2014 August - No 1 Talyllyn Returns Home!

Press Release


Following the major repairs it has received at the Ffestiniog Railway’s Boston Lodge Works the Talyllyn Railway’s locomotive No.1 ‘Talyllyn’ returned to Tywyn today, 19 August, for the final work to be completed. This will enable it to return to traffic in time for its 150th Anniversary on 24 September 2014 when a special celebration is planned.

The trip to Boston Lodge was necessary when the locomotive experienced severe damage to its right hand side running gear while in service on Sunday 6 April 2014. With the Talyllyn Railway’s Pendre works fully committed to other projects, it was arranged for the work to be undertaken at Boston Lodge in order that the locomotive should be ready for the September Anniversary.

Therefore on 22 April the locomotive was moved to Porthmadog on a low-loader before being transferred to a flat wagon for the journey on part of both the Welsh Highland and Ffestiniog Railways to the works. This included passing across the famous Porthmadog ‘Cob’.

The return journey started early with the locomotive passing over the Cob just after dawn hauled by the Ffestiniog Railway’s Criccieth Castle. Transported to Tywyn on a low-loader No.1 arrived about 9.45 am, where it was manoeuvred into Wharf station. By 10.27 am Talyllyn was offloaded assisted by diesel No.9 Alf, and later it was taken up to Tywyn Pendre for the final work to be completed

While the repairs were being undertaken at Boston Lodge the opportunity was taken to undertake some other maintenance work. This will reduce the time taken for a full overhaul due when its boiler certificate expires. All the work was largely paid for by a generous donation by Canadian Talyllyn Railway Preservation Society member, Bryce Lee, for which the Railway is most grateful.

Commenting on the return of No.1 Chris Price, General Manager of the Talyllyn Railway, said:

“We are very happy to see No.1 return to its ‘home rails’ in good time for its 150th Anniversary. There is still some work to be done along with an appropriate period of running in, but we hope it will not be too long before No.1 is hauling trains up the valley as it has done for the last 149 years. We’d like to thank everyone involved for their contribution, particularly our friends at the Ffestiniog Railway and the staff at Boston Lodge works.”

Plans for the 150th Anniversary of No.1 on 24 September include special passenger and slate trains hauled by locomotives No.1 and No.2 ‘Dolgoch’. These will include photographic opportunities, a buffet lunch, and the launch of a new book on the pre-preservation history of the Talyllyn locomotives written by Society member, Martin Fuller. Limited numbers of tickets for the day are available from Tywyn Wharf station priced at £30.

For further information about this press release please e-mail: i [dot] drummond [at] holnepublishing [dot] co [dot] uk or enquiries [at] talyllyn [dot] co [dot] uk or phone either 0113 281 8235 or 01654 710472.

Photos by Sarah Freeman, Barbara Fuller and Lawrence Garvey