Welshpool and Llanfair Light Railway steam locomotive number 19
No. 19 at Cyfronydd, W&LLR | |||||||||||
| |||||||||||
| |||||||||||
|
Welshpool and Llanfair Light Railway (W&LLR) steam locomotive number 19 was built in 1954 by Uzinele de Fier și Domeniile din Reșița S.A. (English: Iron Works in Reșița and Domenille limited company) based in Reșița (Romania).[1] It was imported to the UK in 2007 having been restored to working condition at Remarul 16 Februarie Locomotive Works in Cluj-Napoca, Romania.[2] Prior to restoration the locomotive had been stored at Crișcior.[2]
The locomotive (and its sister W&LLR 18) are articulated using the Klien-Lindner system. Articulation allows the locomotives to negotiate much tighter curves than their equivalent rigid frame 0-8-0 locomotive could.[3] In Romania the locomotives operated on the 760 mm (2 ft 5 15⁄16 in) network. The W&LLR 2 ft 6 in (762 mm) is 2 mm wider.
The locomotive originally saw service on the Romanian Forest Railways, hauling timber. It was later sold to FC Turda, a cement works.[4]
Numbered as FC Turda 764.425 and painted in a black livery, the locomotive was regularly used to haul trains on the W&LLR. During 2011 the locomotive was taken out of service for an extensive overhaul.[5] The overhaul was completed in time for the 2012 gala but unfortunately the locomotive suffered a serious failure in summer 2013 and is now stored awaiting a decision on its future.
W&LLR number 18
The W&LLR also possess Reşiţa 1679 (CFF 764.423). This loco was acquired from the defunct Ystwith Railway, who had previously imported it from Romania. It is currently held as a source of spares for No. 19.
References
- ↑ Dickinson, Rob (22 August 2007). "Romanian Steam Locomotives for Export". The International Steam Pages. Retrieved 21 September 2010.
- 1 2 W&LLR (2008). "Archive News from the Line". Retrieved 21 September 2010.
- ↑ Welshpool & Llanfair Light Railway (2005). Traveller's Guide. Powys, UK: W&LLR. p. 26.
- ↑ Kirchner Attila; Tóth Sándor; Villányi György (15 March 2003). "Romániában megőrzött Gőzmozdonyok" (in Hungarian). Retrieved 21 September 2010.
- ↑ "Progress with the Overhaul of Locomotive No.19". W&LLR. Retrieved 9 June 2012.