The loco, constructed in 1916 by ALCO Cooke in the US, was destined for a short life on the battlefields. It survived this and went on to be used in the loco sugar beet industry in France, running at Pithiviers.
John Ransom purchased the loco and donated it to the Ffestiniog Railway whereupon it soon became a useful addition to the fleet. Always subject to various modifications and improvements, Mountaineer was reboilered and fitted with piston valves in 1983. Along with a reprofiled cab and smoothed corners, Mountaineer has run largely in this form until withdrawn from traffic in February 2006 upon expiry of the boiler certificate.
Newly arrived, March 1967
The ALCo shortly after arrival in March 1967, in Boston Lodge works (Norman Pearce)
Newly arrived, March 1967
Cab View 1967
Looking into the ALCo's cab during the modifications to make it fit the FR loading gauge - the framing can be seen with the new profile (Norman Pearce)
Cab View 1967
The Alco at Tan y Bwlch, 1967
During an early test run in March 1967, Mountaineer is seen at Tan y Bwlch (Norman Pearce)
The Alco at Tan y Bwlch, 1967
Mountaineer on Whistling Curve, April 1969
In April 1969, Mountaineer is a key member of the fleet and is seen double heading with Moelwyn (one of the other World War 1 relics) on Whistling Curve (Jim Jarvis)
Mountaineer on Whistling Curve, April 1969
Mountaineer at Tan y Bwlch, Easter 1969
Another view in April 1969, as the AlCo stands at Tan y Bwlch on a down train. Note the small nameplates now affixed to the side tanks and the loco carrying Linda's chimney (Jim Jarvis)
Mountaineer at Tan y Bwlch, Easter 1969
At Dduallt, May 1969
Again on naming day, Allan Garraway is on Mountaineer with nameplates still covered as it runs round at Dduallt (Tony Rowlands)
At Dduallt, May 1969
Mountaineer passing Boston Lodge, May 1969
On naming day, Mountaineer heads round Boston Lodge curve(Tony Rowlands)
Mountaineer passing Boston Lodge, May 1969
At Tan y Bwlch, 1969
Late in the year, Mountaineer arrives at Tan y Bwlch with a teak-liveried barn immediately behind the loco (Norman Pearce)
At Tan y Bwlch, 1969
At Porthmadog, April 1970
Now running with its own chimney, Mountaineer is seen in April 1970 at Harbour Station (Tony Rowlands)
At Porthmadog, April 1970
On the Cob, May 1970
Now with another chimney amendment, this time a spark arrestor, Mountaineer is seen on the Cob (Norman Pearce)
On the Cob, May 1970
Porthmadog 1970
A study of Mountaineer at Porthmadog in September 1970. Note the collection of whistles the loco has, with one on the dome and two on the cab front, including a nice chime whistle
Porthmadog 1970
Porthmadog, 1972
During the early 1970s, the smokebox paint did not last well due to the higher temperatures with oil firing. Paint was found that would withstand the temperatures, but it was silver (Ralph Taylor)
Porthmadog, 1972
Gwyndy Bank, April 1972
Profile panned view on Gwyndy Bank (Colin Whitfield)
Gwyndy Bank, April 1972
Leaving Tan y Bwlch, May 1972
Mountaineer heads out of Tan y Bwlch (Colin Whitfield)
Leaving Tan y Bwlch, May 1972
At Port, April 1974
Mountaineer standing at Porthmadog in April 1974 (Ralph Taylor)
At Port, April 1974
On the Spiral, June 1977
With the largest cab of all the locos, Mountaineer was used on gauging trains for the new Moelwyn Tunnel, seen here heading around the spiral towards Barn Cutting (Ralph Taylor)
On the Spiral, June 1977
Arrival at Tan y Grisiau, June 1978
With electric headlamp, Mountaineer arrives at the new Tan y Grisiau with a short inspection train (Ralph Taylor)
Arrival at Tan y Grisiau, June 1978
Llyn Ystradau, May 1981
During the last years of its original boiler, Mountaineer was often seen double heading. In this case with newly rebuilt Prince at Llyn Ystradau
Llyn Ystradau, May 1981
The old boiler, November 1981
The old boiler from Mountaineer sitting in the 6 wheeled wagon, awaiting the new boiler to be fitted to the loco (Ralph Taylor)
The old boiler, November 1981
Dduallt, April 1983
Mountaineer received its new SB3 boiler in 1983 and entered traffic with little visual modifications - the most obvious examples included the shorter smokebox with no bell no carried, and the larger nameplates.
