GORGEOUS! Brecon Mountain Railway, Wales, with Baldwin locomotives

Рет қаралды 5,652

Жыл бұрын

This video is a warm-up for my American adventure next month.
Father's Day!
A visit to the Brecon Mountain Railway near Merthyr Tydfil, South Wales - a two-foot narrow gauge railway which is proud of it's Baldwin-built American locomotives.
We ride behind (the stunningly beautiful!) locomotive number 2 which was built in 1930, and worked in South Africa up until it crashed in 1973.
Their other locomotive, number 1, was built in 1897 and previously had two owners in Brazil.
The railway are currently building another 2-6-2 locomotive and also a Forney type 2-4-4, - both from Baldwin design.
Join us on this scenic ride alongside a reservoir in the beautiful Brecons.
Brecon Mountain Railway website: www.bmr.wales/
** Coming soon! ** - "THE GRANDE TOUR"
In July 2023, I am solo traveling between Salt Lake City, Utah and Denver, Colorado, seeking out historic sites and preserved sections of the legendary Rio Grande railroad and more! Please join me by subscribing to the channel. It's going to be awesome!
Please SUBSCRIBE as there is so much to come! Model trains, real trains and fun stuff.
Every subscriber helps, so thank you every one of you.
For extra content find me on...
INSTAGRAM: @that.big.train.guy

Пікірлер: 69

@BMMEC6000 Жыл бұрын

Ah yes the Baldwin 2 foot Prairies. Beautiful little things. Wish there was one left in Maine (where they mostly ran)

@ThatBIGTRAINGuy Жыл бұрын

That would be nice. They are lovely engines!

@STEVEHARLEY1956 9 ай бұрын

Looked a great trip !! 🚂👍😁

@ThatBIGTRAINGuy 9 ай бұрын

I loved it. It's a great visit!

@Tombola1993 11 ай бұрын

I’m love that railway so much. We’re lucky to have two American tender locomotives in Wales.

@ThatBIGTRAINGuy 11 ай бұрын

Very lucky indeed. It's such a lovely railway!

@Tombola1993 11 ай бұрын

@@ThatBIGTRAINGuy Yes indeed. I know the Ffestiniog railway in North Wales has an American narrow gauge engine called the Baldwin 10-12d.

@ThatBIGTRAINGuy Жыл бұрын

Yes, I read the full description 😂 Awesome video. Impressive that you managed to catch the stars too. I really had FOMO when this event was on as there was so much special stuff happening. Oh well, visiting the line last week was special enough. Cheers!

@allanegleston4931 Жыл бұрын

lovely . she sounds like me when i wake up.

@ThatBIGTRAINGuy Жыл бұрын

Haha!!! Nice 😂

@TheKruizr Жыл бұрын

Looks like a fun ride! 🙂👍

@ThatBIGTRAINGuy Жыл бұрын

It was great!

@usarailfanblackburn9183 Жыл бұрын

Great footage and views! Hope you enjoy your trip to the USA.

@ThatBIGTRAINGuy Жыл бұрын

Thanks very much!

@steveknoblock5785 Жыл бұрын

Awesome footage Simon, I also love these Baldwin locos. Will be looking out for your adventures in the states. Cheers mate, Knobby

@ThatBIGTRAINGuy Жыл бұрын

Thanks very much. Cheers Knobby!

@wolfgangpfeilergartenbahnd6530 Жыл бұрын

Hello Simon, a fantastic Father's Day video from Wales. Very interesting that a Baldwin locomotive is in service on this line. A very nice train ride, it's a great landscape. Thank you for showing. I wish you a safe journey to the USA and all the best. Greetings to all. Wolfgang

@ThatBIGTRAINGuy Жыл бұрын

It's a lovely and interesting railway. Thank you Wolfgang! Greetings. Simon

@Terrys-Steam-and-Cobi Жыл бұрын

Awesome video Simon. I watched every minute. Enjoyed your mum trying to not be on camera near the beginning. My Roundhouse Sandy River & Rangeley Lakes is a model of a 2 foot gauge loco built by Baldwin and very very like number 2 in your video (though I cheat and run it on 45 mm gauge track instead of 32). One difference is that number 2 has a belpaire firebox. I do love the sound of the injector! I liked seeing the kids on the foot bridge. I’m glad you didn’t tear yer pants. ☺️

@ThatBIGTRAINGuy Жыл бұрын

Haha! Yes, my pants were unharmed. Yeah, I fancied the Roundhouse model more now. I set up an ebay notifier after I got home 😂. (I doubt I'll go for one any time soon really). I've tried to keep up with your videos, but I've been busy packing and last minute checks this week. Heading to London tomorrow morning! Cheers Terry!

