were taken from the fireman\u2019s side nameplate and the driver side works plate, the one with the crease down it from an altercation with Wales.<\/p>\n

We still have the patterns so;-<\/p>\n