Losing the Drone at the Opening of the Vale of Rheidol Railway's New Museum

Hello everyone,
Today Lozz and Lawrie got invited to the opening of the New Museum at the Vale of Rheidol Railway, which is well worth checking out as it houses some items from the infamous Collection X. To try and make a good video Lawrie decided to fly his drone alongside the train, and that went as well as you'd expect.
If you want more information on the Vale of Rheidol Railway, check out their website here: www.rheidolrailway.co.uk
Or follow them on Facebook here: / rheidolrailway
A massive thank you to the railway for inviting LMM to the grand opening, it was a real pleasure.
A video featuring,
Lawrie - Presenter, quality drone flying.
Lozz - Cameraman, despairing at Lawrie.
A video edited by Lawrie
Want more info on us and the stuff in The Shed, or want to get in contact? Check out our Website!
lawriesmechani...
Fancy supporting us on Patreon and receiving extra bits of LMM? Have a look at our Patreon here:
/ lawriesmechanicalmarvels
Get more of what we're up to with Instagram! - / lawries_mechanical_mar...
Want to some LMM Merch? Check out our teespring store!
teespring.com/...
Chat with us and other like minded people on our discord - / discord
Follow us for video alerts and other updates on Facebook - / lawriesmechanicalmarvels

[@TheLNERbuff]

Fun fact : the duke dog here is the only survivor of its class & the boggie on the front is actually from a city class!

[@lmm]

It's a great looking thing too

[@neil0081]

You need to thank whoever allowed placing the cameras on the locomotive. That was incredible!

[@emmajacobs5575]

I’m guessing that was done in return for letting the railway use the footage.

[@joeyvampirowellsteed]

The Vale of Rheidol quickly entered my top 3 favourite narrow gauges railways after my visit last year. It has done a lot of things right with how they present themselves to the traveling public, things that I feel some of the "bigger" railways could learn a thing or two from. Really impressed by the railway and looking forward to going again this August for their Gala.

[@OddSpanner]

Those drone shots are some of the best narrow gauge footage ever filmed. So, so atmospheric. Added to the great shots from the loco, one of your best videos ever.

[@lmm]

Thank you so much! That's very high praise!

[@TheCebulon]

These pictures of the train in the mountains are absolute stunning! Makes me smile and want to do the ride myself one day.

[@lmm]

It's a stunning route, and the amount it rises is amazing!

[@FlyingForFunTrecanair]

I drove the Dick Kerr in 1987, at Peter Rampton's farm in Surrey. He was a good friend for 30 years and a thoroughly top chap.

[@paradoxial1865]

That drone footage of the train is wonderful, you've cut it together amazingly

[@lmm]

Thank you very much!

[@rorythomson8763]

So good to see the old South African Railways Garret being so nicely restored and now looked after in the museum.

[@alexberger1736]

It has been nicely restored and well looked after for 20+ years. Good to see it able to stretch its legs though!

[@rorythomson8763]

@@alexberger1736 Well I am sad to say that if it was still here in SA it would probably not be restored or looked after at all. Also Yes good to see its not merely a static display. I was fortunate enough back in the early '90's to ride a train (The banana express) pulled by one of these, the railway no longer runs and probably never will again.

[@peterharris4215]

Glad you recovered the drone okay Lawrie. What a privilege walking some of the track and we get to see fantastic shots of the train, making its way up to Devil's Bridge. That's a result all round. I now need to visit again to see the museum. Thanks for the video!

[@chrisburton9645]

Mountain railways and drones go so well together. Fire Queen is truly a lucky survival - not having been rebuilt like Locomotion Lion and Rocket.

[@lmm]

It's such a bonkers thing

[@chrisburton9645]

@@lmm It's a traction engine with a Crampton real axle location . . very efficient light weight build. The two of them ran for about 40 years before being replaced. Amazing to think about it.

[@benbrotherwood9128]

Your drone landed bottom end of the little horseshoe curve - a good 1/2 mile from Devils Bridge!

[@lmm]

It was a slight trek!

[@MrBnsftrain]

I'm glad your drone didn't crash land. When I was filming Canadian Pacific 2816 yesterday, someone who was flaying a drone at the same location I was crashed their drone after the train passed.