@Terrys-Steam-and-Cobi Жыл бұрын

@@ThatBIGTRAINGuy ditto. I am behind on those that I follow too. I was late watching yours. We are packing up our house.

@growclipbonsaiforseniors1951 Жыл бұрын

Great ride. Cool locomotives. I can’t wait to see your videos here in the U.S.A. Superb camera work.

@ThatBIGTRAINGuy Жыл бұрын

Thank you, I'm really glad. I'm currently on Day 5 of American adventures. 👍

@royfearn4345 Жыл бұрын

I never knew this American-style line existed so thank you for the introduction. Nice editing. Looking forward to your US VIDEOS.

@ThatBIGTRAINGuy Жыл бұрын

I came to know of it thanks to Michael Portillo a year or so ago. I couldn't believe there were Baldwin locomotives so local to me! A very worthwhile visit. Thanks very much!

@pinchy08 Жыл бұрын

Glad to know you’re also coming to the US. In Southern Colorado you’ll find the Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, and the Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railway. Salt Lake City is were you might run into Dale and Karyn of Toy Man Television.

@ThatBIGTRAINGuy Жыл бұрын

This will be my fourth visit to D&S, and my third to the C&T. Southern Colorado is my spiritual home. I love it.

@Lynxfan2 Жыл бұрын

Hello there Simon, this is a GREAT video! I went to the Brecon Mountain Railway when I was a young boy and they were only running for two miles between Pant and Pontsticill. The train was steam hauled by German Arn Jung built 0-6-2WTT 'Graf Schwerin-Löwitz'. A minor correction for your otherwise excellent video is the fact that the railway is 5 miles long from Pant to Torpantau.

@ThatBIGTRAINGuy Жыл бұрын

Thank you very much. It's a lovely line. And I love the Baldwin locomotives. Thanks for the comment on mileage. I can't remember what I said without watching, but I do remember thinking "Oh, was that right?" when I watched it after publishing 😂 Thank you.

@arthurmatthews9321 Жыл бұрын

No 2 is definitely an American loco , the bogie tender, cow catcher and big headlight. The only thing missing is the spark arrester chimney.

@ThatBIGTRAINGuy Жыл бұрын

Yep, that would certainly add some character.

@BecsterDotCom 3 ай бұрын

Whilst I’m eagerly awaiting the rest of your American trip video I thought I’d watch this one. Isn’t it a wonderful little railway? I would love to see them extend the line through Torpantau Tunnel. But alas I don’t see it happening as the next station seems to be miles away. You got absolutely fantastic footage riding right behind the engine as well. Did you get to go on the footplate? I was invited on the runaround at Torpantau - I completely abandoned the kids and went for it! Wasn’t allowed to include in my vid though so shhh. I’d definitely go back to visit them again. Very friendly people and the new GM is character as well. Interesting comment about “torpantau” sounding like a trouser break in Spanish. In Welsh the word for “to break” is “torri” so actually you’re not far off! Well halfway there… pantau is not Welsh for pants!

@dennisfillhart88 Жыл бұрын

#2 is amazing! It looks better than new. They really did a great job on it and doing a great job taking care of it. Wish I could meet you in Colorado but Pennsylvania is a ways off for me but have a wonderful trip.

@ThatBIGTRAINGuy Жыл бұрын

Yep, top work indeed. Aww, thank you. There are some good railroads up Pennsylvania way, right? This will be my sixth visit to the US, but there is still so much I haven't seen.

@rivergladesgardenrailroad8834 Жыл бұрын

very very nice Si

@ThatBIGTRAINGuy Жыл бұрын

Thank you!

@richardbroadwell7990 Жыл бұрын

Simon ... when you get to Denver make sure you do not miss visiting the RR museum, both inside and outside od course, on the outskirts of Denver proper. Excellent museum. Presume you will return to Durango. Cheers, Dr. Ric, Williamsburg, Virginia, USA

@ThatBIGTRAINGuy Жыл бұрын

The Colorado Railroad Museum is definitely in my plan, as is Durango of course. I couldn't not visit Durango. It's going to be an awesome trip! Cheers!

@ChristopherBrown-mq1lg Жыл бұрын

Great video ! Looks like a great time ! Will you be riding the Cumbres and Toltec on your trip to the states? The yard at Chama, New Mexico is full of equipment.

