The appeal to restore large England Welsh Pony was launched by the Ffestiniog Railway Society in 2014. The appeal subsequently raised £265,000 and enabled work to commence.
Welsh Pony returned to traffic in 2020 following nearly 80 years out of traffic and quickly found a role in the new ‘Covid’ services to Tan y Bwlch, before then also settling into the roster on Woodland Wanderer services.
The loco failed was failed towards the end of the 2023 season with a loose driving crankpin and was immediately withdrawn from service pending space in the workshops.
With the focus of the work on the wheelsets, these have been removed and the loco lifted onto a flat wagon for ease of transport and to keep the chassis mobile. The loco and tender can be seen in the new small loco operating shed, nearing completion at Boston Lodge.
As part of the shunting around, single Fairlie loco Taliesin has re-entered the new erecting shop on its overhauled power bogie and is awaiting the fitting of the overhauled boiler and complete reassembly.
Thanks to Roger van Praet for the photos.
