5532

Above: 5532 at Ebbw Junction Shed, Newport, on 31st July 1939. (RHG Simpson)

Tank engines of the 2-6-2 wheel arrangement, known as 'Prairie' tanks, were first introduced by the Great Western Railway for branch and secondary line use in 1905. George Jackson Churchward introduced two tank classes that differed mainly in wheel size. The classes were the 44xx (with driving wheels of 4 foot 1 inch) and 45xx (with driving wheels of 4 foot 7½ inches). Some of the earliest engines in the class were built in Stafford Road Works Wolverhampton, as well as the main works at Swindon. The 45xx class was the last to be built at Wolverhampton.

Between 1927 and 1929, Charles Collett introduced a modified class with larger water tanks; the 4575 class. The class worked extensively in Wales and the West of England. One of the star turns of the class was hauling part of the Cambrian Coast Express to Pwllheli in the 1950s and 1960s, as well as parts of the Cornish Riviera Express. Despite their apparently small size, they were capable of good acceleration, and could haul passenger trains of up to 11 coaches.

Above: 5532 at Plymouth North Road during August 1959. (Keith Jones)

5532 was turned out from Swindon Works during June 1928 at a total cost of £3,602. After a few days running in at Reading, she was first allocated to Stourbridge Junction for duties in the West Midlands. Her next shed was Worcester. Later, whilst at Newport Ebbw Junction, 5532 was used to haul the Royal Train on 22nd October 1941. With classmate 5516, she hauled the train from Hereford to Monmouth Troy. Later the same day she hauled the Royal Train (with King George VI on board) from Monmouth Troy to Ross on Wye. She was based at a number of sheds in South Wales and South West England until being withdrawn in 1962. 5532 was also based at Oswestry for a short period in the Autumn of 1953.

5532 was withdrawn from service on 10th July 1962 from Laira, having travelled 705,111 miles in service. She was bought by Woodham Brothers Barry on 4th September 1962, and was to spend the next 20 years at Barry. She stayed there until 1982 when sold to the Dean Forest railway.

The Llangollen Railway Great Western Locomotive Group wanted to buy a Small Prairie tank from Barry in 1987, and from those that remained chose 5538. However, as this had a cracked cylinder, the group exchanged the frames and some other parts with 5532, as this was felt to be the most economic option. The numbers of engines are decided by their frames and therefore the Group became owners of 5532 when the exchange was made.

The Group bought a range of components over the years. They then helped build and pay for a part of the new engine shed, including an inspection pit. When the shed was ready, the frames were moved in during 1997, and restoration of the frames commenced. Additionally, the group bought connecting and coupling rods, paid for the repair and replacement of springs, contract work on the frames, and turning and reprofiling all the wheels. In all around £30,000 has been spent on restoration since the move into the shed.

Below: Cylinder Liners being fitted by Contractors from the Severn Valley. A complex £16,000 job requiring the use of Liquid Nitrogen (boiling point minus 196 deg C) a lot of care and thick gloves!

Photos - Charles Cooksley

Going in for cooling

Coming out cold (-196 deg C)

Installed

A quick inspection

Warming up and covered in frost

New Safety Valve

Photo: Brian Bristoll

4th May 2007 - Eccentric rods ordered in conjunction with 5539. Price about £6400. Delivery expected end June/early July

Above: A glimpse of the future. 5541 masquerades as 5532 in Llangollen yard to give the GWRLG a glimpse of what they are aiming for. (Charles Cooksley)

Left: During 1999, a visit by restored sister 5541 allowed 5532 to 'reappear' briefly on a service train, giving a taste of what is in store.

1) 5552 at the B&W

Boscarne Junction to Bodmin General

2) 5552 takes the grade (1 in 40)  From Bodmin Parkway up the hill towards Bodmin General

SHADOWS OF THE FUTURE

Pic 1 Left - 5532 frames (L) alongside 3802 frames 6th March 2004:

Pic 2 - finish painting the driving wheels before fitting 8th May 2005

Pic 3 -  Pony Truck finish painted and ready to be fitted.                             

Pic 4 - Front end of the frames.

Pic 5 - 5532 in Llangollen Shed lined up behind 5539 -16th April 2008

Photos:   George Jones & John Rutter

5532 in Llangollen Shed:      

Pic1  Left - New bunker fitted 6th March 2004:  

Pic 2 - New rear frame sections welded in and new cross member riveted in

Pic 3 - The locomotive has a new bunker and cab roof, the driving wheels are in position and the pony trucks and wheels are due to be fitted during 2008.

Pic4 -  Bunker newly painted 30th April 2007

All Photos John Rutter

A limited edition of 108, 00 gauge, GWR conflat container wagons

commissioned by the GWR Group

with the approval of the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod.

