WORKSHOP

Work on the restoration of the Baldwin has been completed and it has now returned to its home railway on the Welsh Highland Heritage Railway.

There was a succesful test run on our line going as far as Aberffrwd at one point, a photo of which was in the news section of this edition.

The engine has had many original features restored and also has a couple of unseen new features too, like a custom designed spark arrestor and an air pump hidden in the coal bunker on the driver’s side.

Upon reaching ‘home metals’ the engine was taken for a test trip up the neighbouring and connected Welsh Highland Railway as far as Beddgelert and this further test was also completed successfully.

The team in the works have overhauled a rather unique set of bogies from carriage F39, known as the Foxdale Carriage, of the Isle of Man Steam Railway.

They have had a full overhaul whilst with us, with work completed including the complete stripping of the frames and conversion to roller bearings. The conversion involved the design of new axleboxes which were 3D printed to produce a pattern and then cast. A complete set of new horn plates was manufactured and were machined to be identical in appearance to the originals. The bogies also received new wheelsets and axles during the overhaul.

They have since returned to the Isle of Man for fitting under their carriage, and were seen in use during the IoM 150 celebrations.