Welsh Highland Railway NGG16's in the Pass of Aberglasyn

[Ian Roberts]

On a bright sunny day in North wales (Rare)


NGG16 No 143 (Oil Burner) Southbound between the tunnels in the Pass of Aberglasyn 2009-08-11


NGG16 No 143 (Oil Burner) Northbound approaching the first tunnel in the Pass of Aberglasyn 2009-08-11


NGG16 No 87 (Coal Burner) Southbound entering the Pass of Aberglasyn 2009-08-11

You can see how much larger the South African locos were than the domestic coaches they are pulling.

The first train was running later after waiting on a late running bus group. Standing on the rocks on one leg was getting old by the time it finally showed.

The Drivers look like they would like to see the old South African swing out seats on this warm day.

[bernarddodd]

Some very nice photos by Ian, but it should be noted though that the difference in size between the locomotives and the coaches in two of the photos is because the coaches shown are older FR/WHR ones on loan from the Ffestiniog Railway, compare with the second photo where the coaches are modern comfortable full size stock.
Cheers Bernard

[Ian Roberts]

No dispute on the the size of the coaches.

It raises the issue of loading gauges around the world which could apply just as well to a comparison between the South African 3' 6" and the New Zealand 3' 6".

The Ffestiniog loading gauge is based on its origens as a gravity/horse operation while the original Welsh Highland was slightly larger and the South African narrow gauge was larger still.

The Welsh Highland loading gauge was modified to allow the NGG16's to operate as part of their business plan

[Steve Appleton]

Indeed. Limited clearances. The swing-out seats could not be used, not so much because of H+S worrying about the crew falling off, but because of the danger to careless swung-out crew posed by the limited side clearances under bridges, etc. The vertical clearances were increased for the NGGs by lowering the trackbed under structures, but most of the horizontal restrictions remain.