1947 was the First year of the International Eisteddfod and the Last year of the GWR.

The first passenger trains to Llangollen were run by the GWR in 1862. The railway carried passengers

for the Eisteddfod until the line was closed by British Railways in 1965.

Containers of this type were used by theatrical companies and shows to move staging and equipment around the country

The container shows the official International Eisteddfod logo and reads:

“Byd gwyn fydd Byd a Gano gwaraidd fydd ei gerddi fo.”

(Blessed is the world that sings: Gentle are its songs.)

The Group is producing further wagons with a Welsh railway theme;

THE 00 GAUGE EISTEDDFOD LIMITED EDITION WAGON is £12 plus £1.50 P+P

… or buy direct from our shop at Carrog

Contact: - Charles Cooksley

Llangollen Railway Great Western Locomotive Group

21 Allanson Road , Colwyn Bay LL28 4HN

Email charles@colwyn.plus.com for details. Phone 01492 548670

ALL Proceeds from sales in support of the restoration of GWR Loco No.5532.

Thank you for your support / Diolch am eich cymorth

LLANGOLLEN INTERNATIONAL MUSICAL EISTEDDFOD WAGON

Shed Allocations

Stourbridge Junction

STB

21st June 1928

Worcester

WOS

20th November 1934

Evesham

75 WOS

May 1935

Worcester

WOS

23rd November 1935

Evesham

75 WOS

July 1936

Worcester

WOS

22nd April 1937

Ebbw Junction, Newport

NPT

August 1937

Aberbeeg

ABEEG

14th May 1945

Pontypool Road

PPRD

October 1947

Pontypool Road

86G

1950

Aberbeeg

86G

July 1952

Oswestry

89A

November 1953

Bristol (Bath Road)

82A

December 1953

Swindon

82C

8th November 1958

Westbury

82D

14th May 1959

Laira (Plymouth)

83D

9th December 1959

Withdrawn

10th July 1962

Barry

1962

Dean Forest Railway

1982

Llangollen

1987

Principal Dimensions

Wheel arrangement

2-6-2T

Power classification

C / 4MT

Nominal tractive effort

21,250 lbs

Weight

61 tons

Wheel diameters

3'2", 4'7½", 3'2"

Cylinders

Two 17½" x 24"

Boiler pressure

200psi

Valve gear

Stephenson

Route Availability

Yellow

The Llangollen Railway GWR Loco Group

2859 and 5532 were bought from Barry in 1987 by the GWR loco group, who are undertaking their restorations. At present 5532 is the focus of attention, and resides in Llangollen shed; for the future the group has bought many thousand pounds' worth of parts for 2859 including complete sets of rods, back head cab fittings and so on.

You can help the group by becoming a shareholder in the locomotives - from £25 - which entitles you to a free trip on the first train hauled by either locomotive; a share certificate; photographs of both locomotives and free newsletters.

If you would like to know more about the group, or would like to help with restoration, either financially or physically, please get in touch:

Charles Cooksley

21 Allanson Road

Rhos On Sea

Colwyn Bay

Conwy

LL28 4HN

charles@colwyn.plus.com

The GWR Locomotive Group also has its own website.

Last updated 21st August 2008  by John Rutter- email webmaster

As of 23rd January, work completed in 2008 on 5532 by the Llangollen PLC and sub contractors amounts to £6,375.56 inc VAT.

• Sub contract work done, machining two rocking shafts, machining two hanging links, machining weighbar shaft. This work cannot be done by the PLC, hence the outside contractor. The work has been done at the same time as for 5539.
• Machining brake shaft bearings and fitting to frames
• Machining 4 Pony truck axleboxes
• Horn grinding and re assembly of Pony trucks and other work.

OTHER WAYS TO HELP

VOLUNTEERING.. Many thanks to all those members who have helped in the restoration work and the shop

DONATIONS .. Many thanks to all who donated railwayana, books, calendars etc for the shop .

We also accept Railway magazines, but not other magazines as they don’t sell.

SHARES … Available from £25 in 5532 .

Please contact me for details

Charles Cooksley - Secretary

Llangollen Railway Great Western Locomotive Group

21 Allanson Road

Colwyn Bay

LL28 4HN

At least three slate quarries began in the 1690s around Bwlch yr Oernant (Horseshoe Pass) above Llangollen. The present Berwyn Quarry (formerly Clogau) opened in 1690. This still produces large slabs for hearths, worktops, tombstones and billiard tables. Other quarries close by, such as Oernant and Moel y Faen, produced roofing slate and slabs from about 1696 to 1951.

