What was the FR biggest mistake?

BruceB · Post by **BruceB** » Tue Feb 25, 2003 8:09 pm

Another poll

The FR Website wrote:...this locomotive was not initially known for its good looks..

Bruce

Rfairlie · Post by **Rfairlie** » Tue Feb 25, 2003 8:12 pm

The FR Website wrote:
...this locomotive was not initially known for its good looks

As the Budwiser advert says True True............

Tim

jdtech · Post by **jdtech** » Tue Feb 25, 2003 8:18 pm

I have to go for the Square Tanks because I don't know what scapping means?

JDTECH DICTIONARY
Scapping

Alterates

Scrapping
Scarpping
Scrape

LOL LOL :drinking:

BruceB · Post by **BruceB** » Tue Feb 25, 2003 8:21 pm

If your new to the fourms you won't know I can't spell to save my life.

Bruce

jdtech · Post by **jdtech** » Tue Feb 25, 2003 8:38 pm

I joined only a few days ago so yeah I'm new but I'm getting the hang of things.

pitleyfalley · Post by **pitleyfalley** » Tue Feb 25, 2003 9:13 pm

Well, to be honest both the crimes were as bad as each other. Moel Tryfan was slightly worse cos they got rid of an engine, wheras EoM they built one.

However thier worst crime has to be cheating and using oil firing.

Chris

Rfairlie · Post by **Rfairlie** » Tue Feb 25, 2003 9:58 pm

I thought of another one putting that horrible Lempor stove pipe chimney on Linda.

rwaceyw · Post by **rwaceyw** » Tue Feb 25, 2003 10:03 pm

Stuffing Welsh Pony

pitleyfalley · Post by **pitleyfalley** » Wed Feb 26, 2003 4:20 pm

The lempor exhaust complete with aluminum smokebox paint... mmmm lovely. To be fair really just converting Linda and Blanche from thier lovely Penrhyn style into the Ffes models... with the superheating etc etc... I know it was the best idea at the time but I think it looks horrid.

At least on the Talyllyn with the exception of No.7 which is basically a new engine, the locos have been kept roughly the same, ditto on the Welshpool where I think Earl and Countess look lovely.

Chris

Rfairlie · Post by **Rfairlie** » Wed Feb 26, 2003 5:58 pm

Despite the FR modifictions i think Linda and Blanche still look quite attractive appart from the ugly ejector pipe running along the side of the tank perhaps they should make a effort to hide it like on Lilla and Britomart. I think the modifictions especialy the pony truck were unavoidable if these two engines were two be used in regular service as they are today. They must have worked because Linda as run the most miles of any loco in preservation and Blanche the second most.

ianm42 · Post by **ianm42** » Wed Feb 26, 2003 6:52 pm

The history of the FR is full of inovation, experimentation and the like, and I think it would be a pity if it was turned into a stuffy, dead museum (dare I say it, like the NRM, which I found to be a very depressing place). Long may it inovate.

The Talyllyn spent all its working life without any notable changes beyond the appearance of Douglas. It is fitting that it should remain very much the same now, although it does need the ex-Corris engines for the current passenger levels it enjoys.

pitleyfalley · Post by **pitleyfalley** » Wed Feb 26, 2003 7:01 pm

True - without the two corris engines the line would not have survived. No.4's return to service back in 1952 was very welcome by all accounts.

I guess the Ffes and the TR are two different railways who have different objectives. The Talyllyn has remianed very much on the traditional side of things with period style stock, few loco modifications (an example being the mounting off all air brake compressors on the non platform side) and in reality very little expansion. Wheras the Ffes is very much on the 'cutting' edge of preservation, extensive facilities, modern upto date corridor stock, a large loco fleet, and of course not to mention the deviaton which has to be one of the biggest line rebuilds in preservation history, if not for the length then certainly for the scale of the work (ie Ddault spiral)

Both however have created very unique lines with thier own personalities and characteristics...

Chris

Rfairlie · Post by **Rfairlie** » Wed Feb 26, 2003 8:38 pm

I agree no matter how much you call these things mistakes they are still amazing achivements for two railways operated largely by voulenteers. The FR is not just about inovation it is also about preservation for example the restoration of 15 and 16, Parmeston and the Slate wagons also the rebuilding of Minffordd down platform shelter help to give a feel af what the railway used to be like

Tim