[@lmm]

Oh dear!

[@JackyBro1]

holy moly these steam locos are cool

[@lmm]

Aren't they just!

[@andrewreynolds4949]

Wow, that drone footage would be worth making the walk for it myself. That line looks absolutely amazing

[@lmm]

It's well worth a visit!

[@ZobbyGaming]

Was there on the 20th April. Second time there after about 11 or so years and I have to say the museum is one of the best things they have created! The railway is my favourite between the stunning trip, the locos and even more great is the work their team does on their own equipment and that of which they do on behalf of other railways. Hopefully I can get back up there again later this year to see Palmerston running!

[@lmm]

It's an amazing trip isn't it

[@pennsyrailfan]

Cool to see you getting up there in media with the upper crust Lawrie!

[@lmm]

It's all very exciting

[@MichaelTagg1990]

I sent my drone up few years ago on a nice calm day in middle of summer and it got to about 100 feet and zipped off on its own into the distance, I still to this day do not know where it went even after an extensive search at the time, my working theory is it decided to fly off to a certain country to aid in their effort against another country (if you get my drift) pleased you found yours and what a lovely railway and museum.

[@martinkaye1801]

Brilliant vid. I was surprised by the amount of elevation the railway gained. The drone shots definitely added the finishing touch.

[@lmm]

It went over 120m during that sequence!

[@martinkaye1801]

👍 that is impressive. I certainly looked high

[@alistairkewish651]

Love the struts overhead, a proper period touch!

[@lmm]

Looks great doesn't it

[@RE_Bullet03]

This is kind of weird, but the day you uploaded this, I visited the VoR with a few others from my local branch of the Royal Enfield Owner's Club on a week's tour of Wales!! I was like a kid in a sweet shop looking around the museum

[@A-Lovely-Bit-of-Kit]

Probably the best drone footage I've seen on a heritage/transport channel. Well done!

[@lmm]

Thank you very much!

[@A-Lovely-Bit-of-Kit]

@@lmm Must admit I thought of you today, when I flew my drone into a large shrub. It turned out to be a wild rose shrub, and the only thing I had in the van to help dig it out was ... a screwdriver. My arms will heal... 😁

[@GlenFair]

Glad you found the drone because you captured some awesome footage!

[@lmm]

Thank you, I'm very pleased with how it turned out

[@douglasfleetney5031]

The Dukedog is the first loco who's footplate I ever rode. It was 1970, I was five and my Dad blagged a footplate pass on the Bluebell Railway. I was, still am, a dirt magnet and Mother was distinctly unhappy with may state when we got off... Happy Days.

[@lmm]

You've done better than I!

[@robertbartender591]

Would love to see the Dukedog back in steam especially on the Llangollen Railway.

[@TheHoveHeretic]

Certainly for a season or two's visit. Slight fly in the ointment .... When 9017 was gifted to the Bluebell, the condition was that it would 'work mainly in Sussex'. I recall when it paired up with 3440 "City of Truro" at Llangollen a good few years ago now. The two surviving outside framed GWR 4-4-0s made for a magnificent sight. Just as Lawrie has always managed to miss 9017 in service, I've never yet seen 21C123 in steam ... well, not since 1967 at any rate and it worked for a different railway back then (though that could've been 34102, the other 'original' which made it right to the end of Southern steam).

[@bentullett6068]

Wow that looks a great museum. I love the heritage railway museum/storage idea. I have yet to visit this railway like a few others in mid and north wales and it on my list to go to. As you said you can do all sorts of functions and events at these museums. The Engine House at the SVR now hosts all sorts of events from model railway exhibitions, Lego exhibitions, alcoholic beverage tasting and little gift fairs. Also note Statfold also have their round house perfectly set up for this now with permanent virtual Lawrie in place.

[@lmm]

It's a great idea to make the place part of the community!

[@bentullett6068]

@@lmm exactly

[@KellinoRail]

I'd never really thought about the VoR before - small railway 3 engines - or something like that. Your video now makes me want to go visit! Job done! 😎

[@jongmans38]

Great that they thought ahead that the space can be used for other events, additional income to the preserved railway. Nice space as well!