 Originally the slate products were finished on site, but later trackways and the early road were used to transport materials. When the canal came to the Dee Valley slate was transported by track and road to Pentrefelin. In 1852 the Cornish engineer Henry Dennis built a 4 mile network of tramways to a gauge of 3 foot, which connected the various quarries around the Horse shoe Pass to the Pentrefelin Slab and Slate works. Wagons were horse drawn with some incline working. The old tramway is still clearly visible from the road.

The Pentrefelin works were water powered and operated from 1840s to 1920s. There were 8 planers, 3 circular saws and sand polisher, which was operated by a 18 foot by 4 foot water wheel.

The finished slate products were transported by canal and later by railway via an interchange siding..

After the tramway closed , slate was taken by lorry from the quarry to Llangollen station yard.

Later on the Pentrefelin sidings were used for passenger excursion traffic and now the site of Carriage & Wagon department

The Pentrefelin Slab and Slate wagon is a Limited Edition of 109 wagons

PRICE  £8  Plus £1.50 P+P or £2 for two wagons

TO ORDER   

Cheques payable to

LLANGOLLEN Railway GW Locomotive Group

Charles Cooksley

Llangollen Railway Great Western Locomotive Group

21 Allanson Road, Colwyn Bay LL28 4HN                          

Email charles@colwyn.plus.com for details.

Phone 01492 548670

Thank you for your support / Diolch am eich cymorth

PENTREFELIN SLAB and SLATE WORKS

LIMITED EDITION WAGON

One way you can help the group to fund the loco restoration

and pay for PLC and contract work is by buying our Limited Edition wagons AVAILABLE from our Carrog shop or by POST from:

Charles Cooksley

21 Allanson Road Colwyn Bay LL28 4HN           

charles@colwyn.plus.com

PLEASE MAKE CHEQUES Payable to

Llangollen Railway GW Locomotive Group

Postage and Packing £1.50 for one wagon and an extra 50p per wagon if more than one wagon is ordered.

Thank you for your support / Diolch am eich cymorth

ALSO  We have a range of railway uniforms

Including:

Body warmers

Long sleeve jumpers

Short sleeve jumpers

Full length mac

Overcoat

Zip front jacket

Guards jacket

Big range of ties and some shirts

ROYAL WELSH WHISKEY WAGON

.A Royal Welsh Whiskey Wagon

from Frongoch, near Bala.

again 00 gauge, limited edition.

This is produced by Dapol as a 5 plank wagon in brown with a coal load..

A Limited Edition of 103 wagons.. Again with a numbered text inside.

The distillery at Frongoch opened in 1889 and closed about 1909/10. Whisky was supplied across the UK and some was supplied to the then Prince of Wales, later King Edward VII. Some whiskey from the distillery went missing/ was liberated from wagons bound for a whisky firm in Aberdeen ! A long legal dispute ensued involving the GWR, North British, GNSR, the distillery, an agent, warehousemen and the Aberdeen company.

It is not certain whether the legal case was ever sorted.

Later the site and some of the buildings were used as an internment centre for participants in the Irish uprising of 1916...

The site is now a primary school.

LLANGOLLEN RAILWAY GREAT WESTERN LOCOMOTIVE GROUP

TIMBER MERCHANT 7 PLANK LIMITED EDITION WAGON

This is a limited edition of 109 wagons commissioned by the Group.

Price £9

The firm of William Coward & Co. was a long established timber company dating

from 1832 which remained in business, under different ownership, until 1984.

Their yard was off Regent  St (the A5 road) in Llangollen on a site later known as

Ashfield’s Sawmills, close to the Hand Hotel entrance. After the company closed

the site was developed as a small supermarket. Photos of the Goods Yard at

Llangollen show pictures of timber and timber carrying wagons  and this model

depicts a private owner wagon that might have existed around 1900-1910.

Further details of William Coward & Co are in the Llangollen Museum, including photos of their works and work force.

(Varieties of timber loads are available from specialist suppliers and we suggest the products of  Ten Commandments are considered, if an  alternative cargo is required.)

OUR OTHER LIMITED EDITION WAGONS available at the time of writing (July 2008) are:

Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod conflat container wagon @ £12

Pentrefelin Slab & Slate wagon @ £8

( Note : we have SOLD OUT of the Royal Welsh Whiskey wagon)

AVAILABLE from our Carrog shop or by POST from

Charles Cooksley 21 Allanson Road Colwyn Bay LL28 4HN           charles@colwyn.plus.com

PLEASE MAKE CHEQUES Payable to

Llangollen Railway GW Locomotive Group

Postage and Packing £1.50 for one wagon and an extra 50p per wagon if more than one wagon is ordered.

Thank you for your support / Diolch am eich cymorth