Le carnet
du CFC
From our Friend
David Black
Sadly we are only able to visit the CFC about once a year. Ever since I discovered the line and it’s hospitable members we look forward to our next visit. Thank you all for making us welcome. Here in Wales we are surrounded by steam in all sizes, the Cambrian Coast Standard Gauge Line runs steam trains every day in August, of course the narrow gauge are all steam hauled also.
My ancestors were seafarers from Aberdyfi and I was destined to return here as soon as I could leave school!. My first work was at Fairbourne Railway, where I learnt to maintain and drive locomotives on the 15” gauge. I was lucky to be paid to drive trains during the college holidays and in 1976 we took two locomotives, Sian and Count Louis to Ravenglass for a Gala. In picture number 1, I am standing on Sian taking a photograph; it was a surprise to sea ourselves on the front page of the famous ‘Model Engineer’ magazine.
I worked for one year in Brittany and the Reseau Guerledan, where I learnt to speak some French and ate too much rich Breton food. Sadly, the line was dismantled by myself, before we had even finished building it!
When I returned to Wales, I was again asked to operate the Fairbourne Railway for the Owner, who was now old, and lived in England. In 1984 the line was sold to the people who owned the Reseau Guerledan and the 15” gauge stock was sold and replaced by the 12 ¼” gauge equipment from Brittany. I did not
stay.
After 5 years at the Bala Lake Railway and 10 years at the Ffestiniog Railway, it was time to return to self-employment. We rebuilt Alice over several years and have visited lines in the UK and France.
Alice is ready to depart on her first train on the Froissy-Dompierre line. Who were our first passengers? A group from Lancashire in England!
We all enjoyed our next visit, which was to the CFC in 2003 for the
christening of 'Chanteraine' and look forward to Alice visiting again soon.
Other work I have undertaken since leaving the Ffestiniog includes rebuilding the 15” gauge 4-4-0 American Cagney Locomotive, which was found derelict in Peru. My job was to restore it to running order and in picture number 3 in can be seen on test at Rhyl in North Wales.
Chris Scott is there again! The two carriages are copies of the original Cagney design of 1901. Over 100 of these little work horses where built in the U.S.A. over a period of 20 years. They were simple machines used at Fairgrounds and Exhibitions all over America, only two being sold to the UK. Are there any in France?
Among other jobs I have in hand, is the famous Talyllyn Railway locomotive Number One Talyllyn. In picture number 4 we are seen testing the chassis which has all new bearings. I am at present fitting the boiler and hope to commission the locomotive in March.
Picture number 5 shows us fitting the new Clupit piston rings, which are a double coil. Two of these on each piston is highly efficient and will save a lot of steam.
Picture number 6 shows in detail the white metalled crosshead with the top slide bar removed, notice the correctly profiled leading wheel.
In picture number 7, a Canadian 4-6-4 locomotive of 10 ¼” gauge built in Vancouver in 1941 can be seen. A new boiler has been fitted including manifold, water gauges, and injectors. When finished the locomotive will be a stainless steel streamliner. Give me a Victorian coffee pot any day! I should explain that the coffee pot is a locomotive built for narrow gauge the reign of Queen Victoria, around 1890.
Another interesting job last year was the restoration of a 9 ½” gauge Atlantic, ‘George’. The wheels were retired, new boiler fitted, and of course Clupit piston rings. In picture number 8 I can be seen testing the locomotive in England. Later that day I returned to Wales and the following day we travelled to the CFC to play with bigger trains.
A great joy in our life is our Aveling and Porter Compound Steam Roller build in 1921. We are the second owners. It spent it’s working life in London and after 30 years in a children’s playground I was able to buy it part restored. Some CFC members may remember Hazel who accompanied me during the visit to the CFC in 1994. Sadly she died before we concluded the purchase so it is named after her. Steam Rollers are always female! My wife Ritta and I enjoy using her on the road and like all vintage steam vehicle owners in the U.K. are determined not to allow ‘Brussels’ to stop us using our machines on British roads. Indeed, on 22nd April 2007 all owners are urged to ‘drive on the road’ to show solidarity. In reality, we have no problem with Lorries, Buses or police (even with a Breton driving-Daniel!) Tourists wave and take photographs and the Fire Brigade give us water! Long may it continue!!!
The final photograph is to prove that we live in the Centre of the Universe, taken at Fairbourne in August 2005.
We look forward to many more visits, keep up the good work.
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My ancestors were seafarers from Aberdyfi and I was destined to return here as soon as I could leave school!. My first work was at Fairbourne Railway, where I learnt to maintain and drive locomotives on the 15” gauge. I was lucky to be paid to drive trains during the college holidays and in 1976 we took two locomotives, Sian and Count Louis to Ravenglass for a Gala. In picture number 1, I am standing on Sian taking a photograph; it was a surprise to sea ourselves on the front page of the famous ‘Model Engineer’ magazine.