@ThatBIGTRAINGuy Жыл бұрын

Thank you! Oh yes. This will be my third time riding the C&T. I am staying a night in Chama, just to have a look around. Then driving to Antonito (no trains running as it's a Monday, so I'll view the railroad itself where I can), then I'm staying two nights in Indiana Jones' house while I ride the C&T (morning bus to Chama and train back). I'm making the most of it 👍

@pinchy08 Жыл бұрын

I had no idea UK had a railroad with American style steam engines. Especially in Wales. Brilliant eh?

@ThatBIGTRAINGuy Жыл бұрын

It's great. The owner of this railway is a fan of American narrow gauge. Apart from these, I know we have some Baldwin S-160 types (three I think) in the country. I fired one a few years ago when it visited the West Somerset Railway. All the engine crews hated it as it was such high maintenence, but I found it to be GREAT fun 😁

@ThatBIGTRAINGuy Жыл бұрын

The S-160s are leftovers from WW2. Many were sent over to Europe to help in the war.

@richardbroadwell7990 Жыл бұрын

Simon ... Dr. Ric, Williamsburg, Virginia, USA, back to you. Neglected to ask if your previous USA train travels/visits ever included the US narow gauge run between Chama, New Mexico, and Antonito, Colorado? Largely K36 engines, dual state supported along with personal conributions. The rail yard, engines, cars, etc. are exceptional as is the lengthy run between the two states. Neither end of the line is impressive, but the ride, yard, engines, cars, etc. are truely not to be missed and are not commercial as is the Durango-Silverton offering. But ... the latter remains my preference because of K28 engine, roundhouse, museum, offerings for shoping, eating and overnite accomodations in both Durango and Silverton. Do hope your soon-to-be visit is all you expect. Cheers, R.

@ThatBIGTRAINGuy Жыл бұрын

Hi Dr Ric! Yes indeed. My first taste of ANYTHING Rio Grande was riding from Antonito behind K-27 number 463, back in 1998. We did it in the other direction in 2006. So this time will be my 3rd time on the C&T. I'm staying a night in Chama first, planning to see the train arrive and have a wonder around. Then next day is a Monday so no trains running, but more chance to look around and I will be driving to Antonito and having a look at parts of the railroad itself along the way. Then I'm staying two nights in Antonito where I will get the morning bus back to Chama and ride the train to Antonito. It's going to be fun! This will be my FOURTH time of the D&S as I did it with two friends in 2016. I have videos of my previous trips and I hoped to have all my past footage up by now, but various things have gotten in the way. So it will have to wait. Cheers! Simon

@mohawkvalleyrailroad Жыл бұрын

Just returned from a trip on the Rocky Mountaineer from Denver to Moab. I can only describe it as spectacular and worth every penny.

@ThatBIGTRAINGuy Жыл бұрын

Wow, that is awesome! I'd love to do that. My original plan was to do the California Zephyr from Chicago to San Francisco (which covers the same route... almost) but my trip would have been waaaay too long. Next time 🤞

@martingliddon3085 Жыл бұрын

@@ThatBIGTRAINGuy …and it always runs late. When we travelled on the RM, the Zephyr was running over 5 hours late out of Denver. It was stopped so we could get past it!!! Riding the Rocky Mountaineer is something else and well worth the money. The service from their staff is unbelievable.

@ThatBIGTRAINGuy Жыл бұрын

@@martingliddon3085 Haha! Really? Premium trains first 🤣. Perhaps I should do Zephyr to Denver, Rocky Mountaineer, then pick up the Zephyr again to finish. Thanks for your input! (I have to get this July trip done first before I can start planning / saving for the next).

@martingliddon3085 Жыл бұрын

@@ThatBIGTRAINGuy I would plan that you get to Denver at least a day before the Rocky Mountaineer leaves…just to be on the safe side 😂

@ThatBIGTRAINGuy Жыл бұрын

@@martingliddon3085 Haha! Noted 😉

@davidwhite1864 Жыл бұрын

Number 2 in Pant.Not usually a good thing but in this case brilliant.I didnt know about this place.Well worth a visit.Thanks Simon. I didnt see any gnomes though🤔

@ThatBIGTRAINGuy Жыл бұрын

That's my humour. Why didn't I think of that??? 🤣 I've known of the railway for a long time as we rode it near 20 years ago, but they had typical Welsh engines then. It was thanks to Micheal Portillo that I discovered they had Baldwins. You may not see them, but gnomes are always there. 😉 Cheers David!

