VINTAGE WEEKEND 2002
A Matter of Utmost Gravity
This turned out to be a stunning event. There were wagons everywhere. 15 and 16, still pretty 'new', looked brilliant. The zoo car was green. There were wagons everywhere - behind passenger trains, behind flat-out England engines, hurtling down hills. Newly-liberated 154 was also newly painted and lettered. The gravity train actually ran by gravity - we stuck our tongues out at gradient change boards. Coal wagons looked as though they had coal in them. People had beards. All the staff (nearly all the staff - shame on those that weren't!) were dressed up Victorian style. There were wagons everywhere. People had beards. The line and the local area was busy. The sun even came out on Saturday!
There is much more to say, but it was very good. Very good!
Preparations immediately before the event present a story in itself. Here is a summary. The long-term preparations had begun years before with the work on wagons - again a story in itself.
A month before a very special type of provision was being made for the Victorian weekend - facial hair. I would post pictures of other people, but I only received those of me (and Mol)!
One gravity train ended up on the cob. Some empty wagons took part in the mixed train - proper FR vintage. On Sunday morning, we managed to do a run from the summit to the cob and ran past Tunnel North at speed. We passed a train at Rhiw Goch at speed too.
Who is this handsome devil again? This photo is from William High. Can I recommend his website - http://members.lycos.co.uk/vintageweekend/
Fine man. He also took this one, which shows the length of the train we had restored - on Tank Curve.
Here we are at Penrhyn Crossing. Look at the balanced expression on Jeremy's face!
Errrm, that will have to do for now, but I have numerous other photos and amusing tales to tell. Arf Arf.
We had shown our train off in true style! We managed to do this last week too - have a look at this page.
