THE NORTH WALES COAST RAILWAY NOTICE
BOARD
Rheilffordd Arfordir Gogledd Cymru Bwrdd
hysbyseb
The Himalayas come to Porthmadog (Dave Sallery)
This site is dedicated to all our regular contributors and
supporters, and especially the rail staff of North Wales.
Edition of 06 May 2005
Ffestiniog 50 picture special: Pictures
by Eryl Crump and Dave Sallery
The 'FR 50' weekend staged by the Ffestiniog Railway over the May
Day Bank Holiday weekend 30 April - 2 May, as part of its celebration
of 50 years of
running as a preserved railway, was notable for the wide selection of
fascinating traction and rolling stock in service. In particular, the
line was given an Indian flavour by the appearance of a Darjeeling
Himalaya Railway train.
The only steam loco from the famous Darjeeling Himalayan Railway
to 'escape' from India, No. 19, resided until a couple of years
ago on the shores of Lake Michigan, in the United States of America.
The locomotive, built in 1889 by Sharp Stewart in Glasgow, was
first purchased from the railway in 1960, for use on a family estate in
Lake Forest, Illinois, USA. In 1982, the family donated the
engine to La Porte County Historical Steam Society, and it was moved to
the Hesston Steam Museum, Indiana.
In 1985, the engine was considerably damaged in a fire that destroyed
the train shed. It was salvaged from the wreckage and Hesston
volunteers completely disassembled, cleaned, painted, made water tank
repairs and got the locomotive back into steam and operational. It was
used for two seasons but then withdrawn due a crack in the firebox,
just short of achieving 100 years since construction. It remained in
the engine house as a static exhibit pending funding to replace the
entire firebox.
However, the museum reviewed its loco policy, and
decided that this loco no longer fitted in to
its North American them. In 2003 Darjeeling Himalayan Railway Society
Member Adrian Shooter; Managing Director of Chiltern Railways,
purchased the loco, No. 778 (previously no. 19) and had it shipped to
Britain where it was overhauled at Tyseley
Locomotive Works. Mr Shooter is a lifetime narrow gauge
enthusiast, and a former Managing Director of the Ffestiniog Railway
Society. The two coaches are replica Darjeeling vehicles newly built at
Boston
Lodge works.
So now it possible to compare this fascinating little loco with the
'Penrhyn Ladies', Linda and Blanche, now on the
Ffestiniog Railway; it has been said that Hunslet's design for
that class was very much influenced by the B Class loco design of the
Darjeeling line.
Of course the FR's normal stud was also out in force, with all the
Fairlie articulated locomotives in traffic, including Mereddin Emrys,
newly emerged from Boston Lodge Works after a major overhaul, boiler
repairs and a new pair of power bogies. This is Earl of
Merioneth....
.... arriving at Tan y Bwlch ...
and in the station on its downward journey.
Moelwyn (built 1918)
Vale of Ffestiniog, a Funkey-built diesel which was imported from
South Africa and rebuilt in 1997 to resemble a National Power Class 59.
Taliesin and Mountaineer at Minffordd.
Moelwyn on pilot duty.
David Lloyd George at Minffordd.
Alco 2-6-2T Mountaineer and single Fairlie Taliesin
head the first train of the day on Sunday to Blaenau, near Tan y
Grisiau.
Prince (built 1863) on a quarrymen's train near Minffordd....
... and at Porthmadog.
Earl of Merioneth at Minffordd, the station renamed 'Sukna' for the
event - with a suitable Indian ambiance including an Indian magician...
Everyone agreed that this weekend was a huge success: thanks
congratulations to the Ffestiniog
Railway. The FR has put up its own 'ffoto special'
site on the event which is well worth a look.