FFROS Y FRAN OPEN CAST SITE - THE FIRST TRAIN

[martyn williams]

This is the first 1500 ton train to be loaded at the forrmer Cwn Bargoed disposal point.The train arrives 25 minutes early and was loaded pretty fast for its loaded return to Aberthaw powerstation.
There are two trains run at present but there will be five trains per day when up to full production.
The trains are pulled by a 3200 HP V12 GM engined class 66 locomotive.

[martyn williams]

The loading starts
When the train arrives at the powerstation it can be unloaded in 25 minutes depending if the conveyors can cope.Its about a 40 mile trip from the loading point to the powerstation.

[John Gaunt]

Great photographs, Martyn. Interesting information as well.
I was looking for FFROS Y FRAN on my mapping software (Autoroute), but can't find it, what is the nearest village or town ?
What's the model of CAT loader, looks smaller than a 992....I'm surprised they use wheel loaders rather that some form of bulk conveyor to load the trains, even a 992 with, I guess a 15 tonne payload would take 100 passes to load one train.

[SRB]

Ffos-y-fran is just outside myther tydfill, if you look for the Bogey road, the site is to the north of this road (actually sort of cuts through the site).

The machine is a 980H, 980's aare used quite a lot to load trains, Scottish coal, EMR and Kier to name a couple off top of head.

Fitted with custom made coal buckets that are around 9m3.

SB

[martyn williams]

Caterpillar 966 loaders are used to load trains at Newport docks and Onllwyn washery ( Celtic energy) in the Neath valley. The Ffros-y Fran site is 400 metres above sea level so the train brakes have got to be in tiptop condition on the decent down the valley with a loaded train.
When I get the date for the ACMOC visit to K J Services I will post it on this.The open cast is only 3 miles away so will try to arrange a visit there.
Martyn

[martyn williams]

This is the place where I am based, just put 1000 gallons of diesel into this locomotive.Will keep it going for four days!

[John Gaunt]

I'm pleased I don't have to foot that bill !
By the way, Martyn, do they use red or white diesel in the railway engines ?
P.S. I will almost certainly join your ACMOC visit to K J Services.

[tone_rmz250]

do trains have to run on red diesel or white?

[martyn williams]

They run on red diesel, we have used 18,000,000 ltrs of fuel at this fuel point in 4 years.Our record is 43,000 ltrs into 20 locos in 24 hours.We have a faster turn around than Wiiliams racing team!

[Nick Drew]

They run on red diesel, we have used 18,000,000 ltrs of fuel at this fuel point in 4 years.Our record is 43,000 ltrs into 20 locos in 24 hours.We have a faster turn around than Wiiliams racing team!

That is Amazing Martyn !!!!

I used to Load/unload stone from those EWS trains during my Roadrailer operating days, I always used to find it quite daunting when the trains used to crawl past me whilst I was sat in the Case 988 superailer Some awesome pulling power in those engines


Nick