Dduallt, April 1983
Aberystwyth, June 1986
Mountaineer settled into traffic and was soon considered as capable as a double engine. In 1984 the cab profile was modified to a form similar to a double fairlie. In 1986 the loco was invited to the British Rail owned Vale of Rheidol Railway. It is seen here at the water tower in Aberystwyth (Ralph Taylor)
Aberystwyth, June 1986
Devils Bridge, June 1986
On a test trip, Mountaineer is seen here at the top of the line, Devil's Bridge (John Halsall)
Devils Bridge, June 1986
Devils Bridge, July 1986
With a brightly liveried Prince of Wales waiting to leave, Mountaineer makes a smokey entrance into Devils Bridge (John Halsall)
Devils Bridge, July 1986
198608-alcono8aberrt Aberystwyth, July 1986
A comparison between 2-6-2 types - Mountaineer sits alongside Vale of Rheidol No8 outside Aberystwyth shed (Ralph Taylor)
198608-alcono8aberrt Aberystwyth, July 1986
Dduallt, August 1980
Mountaineer was a regular performer throughout the latter half of the 1980s and early 1990s, seeing a lot of use on service trains. Seen here on the spiral at Dduallt
Dduallt, August 1980
Boston Lodge, April 1992
Awaiting service outside the loco shed at Boston Lodge, the profile of the cab is quite clearly seen
Boston Lodge, April 1992
Boston Lodge evening, April 1992
In the evening sunlight, Linda and Mountaineer move into the shed at Boston Lodge
Boston Lodge evening, April 1992
Boston Lodge morning, April 1992
During preparation in the morning, the contrast of the lined green livery with Linda's dark blue can be clearly seen
Boston Lodge morning, April 1992
Porthmadog, April 1992
Entering Porthmadog - the carriage next to Mountaineer is 111, the driving van trailer in the push pull livery
Porthmadog, April 1992
Boiler in the works, February 1992
Mountaineer retired out of service in September 1992 with a leaking tubeplate and sat out of use. It returned to the works in late 1994 for the boiler to be repaired and retubed in preparation for a return to service in time for the World War 1 themed May 1995 gala. The retubed boiler is seen in the frames as cladding commences
Boiler in the works, February 1992
Cab refitting, March 1995
The repainted cab is lifted onto the loco in March 1995
Cab refitting, March 1995
Testing, April 1995
Prior to a test run, Mountaineer is seen in the works. The tanks are still in green but have had the nameplates and mountings removed
Testing, April 1995
Twin Alcos, May 1995
During the May 1995 Gala, one of the visiting locos was the sister Alco from the Froissy railway. The pair make for an interesting comparison here at Minffordd
Twin Alcos, May 1995
Boston Lodge, May 1996
A profile view of Mountaineer (obviously unnamed) at Boston Lodge. The chimney looks extended due to a shroud covering the vacuum ejector exhaust pipes behind the chimney
Boston Lodge, May 1996
Boston Lodge August 1996
Awaiting next duty at Boston Lodge - the War Department livery remained on the loco longer than expected
Boston Lodge August 1996
Dinas, August 1997
Mountaineer was one of the first locos to operate on the reborn Welsh Highland Railway (Arthur Brookes)
Dinas, August 1997
Driving wheelsets, February 2002
During an intermediate overhaul, the driving wheelsets are seen here in Boston Lodge. Note the middle wheelset has no flanges
Driving wheelsets, February 2002
Tan y Bwlch, May 1999
At the 1999 gala, various combinations of locos occurred - here Mountaineer is sandwiched between the Earl of Merioneth and Taliesin at Tan y Bwlch. Mountaineer had been newly repainted in lined black livery (Arthur Brookes)
Tan y Bwlch, May 1999
Porthmadog, June 2002
Shunting onto the train at Porthmadog
Porthmadog, June 2002
Penrhyn, April 2008
Mountaineer heads out of Penrhyn onto the road crossing
Penrhyn, April 2008
With Taliesin, February 2005
A nice sunny comparison of the two tank engines then in use
With Taliesin, February 2005
Tan y Bwlch, May 2005
Adorned with a hand painted headboard with its War Department number and the headlamp replaced, Mountaineer stands in the down line at Tan y Bwlch with a charter train
Tan y Bwlch, May 2005
Storage preps, March 2006
Mountaineer bowed out of service on a special weekend in February 2006, ably assisted by Blanche. Soon after the loco was prepared for storage, here with work underway at Boston Lodge
Storage preps, March 2006
Motion, March 2006
The greased up motion, to protect against corrosion
Motion, March 2006
Blaenau, May 2012
At the May 2012 gala, Mountaineer was brought up from storage at Glan y Pwll and displayed at Blaenau Ffestiniog
Blaenau, May 2012
Glan y Pwll, September 2012
In Glan y Pwll shed, with Welsh Pony behind (Terry Scott)
Glan y Pwll, September 2012
