Ffestiniog Railway diesel locomotives - (click detail for more images)
Mary Ann - Simplex 4w petrol. Originally built for the trench railways of the First World War she came to the FR in 1923. In1954 it was the first locomotive to work on the revived line and she is still running, restored to First World War condition. Built from the 'special edition' Wrightlines kit by myself and Brian Love - an article by Brian on re-gauging the Wrightlines 'spud' unit to 14mm appeared in NG&I Review 49. The loco is finished in its 1960's condition with my impression of Alan Garraway standing on the footplate.
- 4415 - was built by Kerr Stuatr in 1926, one of the first diesel locomotives in the country, She went, on trial, to the WHR where she was fitted with vacuum brakes and used on winter passenger services – despite her top speed of only 12m.p.h. Col. Stevens had her transferred to the Ffestiniog Railway the following year. A number of alterations were made, the cab lowered and a more efficient silence being the main ones to her appearance. She mainly worked slate trains between Minffordd and the Port. The FR could not afford to buy her and she went into use as a contractor’s locomotive before being mover to Ireland and later Mauritius.
The model is a resin print fromFK 3D Printing That body was sent off to Mark Clark, Locos’n’Stuff and he fitted one of his chassis he had previously designed for the Kerr Stuarts and then on to Chris Clark for his exquisite painting and finishing.
Moelwyn - WW1 Baldwin 2-4-0DP locomotive originally built for use by the French during the First World War. It came to the FR in the 1920s and was used on engineering trains as well as providing back-up for passenger operations. She is now part of the railway's heritage fleet and can often be seen in use around the railway. The name is something of a pun, the Welsh for “Bald” is “Moel” hence Baldwin gives us Moelwyn, the mountain above Tan-y-Grishau. This is the Neil Sayer Baldwin kit built and modified by Brian Love specifically to represent Moelwyn. The model is of the loco as running in 2010/11. |
Harlech Castle/Castell Harlech – 0-6-0DH Baguley-Drewry ( 3767 of 1983) was built for a cancelled order in Mozambique she was tried on the FR in 1985 but was too big for the loading gauge. She went to the Bredgar & Wormshill Light Railway in Kent, from which the FR purchased her in 1988. She was cut-down to fit the FR loading gauge with the cab moved to a more central position and she went into service in 1990.
The model was made from the Chivers Finelines kit, built by Brian Love and given a late 1990's Engineer;s Department livery.
The model was made from the Chivers Finelines kit, built by Brian Love and given a late 1990's Engineer;s Department livery.
Vale of Ffestiniog - Funkey B-B 1967 is one of two 'Funkeys' purchased in the mid 1990s to augment the Ffestiniog fleet and prepare for the expansion expected with the rebuilt Welsh Highland Railway. She is a very powerful locomotive but required major works to enable her to fit within the FR loading gauge. This work was sponsored by National Power and the FR's loco originally carried a livery similar to the Class 59's operated by the National Power Rail Unit . (The other loco is Castell Caernarfon on the WHR, which retains its original bodywork.) Built from a trial etch of the Worsley Works scratch-aid body kit and a, BullAnt 8-wheel drive chassis, a huge amount
f Brian Love magic and finished in the magnificent 1990s National
Power blue livery.
f Brian Love magic and finished in the magnificent 1990s National
Power blue livery.
Moel y Gest – Hunslet 60hp 4wDH (6659 of 1965). As built it was 2 ft 6 in and delivered to the Royal Naval Armament Depot at Dean Hill in Wiltshire. It was re-gauged and entered service on the FR in June 2004. The top speed is only 7mp, its main use is as the workshops shunter and rarely seen on other duties. She was named in August 2005 but is more regularly known as Castle Aarghhh. A custom 3D print from Chris Ward (CWR) on a 4w BullAnt chassis, plates by Narrow Planet, basic butchery by me and impressively, completed, painted and weathered by Chris Clark A beautiful looking and running model.
ng model.
ng model.
Upnor Castle - Hibberd "Planet" 4wDM (3687 of 1954, Model SCN). Delivered to Royal Navy's Lodge Hill and Upnor (Chattenden and Upnor) Railway in Kent. In 1962 she went to the Welshpool & Llanfair and then to the FR in February. She was named Upnor at the W&LLR; although on the FR she is known as “Uproar”! She was the first diesel on the FR capable of hauling a normal service train. The model is built by Paul Holmes from the Worsley Works Scatch-Aid kit, a Mark Clark 3d custom chassis and nameplates (just the one – as per prototype) from Narrow Planet. She is a good performer and a great deal quieter then the real thibng! |
CONWAY CASTLE – – a 77hp Hibbard "Planet" 4wDM built for the RNAD 2’ 6” gauge system at Ernesettle in Devon. She arrived on the FR in April 1981. She was re-gauged and rebuilt at Boston Lodge with a Gardner 6LXB 180hp bus engine. She was fitted with a remote control and given the distinctive green and cream livery for the (then) new push/pull service.
She is the Max Brayne (Mountain Models) produced a 3d print and she runs on a a Mark Clark (Locos’n’Stuff) 3d printed chassis and superbly finished by James Hilton with plates from Narrow Planet. She runs with the three-car push/pull set my friend Paul Holmes built for her. Another, friend, who shall remain nameless, described the set a “a fantastic model of his least favoured FR train!” Rule One applies!
She is the Max Brayne (Mountain Models) produced a 3d print and she runs on a a Mark Clark (Locos’n’Stuff) 3d printed chassis and superbly finished by James Hilton with plates from Narrow Planet. She runs with the three-car push/pull set my friend Paul Holmes built for her. Another, friend, who shall remain nameless, described the set a “a fantastic model of his least favoured FR train!” Rule One applies!
Harold – – was built by Hunslet in 1974, she came to the FR in 1993 from service at Bradford Corporation Sewage Department and is impolitely nicknamed Shitty the Shunter . This is the KB scale kit built and modified by Brian Love. It can happily haul a three coach train, a friend once remarked little engines can pull big trains – it just finds stopping the difficult!
Ruston - - during the Ffestiniog's down-time there were still trains at the Blaenau end with a little Ruston working slate traffic to the ex-LMS yard. Here's the little Ruston, lovingly restored by the Rhyd Heritage Group. She is, of course, a Wrightlines kit build for Rhyd by Paul Lindsay-Scott.