Upnor Castle
For pictures of the recent Gear problem, please click here Gears
This locomotive was built as a 102hp FC Hibberd "Planet" 4wDM (Builder's number 3687 of 1954, Model SCN). It arrived from the Welshpool & Llanfair Light Railway on 12 February 1968 and was regauged from 2ft 6ins at Boston Lodge. It had been used up to early 1962 at the Royal Navy's Lodge Hill and Upnor Railway in Kent.
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 180hp 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. It has seen limited use on WHR passenger trains and extensive use on construction trains.
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 31st 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.
- Upnor Castle
Upnor Castle & Prince running round their train at Tanygrisiau 26? October 1980.
Upnor Castle being fueled in Minffordd Yard on Permanent way duty 18 April 1981
Upnor Castle exiting Minffordd Yard on P.way duty 18 April 1981
Upnor Castle awaits departure from Harbour Station 01 April 1983
Upnor Castle stabled on a siding at Rhyd Ddu on a WHR construction train, 2006
It should be noted that the FR has purchased a number of standard Gauge Hibberd locomotives for spare parts at various times. These have not come to the railway.
- Weaver, C Rodney. Festiniog Railway Locomotives. Leicester, England: AB Publishing. OCLC 59838875.
