A busy and challenging day at Apedale. Avonside “Ogwen” made its 2024 season debut on the passenger train. Meanwhile, down at the sheds, something stirred. We have two coaches which were formerly on the Ffestiniog Railway. Number 117 has been in traffic for some time. FR120 has been worked on intermittently for some years; there’s now a push to get the project completed. Whereas FR117 was a fairly straightforward project, FR120 has been a much bigger challenge. It has been provided with a Guard’s compartment and can accept wheelchairs through a specially widened door.
For the first time, FR120 was coupled to FR117 and the air system put through a test programme. There’s a few leaks, but the system basically works as expected. To check overthrows and couplers, the two coaches were then coupled to form the Blaenau Flyer, and a test train was run down to Apedale Road and back – the first time FR120 has ever been there. Perhaps appropriately, it was raining by the time we got to Apedale Road. But otherwise, the journey was straightforward and undramatic. Nothing untoward happened, although at least one passenger asked to be dropped off at Minffordd, please.