@davidwhite1864 Жыл бұрын

Oh yes always there you dont have to tell me about it.Always there🥴🤣

@ThatBIGTRAINGuy Жыл бұрын

@@davidwhite1864 🤫😂

@paulfranklin8636 Жыл бұрын

Not "just outside Merthyr Tydfil" Pant is part of Merthyr. The "Brecon" Mountian Railway goes nowhere near Brecon. Oh the reservoir is pronounced Pon-stick-ith. Given your claim to be the "Big Train Guy" I'm surprised you didn't go down into Merthyr itself to take a look in Cyfarthfa Musuem at the Richard Trevithicks exhibits showing the first steam powered locomotive to actually run, there's plent to of information about it around the town

@ThatBIGTRAINGuy 10 ай бұрын

Weeeell, OK. But if you put Merthyr Tydfil into Google Maps it draws a line around it's perimeter, which excludes Pant. People have different feelings about one place being part of another; any area in London someone would probably quite happily say the live in London, but refer to someone who lives in Wolverhampton and being in Birmingham they'll probably get angry with you. I never said the Brecon Mauntain Railway goes to Brecon. I pronounced the reservoir as close as I could to what I heard over the PA system on the train (which wasn't clear). If you'd like to hear more of me speaking Welsh names, please see my Snowdon Mountain Railway video 😉 I AM 'That BIG TRAIN Guy' due to have large scale model trains. I was visiting with my parents, and had about a two hour drive to Pant and back, so we didn't look to do anything else while visiting. That's for another time. Cheers! Happy days 😊

@retr0bits545 Жыл бұрын

The only thing I am sad about is that there aren’t any knuckle couplers on it?! Like why wouldn’t you have knuckle couplers on an American locomotive?

@ThatBIGTRAINGuy Жыл бұрын

Yeah, I'm not sure what the engines would have had in Brazil and South Africa before coming here. I tried to look up what coupler type these are but I could find a specific example. They seem to be a variation of 'Norweigian' type couplers. Unusual (I think) that they have that linking plate, a completely removable part that links them together. I noticed that when uncoupled they hooked the coupler on the side behind the cab steps. Weird!

@kenshores9900 Жыл бұрын

Sorry I saw the air brake lines. 😊

@kenshores9900 Жыл бұрын

Sorry for being a revit counter!

@kenshores9900 Жыл бұрын

I went on a business trip to Pembroke several years ago. It is a beautiful country. I assure you most of my career consisted of visit back water locations. I worked at a number of interesting assignments from chemicals and plastic, nuclear, and refining. I am trying to travel with my wife and visit Ireland and Wales. Rail on my friend. Sorry for being a putz!

@ThatBIGTRAINGuy Жыл бұрын

Haha! Definitely have brake lines.

@ThatBIGTRAINGuy Жыл бұрын

@@kenshores9900 Visiting back water places will often be a bit boring I imagine, but also will find some hidden gems. Visiting Wales and Ireland sounds great! I am yet to get over to Ireland myself. I really want to.

@ratrod47 4 ай бұрын

Beautiful engine ! interesting video , I am a 2 foot gauge Maine fan. Suggestion for you do without the annoying drum beat or whatever that is in the video. Subscribed and following.

@ThatBIGTRAINGuy 4 ай бұрын

Thank you. Yeah maybe I'll visit Maine one day. I know the sound you mean, and it is annoying, I agree. If you want to turn it down, you'll have to speak to the crew who take care of the locomotive, as that is the compressor ticking/puffing away. I wonder if they could put a muffler of some kind on there. This video was a warm-up to my US trip, dubbed "The Grande Tour". Thanks for subscribing, I hope you enjoy my other videos! /Simon

@kenshores9900 Жыл бұрын

Link and chain couplers and no air brakes? Interesting. And 2 foot gauge to boot. Interesting looks like a fun ride. Where is it located in Wales. I realize Wales is not line Texas and is some what small though quit beautiful. What boiler code do they use in the UK? Besides being a train geek I designed safer systems for pressure vessels, as well as atmospheric vessels. It was good that you did this with you dad and your mom on Father’s day.

@ThatBIGTRAINGuy Жыл бұрын

It looks like a variation of 'Norweigian' style couplers but instead of a flop-over hook it has a plate which goes between and a pin put through on either side. You get a clear shot in the video. It's about 40 minutes North of Cardiff, just by Merthyr Tydfil.