Tideway Tunnelling Locomotives

Locomotive number 2 in the shed at Boston Lodge 02/07/24

The Tideway Tunnelling Locomotives are two battery electric locomotives on the Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland Railways. They are intended for use as works shunters.

History

Background

In 2023 the F&WHR was made aware of two 20 tonne 4wBE (4 wheel Battery Electric) locomotives from the Thames Tideway Scheme that had become available for sale. These would have exceeded the F&WHR 8 ton axle limit and were already sold when F&WHR raised an enquiry. However, the next week two Clayton 14 tonne 4wBE locomotives became available from the same source and these were acquired by the F&WHR. They cost £12,000 + shipping and were driven to the bottom of the shaft under their own power. The lot consisted of two 9 tonne locomotives, six 5 tonne battery packs, four hi-power battery charging sets, two locomotive axles (plus miscellaneous spares).

They are regaugable from 610 mm to 750 mm, and will need to be adapted to the F&WHR gauge of (1ft 11½") 597 mm. It is hoped that the locomotives could become works shunters and reduce the need for the railway to use diesels in this role, thus reducing the fuel bill and carbon emissions.

There are two similar ex-tunnelling Clayton locomotives on the South Tynedale Railway (610mm). These 15 tonne locomotives were used for underground track replacement for TfL. They have 75hp power on each axle.

Controls of locomotive number 2

Commissioning for FfWHR service

Two of the battery packs were sent to Northern Industrial Battery Services for an overhaul, the rest (four) will follow. A new lower power charger has been bought. The chargers bought with the locomotives took too much power for the existing cabling at Boston Lodge. A battery has been charged and "Loco 2" has been checked to be functional. Standard Clayton charging is three phase.

The locomotives were delivered with two spare axles, these been regauged to 597 mm and swapped with those on "Loco 2". Loco 2 just happened to be nearer the shed door, in front of Loco 1. Loco 2 can be identified by the large blue 2 painted on the side of the cab.

Locomotive number 2 was in action moving other locomotives around the yard at Boston Lodge in early July 2024.