THE TWO FOOTERS                     

“2003 Convention – Mission Accomplished”

 (Click on any picture to enlarge)

Group Photo at the Doe River Gorge Railroad

The 2003 Two Foot Convention was a great success!  From the Mountain Railroads of North Carolina to the hospitality and beauty of Virginia, the group of well over forty truly enjoyed the convention.  The trip even provided a lesson on ingenuity with the stop at the Backyard Hill-Climber Railroad.  Many hours were spent on the long ride south, but we came home with many moments to cherish and to remember.  In the next few issues of the newsletter, we will describe in more detail, and of course with pictures, our visit to these beautiful railroads. 

Tweetsie Railroad

Doe River Gorge Railroad

Backyard Hill-Climber Railroad

Goose Creek Railroad

Continuing from May/June Issue…

LOCOMOTIVES.

Up until November 2002 there have been 9 locomotives of various forms based on the East Hayling Light Railway, although, not all ran in public service.  

Our first two locomotives were obtained from Redlands Brickyard at Hambledon Surrey both being built by Motor Rail of Bedford Ltd to their Simplex design, which originated during the First World War. These locos being used to power supply trains for the troops in the trenches, after the war these locos where in great demand for industrial use and further examples where built to the same basic design until the early 1990’s.  One of our two machines was later used in part exchange for our main passenger engine “Jack”.

At present there are 3 locomotives based on the E.H.L.R., with one under construction. Details of each are given below.

Current fleet.

“Jack”, the first engine used in passenger service. Built in 1988 by Alan Keef Ltd works no.xx a steam outline 0-4-0 diesel hydraulic powered by a 2 litre Ford Transit engine. Currently due for a repaint and will once again wear a smart red livery.
 

“Alan B” Motorail No 7199 of 1937, the remaining loco from Redlands Brickyard (its sister loco “Ivor Bigun” having passed back into industrial use via Alan Keef Ltd).  Now fitted with a Gardener diesel engine from a dumper truck.  Restored over many years at Mill Ruth to the condition it is in today, fitted with air brakes to enable its use on passenger trains.  It carries a blue and white livery bearing the name of Ibstock Ltd. one of the railways supporters.

“Alister”, built in 1941 by Ruston & Hornsby of Lincoln works no xxxxx, obtained from the Gartell Light Railway near Templecombe in Somerset.  Awaiting some minor works and the fitting of air brakes to enable her to work passenger trains.  Currently wearing the standard Ruston green livery.

“Bill” 0-4-0.S.T. many parts have been made for this locomotive including  traditionally riveted main frames, work currently suspended to enable all efforts to be centered on the sea front railway.

Visiting Locos.

For the construction of the railway at Mill Rythe in 1988, Henry Frampton Jones loaned us his Motor Rail Simplex Loco no 8756 a 20/28hp machine which was painted yellow and left us soon after the line was built.

In 1992, The Hampshire Narrow Gauge Railway Society was forced to leave their site at Durley and brought 3 engines to Mill Rythe.  The first being “Wendy”, an 0-4-0.ST built by Bagnalls in 1919 and two more Motor Rail Simplexs “Brambridge Hall” works no 4724 of 1931 and “Agwi Pet” works no 8226 of 1939.  ”Wendy” left the line after one season and the two Simplex’s departed soon after.

ROLLING STOCK.

Our current passenger fleet comprises of four fully air braked 4-wheeled coaches all built on Hayling Island at Mill Rythe, a 4-wheeled van, together with one bogie vehicle used as a mobile booking office and waiting room.

All 4-wheeled coaches are approximately 12ft. long, by 5ft. wide with an internal height of 6ft.
No. 4 built 1992, a fully glazed saloon with offset doors and upholstered seats.
No. 5 built 1995, glazed saloon with balcony end with upholstered and slat seats.
No. 6 built 1995, glazed saloon with balcony end plain slatted seats throughout.
No. 7.built 1997, a flat sided vehicle (No’s 4 to 6 being curved below the waistline). With central doors to allow access for standard wheelchairs.  Two of which can be accommodated by diagonally opposite tip up seats.
No. 8 originally built 1992 as the “Tram” using cabs, motors and control gear from milk floats, never ran in passenger service due to problems fitting a satisfactory braking system.  Rebuilt 1998 in a locomotive hauled coach.  Which was rebuilt once again in 2001 into a mobile ticket office and waiting room for use at Eastoke.
No. 9. A 4-wheeled van built 19xx used as a tool van, it’s future is undecided it may become another mobile ticket office or be fitted as a guard’s van.

At present there are in store awaiting fitting with new bodies, 4 twenty foot long bogie under frames which will become vehicles no’s 10-13.  In order to built these vehicles we have had to submit plans and seek dispensation with regards to parts of the Mobility Accessibility Regulations 1998.  These where granted on the 7th of March 2002, the first such exemptions to any leisure railway. When built these vehicles will be able to carry disabled passengers, it just we don’t have to fit push button power doors and many other unnecessary fittings.

Coaches No’s 1 to 3 are now part of our history, but their numbers may be reused in time.
No. 1, was our first attempt at coach building using a 4-wheel under frame, bed angle iron, and a church hall door!  Started in 1987, never completed but in use as the base of  open freight wagon.
No. 2, a bogie coach fitted with a toast rack body the under frame being ex Butlin’s loaned to us by Henry Frampton Jones, this was the first vehicle used in passenger service on 08/08/1988 and ran for about ten years until being transferred to a line in Derbyshire.
No. 3, another bogie coach brought to the line by the Hampshire Narrow Gauge Railway Society from Durley. Originally built for the Ramsgate Tunnel Railway and is being rebuilt at Durley following a fire. Ran for several years having doors and a new roof fitted by us to replace one blown off in a storm.

A small fleet of freight/works vehicles exists comprising of tippers, and flat wagons and may increase or decrease subject to our operating requirements. 

In a previous issue, we described the start of the Shady Creek Railroad.  Here is how Pete was able to place a railroad on an island.

We took the entire day and evening to; make a barge, float loco over, move 550 feet over 2 wooden sections of portable track through hand built walking trails up to the site and into the engine house. We just kept moving the track a head 18' at a time (2x9' sections) and shoving the track sideways to negotiate the winding path.  I think we must have leap froged the same wood 30x to get us up the hill to the railroad area!  It was a lot of blocking and carrying of materials to just move 2 engine lengths at a time. She only kicked the 3x3 hardwood rail out 2x where we had to jack her back on the tracks from the steeper incline. She has lots of power, the grade at one point was challenging but with some chains and blocks we managed to keep it on the trail and track.  We estimate the loco weighs 1,800 lbs.  When we put it on and took it off we bolted on another section of rail just to ensure we had solid footing on shore, then went to this jigsaw puzzle track to get up to the new home. Surprisingly 3-13 foot boats handled just over 3,000 lbs total load easily, the wind picked up and made our 20 hp motor useless though, good thing the photographer was close by with a much larger boat and we had lots of freeboard on the stern!  You can see the boathouse on the far shore where we left from, about a mile crossing.

Note the temporary rail going into the engine shed.  We plan to put 30lb in once we get the turntable fitted. this winter that all has to be built, taken apart, boated in, then reassembled on site so in the interim we will tread over the original 16lb that is well rusted relay and ready for its last use as siding rail off into a gravel pit.  Next move is to put the 3-way switch in place to form the short double ended siding and give access to the engine shed. This winter we will build more rolling stock then repeat the barge journey again. 

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The Two Footers
534 Armory Road
St. Marys, PA  15857

 tpbauer@alltel.net

or

tom@thetwofooters.com

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