Monster On The Festiniog Railway 2010

Monster is a 2ft gauge skip wagon fitted with a 15bhp, 1500cc Enfiled diesel twin engine and Lister Autotruck bodywork. It was Built during the 70's on the Festiniog Railway by the North Staffordshire Group in 1974 utilising a skip frame, incorporating parts of a Lister Road Truck from Crewe Railway Workshops and an Enfield marine engine.

Finished on the railway by May of that year. The little locomotive was intended for use on the Deviation at Ddualt but proved to be not very suitable. With the acquisition of a replacement Lister locomotive, Sludge, in mind, it was sold to Rich Morris of Blaenau Ffestiniog, departing on 2 May 1976. It was later exhibited at the Gloddfa Ganol Narrow Gauge Railway Museum at Oakeley Quarry.

Following the closure of Gloddfa Ganol, Monster was reacquired for the FR in 1998.

A small group of volunteers started restoration in the summer of 2007 when the loco was moved to Boston Lodge by Britomart.

As of August 2007 the clutch and gearbox assembly have been overhauled as well as the brakes, chassis and some other minor cosmetic work. The TA Royal Engineers then steped in to restore the engine, and it was seen operating, at the end of their visit.

Many people have the described the loco as both useless and dangerous which gives extra incentive to use it.

Monster will be running during May bank holiday of 2010 during the Festiniog Railway's Quirks and Curiosity's weekend along with other unusual bits of kit not normally seen. Details will be posted at http://www.ffestiniograilway.co.uk/specialevents.asp?dismode=article&arti...

For more info on the Monster visit http://www.frheritage.org.uk/wiki/Monster

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• monster
• festiniog
• railway
• ffestiniog
• enfiled
• twin
• lister
• autotruck
• hudson
• diesel

[indianhill]

Great just for the sound too!!!!



[TDUCruise]

@NJPurling The Ffestiniog was special designed so trains can run downhill and slow down for Portmadog without crashing. Its how every downhill tains was run in the early years

[fg46]

@blindpugh12: Probably the first aid kit :-)

[NJPurling]

It looks like there is absolutely no braking at all but that given by the engine!

Is that right? If you were taking a train of spoil wagons downhill you would have no control of the train, it would control you.

You would have no choice but to jump off in the event of a runaway.

With today's Health & Safety obsession it is hard to conceive running works trains with such a locomotive. The acceleration light engine makes it appear a full-time job of holding on.

[blindpugh12]

Why does the driver carry a handbag?