[@roberthocking9138]

Wonderful engines and shed. Imagine cleaning and polishing all that brass 😳😁

[@lmm]

Lots of effort went into getting then nice and clean

[@derekp2674]

Great video, thanks Lawrie and Lozz. Also nice to see Luke and Ioan from Lost Mines out enjoying themselves. Using a museum as an events space is a great idea. The best conference banquet I ever attended was held at the Schlumpf motor museum in Mulhouse, with Swiss Air providing the food and drink.

[@lmm]

I'm glad you enjoyed it!

[@Dhira108]

Lawrie the camera work is stunning even better than most documentaries. It was great to also get lots of the background information Looks like you also got lots of exercise

[@lmm]

Thank you very much! High praise indeed

[@simonbennett9687]

The drone footage was excellent! Best looking video you’ve made, well done!

[@lmm]

Thank you very much!

[@patricklinsley1070]

Back in 1988/89 my wife and I along with my mother and father in law travelled the Vale of Rheidol Railway in the Observation carriage. The engine was the same one you travelled on the footplate - No.9/1213 "Prince of Wales" Towards the top we came to a very sudden juddering halt. I put my head out the window to see what had stopped us only to see we had "bifurcated' a large sheep that had wandered onto the line!! It was not a pretty sight. Going over the sheep had fetched off the leading pony truck of the engine. A few of us detrained and tried to help the train crew get the pony truck wheels up to the same level as the rails and with blocks of wood, packed up with ballast and a heavy crowbar lever the wheels over .... all the while trying to avoid bits of sheep that was rapped around the axel and wheels. After about and hour of trying with lots of reversing the engine inch by inch up onto the blocks a fitter came up from Aberwristwych, but he couldn't sort it out. So everyone had to detrain and walk the remainder up to Devils Bridge where plenty of free tea and coffee was laid on for us as it was in the autumn and it was starting to get dark. The railway laid on a coach for all of us to get back to Aberystwyth and everyone got their money back. It was a very memorable experience and we hope one day to travel on it the full length.

[@lmm]

That's quite an ...experience?

[@Arjay1127]

Very nice! So in effect, that shed is a large scale modular layout? 😁

[@lmm]

Yeah, it's 1:1 scale, and the attention to detail is amazing!

[@c79sarah]

A very enjoyable video of a beautiful railway

[@TheHoveHeretic]

Those drone shots give a very different perpective. When I was there - over a half century ago - trees hid much of the view on the upper stretches. Everything looks so much better now ... loops and platforms at Capel Bangor and Aberffrwd and 3rd class carriage seats with padding (Eeee.... luxury). Did you know Torquemada used to design carriage seats at Swindon between 1923 and 1938? In BR days, they even had the bare faced cheek to call 'em 2nd class!! I'd still love to see one of the Collett tanks dipped in woad - just for old time's sake!

[@daviobryker]

Knew you were there seen you on FR moving pictures video and went there's LMM and can't wait to see his take and yep it was brilliant as usual

[@lmm]

Thank you very much!

[@daviobryker]

@lmm my pleasure from Australia ever visit lots of fun trains here mate

[@trainswithnickyt]

I think we're going to have to plan a trip to Wales at some point, this year is out due to no more holidays available, but next year definitely. Although, I did attend the Baguley Bash with less than 24 hours planning and the hotel being booked the same day I drove over after work.....

[@lmm]

That was great fun last year!

[@maxtaylor6595]

The pairs carriage looks great

[@TheHoveHeretic]

Doesn't it just? A really magnificent restoration.

[@maxtaylor6595]

Yeah that’s not the last bit of collection x that has been restored there are more Isle of Man carriages being worked on in a very secret location

[@Iceni_Paul]

Fantastic video Lawrie, some great drone footage, glad you found it in the end. I’ll have to make the pilgrimage and head back over that way soon for a look at the museum. Also an excuse to catch up with our mutual chums on the TR (okay, there may be one I’ll avoid. 😉)

[@RhysTrains]

Great video, fully agree that the museum and new station are fantastic additions to the railway

[@andyash5675]

Superb vid! For a few moments there, I could have sworn that the world wasn't going to pot.

