Lots going on at Gelerts Farm, WHR Porthmadog, over half term week.
Work is progressing on new four wheel coach no.6, with brake adapter fitted, insides painted and varnished, seat components constructed and varnished. The wheelsets are being gauged and profiled on the big lathe and the axleboxes refurbished. The coach should be in service for Easter and has the facility to be used as a guards van which would enable the present ex-VoR guards van to be taken out of service for attention and restoration back to original GWR condition.
In the meantime the VoR van has been repainted into GWR brown and the roof recovered with canvas and painted. Future work subject to fundraising will restore the original duckets and regauge/reprofile the wheelsets to suit the WHR gauge.
Simplex 60S No.9 Katherine has had the rather battered cab removed preparatory to restoration to a similar condition to its sisters no.4 and no.6.
Work continues on the Lyd2 diesel locos: no.58 was outside the shed on 13th Feb having the engine and bodywork pressure washed. No.60 has had an electric pre-heater built which will replace the failed Webasto diesel-fired unit.
The frames and cylinders of Hunslet 040ST ‘Lady Madcap’ were being painted in the RED shed.
1994 Hunslet diesel ‘Kathy’ is in the loco shed sporting a new cardboard cab! This is to work out placements for windows and controls etc. before a new proper steel cab is built. The loco has now been fitted with a train pipe ready for operating passenger trains.
