Ffestiniog Railway 'Upnor Castle'

Upnor Castle is a medium sized diesel locomotive in use on the Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland Railways.

History

1954-68: Origins

This locomotive was built as a 102 hp F. C. Hibberd & Co. "Planet" 4wDM (Builder's number 3687 of 1954, Model SCN). It was used up to early 1962 at the Royal Navy's Lodge Hill and Upnor (Chattenden and Upnor) Railway in Kent. It arrived on the FR from the Welshpool & Llanfair Light Railway on 12 February 1968 and was regauged from 2 ft 6ins at Boston Lodge.

Although not named at Upnor, its present name was given when it went to the W&LLR. In 1986 there was a plan to rename it Harlech Castle and plates were actually made  but in the end they were fitted instead to the new Baguley that now carries them.

1968-2010: On the FR and WHR(C)

This locomotive was the first diesel on the FR able to haul anything like a normal service train. In 1971 it received a Gardner 6LW engine at the same time as the wheelbase was extended to improve its ride. It was later upgraded to a 180 hp Gardner 6LX.

Engine noise within the cab proved to be unacceptable (hence its nickname of Uproar), so when a similar locomotive Conway Castle, was obtained in 1981, it was completely rebuilt to deal with this problem. There have been proposals to rebuild Upnor Castle in similar fashion but it was transferred to the WHR(C) in 1997 after being fitted with a reconditioned engine. Since then it saw limited use on WHR passenger trains and extensive use on construction trains.

2010 gear problem

In 2010 Upnor Castle was returned to FR metals for maintenance by Boston Lodge, due its gearbox being stuck in 4th gear.

After investigation it was decided to replace the gearbox from one of the ones the FR acquired many years ago. The rebuild included a complete re-wire, and a repaint. It was used as pilot loco at Porthmadog for the Phase 4 track layers train on October 31, 2010.

After 2010

Unfortunately the fluid flywheel was also found faulty, and Upnor remained awaiting works attention during the winter of 2010/11. Time was found in the spring to rectify the fault, and Upnor was being used as works and main line shunter by July 2011. During 2013 Upnor's gear box required further attention including new parts which have now allowed it to engage 4th gear with work also done on air seals, and in 2014 was back in service. On 18 July 2020 it hauled one of the first passenger trains to Tan y Bwlch following the Covid-19 related suspension of passenger services.

Gallery