[@Elvinley]

Phew thank goodness you found it! Great vid!

[@nathanshearman1269]

Amazing footage - well done for capturing it. What drone do you use out of curiosity?

[@lmm]

It's a dji mini 3 pro, and thank you!

[@simonc858]

Brilliant video and in my neck of the woods too.

[@Hunter18ism]

Another awesome video. Did you happen to catch the 7.25 Lawley near one of the entrances?

[@MartinRVWhite]

"Magic" mate!

[@lmm]

Thank you!

[@DubGathoni]

13:50, Good people of the world, we found it. The Minecraft train.

[@lmm]

Graphics are better IRL

[@alanm1725]

Good vlog very interesting drone footage was fantastic glad you got the drone back! What drone do you use? keep up the great vlogs!

[@lmm]

It's a DJI mini 3 Pro. We'll do our best!

[@DualorProductions]

Thanks lawrie, another place added to the visit list :) Though don't do that google earth zoom in thing, genuinely made me think it was in a different country :D

[@peter_smyth]

I like the modular floor idea, but are the rails fixed to anything underneath the wood, or can you literally move them about just by taking out enough wooden blocks?

[@lmm]

You can move and regauge it

[@tiddles4x4]

Amazing drone footage. What equipment are you using? I am think of getting a drone to do similer train video work.

[@lmm]

I'm using a mini 3 pro. Remember though, this was done with the permission from the railway

[@tiddles4x4]

@@lmm Thanks, I have been looking at that one. I do plan to be a reasonable drone user. Always asking first and avoiding populated areas.

[@sawyerawr5783]

"The children of the quarry owner were given their own engine to play with..." I'm sorry WHAT. Where was that when I was a kid?! I'd have loved that! (let's just ignore the fact I'm a full blown adult and still want it...)

[@lmm]

I know! Best type of toy!

[@AbeTheBabe6233]

my friend broke 9017s braking in the tender on the second day of the season this year

[@lmm]

Oh really

[@AbeTheBabe6233]

@lmm yeah, I was annoyed at him, and I just want to say it's really cool to be talking to you, wasn't expecting this today! But like I said, I was annoyed at him for obvious reasons

[@Thatonecarguy-fq7mz]

@@lmmI swear it isn’t as bad as it looks it was used rubber just hanging on

[@anfieldroadlayoutintheloft5204]

good vid

[@lmm]

Thank you!

[@Baron_trains]

I was about to go to the vale of Rheidol but I went to visit the corris and Talyllyn instead

[@lmm]

All worth a visit!

[@Shark30006]

Where’s Sir Haydn?

[@lmm]

I guess on the Talyllyn

[@fritz46]

As a German, I must write this: You call the German locomotive hideous after showing Fire Queen? ;-)

[@lmm]

Fire Queen is... Not the most stunning thing. I love the Jung though - I'd love something like it

[@Cody-Steams]

Hey Lawrie what's going on with Sir William Mc alpine?

[@lmm]

It's being sorted - video coming soon!

[@corneelesser3934]

Couillet is a belgian manufacturer of locomotives, not french. #trots op ons belgisch erfgoed / proud of our belgian heritage.

[@lmm]

Oh my bad!

[@JoshHodginsTrains]

Hi matey

[@lmm]

Heya

[@JoshHodginsTrains]

@@lmm you make me 😃

[@Zodliness]

For the price of drones nowadays and their ever-increasing flight times, you'd think they'd incorporate something as practical as a radio beacon to find the damned things when they inevitably lose their fight with gravity. 🤔😂

[@lmm]

It did know on the controller where it last was. If the battery wasn't dead it would normally broadcast where it is

[@annhinchcliff5460]

you need to do a collab with hyce irl

[@lmm]

We're working on it!

[@CaptainDonut0]

A coffepot Engine.

[@lmm]

The one for the kids is amazing

[@garyhardwick8489]

Please turn off the tuneless muzak!!!! A steam locomotive makes its own sweet sounds. Good video otherwise.

[@lmm]

No audio from a drone though