Gallery - Arthur Brookes

12 carrs on Boston Lodge Curve
In 1972, a twelve carr train heads around Boston Lodge curve, hauled by Blanche and piloted by Mountaineer. The wall is in place at Boston Lodge complete with pillars

Boston Lodge
In 1973, Merddin Emrys passes Plas Smart and the top yard at Boston Lodge, with a down train. Just beyond the fence can be glimpsed one of the many caravans that lived in the top yard fro volunteer/staff accomodation

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Looking into the yard from the Pen Cob points at Boston Lodge, Mountaineer passes on the main line whilst Upnor Castle can be glimpsed in the yard. The chimney for the Blacksmiths shop can be seen in the background, which was demolished in the following years

Livingston Thompson
The 'old Earl', on withdrawal in 1971, was placed on a pair of slate waggon chassis and stored in Minffordd Yard. The hulk generally lived in the Maenofferen Shed and is seen here in 1980. It was to be another five years before plans developed to cosmetically restore the loco

Welsh Pony Shunt
In preparation for display at Harbour Station in the car park, large England loco Welsh Pony was painted up in a lively red livery, seen here being shunted by Prince, in 1984

Prince shunting Welsh Pony
And seen being propelled into the New Erecting Shop.

Works View
And another view showing Welsh Pony being shunted by Prince. Ex-mines diesel Moel Hebog sits on the left next to the carriage workshop. In the background right can be seen Mary Ann, with an oil tanker behind. The front of Blanche may be seen near the outside pit

Broken Axle
Planet diesel Upnor Castle broke its driving axle in 1992. The break is pretty clear

Alice
The final stages of the rebuild of privately owned Quarry Hunslet Alice were carried out at Boston Lodge. It was subsequently tested and painted also, seen here in 1993 alongside Linda in blue livery

David Lloyd George TyB
New double fairlie David Lloyd George was constructed in 1992 and was fully finish painted and lined in 1993. It is seen here from Tan y Bwlch footbridge. The 'toolboxes' on the fireman's side on top of the tanks contained the fuel oil fillers

Palmerston and No 10
A summer scene at Boston Lodge near the carriage shed as Palmerston draws down with Colonel Stephens rebuild No 10 van. Both loco and carriage had returned to traffic after long absences in the previous couple of years

Blanche on jacks
One of the improvements in the works during Arthur's time was the purchase of the powered jacks, acquired from the Channel Tunnel works. They are seen here to good effect, holding Blanche in the air as work is carried out on the axleboxes in 1995.

Criccieth Castle in the paintshop
Diesel hydraulic Criccieth Castle was built from a kit of parts acquired from Baguleys and was constructed in Boston Lodge works. It was completed in 1995 and is seen here in the paintshop

Criccieth Castle
Criccieth Castle is seen here at Porthmadog in the completed paint scheme. The colours matched the six carriages of the push pull set

Ted Swales
Resident fitter Ted Swales attends to Blanche following reassembly in early 1996

Earl of Merioneth
Following the failure of Merddin Emrys' boiler for test due to throatplate issues in January 1996, the Earl of Merioneth started a speedy reassembly. It is seen here ready for traffic on Merddin Emrys' bogies in June 1996

ME boiler 1996
The cutout sections on the Merddin Emrys' boiler show clearly where the problem lies

David Lloyd George
A portrait of David Lloyd George running round at Porthmadog in 1997

Linda and Lilla
Following rebuild in 1995-6, Linda returned to traffic in lined Penrhyn Railway livery, seen here at Boston Lodge with Lilla in the background

Minffordd
In the summer of 1997, as in previous summers, the shuttle between Porthmadog and Minffordd ran regularly. Palmerston is seen here running round the train in the down line at Minffordd, whilst No 10 van sits in the up

Minffordd Shuttle
The shuttle set includes the recently constructed open coach replica 39, with bugboxes at the top end of the train

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Blaenau Ffestiniog
Through the 1990s, the Conwy Valley standard gauge branch remained a stronghold for original style DMUs. The class 101 is seen here at Blaenau Ffestiniog in the mainline platform in 1998. Note in the foreground is the recently installed second platform line for the Ffestiniog.

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