This is a list of past and present rolling stock used on the Talyllyn Railway (Welsh: Rheilffordd Talyllyn), a 2 ft 3 in (686 mm) narrow gaugepreservedrailway line running for 7.25 miles (11.67 km)[1] from Tywyn on the Mid-Wales coast to Nant Gwernol near the village of Abergynolwyn. The line was opened in 1866 to carry slate from the quarries at Bryn Eglwys to Tywyn, and was the first narrow gauge railway in Britain authorised by Act of Parliament to carry passengers using steam haulage.[2][3] Despite severe under-investment,[4] the line remained open, and in 1951 it became the first railway in the world to be preserved as a heritage railway by volunteers.[5][6]
When first opened, the railway owned two steam locomotives, Talyllyn and Dolgoch, and five carriages, including one brake van. There were no additions to the rolling stock until the line was taken over in 1951.[note 1] Two ex-Corris Railway locomotives were then purchased from British Railways, and subsequent additions have brought the total up to six steam locomotives, four diesels and twenty-three carriages. As of 2023[update], Boston Lodge Works is constructing three bogie carriages, one composite with disabled access and two third class, numbered No. 24 to 26. The first of these, No. 24, was delivered to the railway in August 2023.
Locomotives
The railway has six steam locomotives for passenger trains and four diesel locomotives that usually haul only works trains.[note 2] It is unusual for all steam locomotives to be operable at one time, as there is usually at least one locomotive undergoing an overhaul.[9] In the early days of preservation Rev. W Awdry, the author of the Railway Series books, visited the railway on a family holiday and became involved as a volunteer soon afterwards.[10] He, and later his son Christopher, wrote the Talyllyn Railway into the books as the Skarloey Railway, and most locomotives on the Talyllyn have a fictional counterpart in that series.[11] These are listed in the right hand column.
Steam locomotives
For technical details about each locomotive, see the relevant locomotive article.
One of two original locomotives, it was built as an 0-4-0ST without a cab. By 1867, trailing wheels had been added to improve stability, and it had a cab installed at the same time.[13]
The second original locomotive. Like Talyllyn, it was built without a cab, though one was subsequently added. It was named after the intermediate station and local waterfalls, though after the Boer War, it carried the name Pretoria for several years. In 2011 it received a new boiler, and returned to steam in time for the 60th anniversary celebrations of the preservation society on 14 May.
An ex-Corris Railway locomotive, purchased in 1951 and subsequently named after Sir Henry Haydn Jones, owner of the railway prior to preservation. Following the expiry of its 10-year boiler ticket in early 2012, the loco was stored out of use at the Corris Railway until April 2013, when it commenced a tour of various railway sites in England to help raise funds for its overhaul. In February 2015 it was moved back to the Talyllyn. In Autumn 2015 it was sent to the Vale of Rheidol Railway's new workshop in Aberystwyth for its overhaul to start. It returned to service in 2018, in time for its 140th birthday.[17]
The second ex-Corris Railway locomotive, also purchased in 1951 and subsequently named after the general manager of the line prior to preservation. It was fitted with a Giesl ejector between 1958 and 1969.[21] Received a new boiler in 2004.
A "Modified E Class", built for the depot railway serving RAF Calshot.[23] It was donated to the Talyllyn in 1953, re-gauged from 2 ft (610 mm) gauge and named after Douglas Abelson, who donated the locomotive.[24]
Returned to service July 2013 as 'Douglas' in bright red and black border livery. Repainted to RAF blue livery in March 2018.[22]
This locomotive was built by the Talyllyn Railway using components from a Bord na Móna (Irish Peat Board) Andrew Barclay locomotive. It was originally intended to give it the jocular name Irish Pete. However, prior to completion, it was decided to name it in honour of L.T.C. Rolt, one of the founders of the Talyllyn Railway Preservation Society. Returned to service in 2020 following a ten-yearly overhaul.[25]
This locomotive was purchased in 1957 from Jee's quarries at Hartshill,[28] and contains parts that were cannibalised off an identical locomotive. It was named after the Midlands area group of the preservation society that donated the locomotive.
One of three Baguley diesels that were purchased from RNAD Trecwn in South Wales in 2008. The third diesel is used for spares. These were originally bought by a consortium of volunteers, but have since been purchased from this group by the railway. They were re-gauged from 2 ft 6 in (762 mm) to the Talyllyn's 2 ft 3 in (686 mm) gauge. This loco was originally numbered T 0006 00 NZ 32 (BD 3764)[31][32] and entered service on the Talyllyn in 2014.
The second of the three Baguley diesels that were purchased from RNAD Trecwn in South Wales in 2008.[note 4] This loco was originally numbered BD 3779[31][32] and named after St Cadfan's Church in Tywyn.
Small trolley used by engineers for transportation to worksites. Built from a second hand Austin 7 engine and gearbox, mounted on a custom-made chassis.[34] It was damaged in a shunting accident in 2008 and taken out of service, but returned to use in 2019.[33]
–
Flail Mower
Talyllyn Railway
1998
Rail mounted self-propelled vehicle used to clear lineside vegetation.[35] Designed by John Bate (Chief Engineer 1963–1994) and built from chassis components from two Ruston & Hornsby locomotives, the framing and motor components of a Smalley excavator, the flail mechanism and cab from a McConnel flail mower and a new Perkins diesel power unit.[36]
Rail mounted track tamper bought by the railway in 2021, but suffered issues with the loading gauge that needed to be rectified before re-entering service. A seat and toolbox were also added during the overhaul.[8]
This lightweight locomotive was built by member David Curwen using a Ford Model T engine and transmission from L.T.C Rolt's narrowboat and the wheels from a Talyllyn Railway slate wagon. It worked the Fridays-only winter passenger service until 1953,[40][41] when it was taken out of use with a failed gearbox. It was dismantled in 1954,[38] and converted to flat wagon No. 19 (see below).[42] It is proposed to rebuild it as a memorial to David Curwen, using a replacement engine and bodywork.[40]
A Mercury tractor that had been adapted to push standard gauge rolling stock by the addition of a buffer beam. It was further adapted in 1954 for use on the Talyllyn, and later converted to run on paraffin instead of petrol.[43] It was little used after 1958 and later scrapped. It was nicknamed after Charles Uren, the railway's chief engineer.[29]
This was originally built using parts from three 3 ft (914 mm) gauge locomotives from Park Gate steelworks in Rotherham, acquired in 1969.[29] The superstructure was replaced c. 2000. It has a Dowty hydrostatic transmission. The name was chosen by the donor of the locomotive.[44] This locomotive was sold in 2016 to an enthusiast.[45]
This was originally a 2 ft 6 in (762 mm) gauge National Coal Board locomotive from Hem Heath colliery near Stoke-on-Trent.[46] It arrived on the Talyllyn September 1997,[32] and was re-painted into standard Talyllyn livery during summer 2005. The locomotive was named after the Bryn Eglwys slate quarries. The loco was sold to the North Gloucestershire Railway,[47] and left the railway in August 2014 when the first Baguley loco entered service.
Rail mounted track tamper. Built from parts of two ex-MODstandard gauge tampers that were acquired in 1989. It was designed and assembled by John Bate, and commissioned on 26 June 1990.[48] In 2021 it was sold when a new tamper was purchased.[8]
Visiting locomotives
As of 2024[update] there have only been four visiting locomotives capable of running on the Talyllyn Railway's unusual gauge. These are Motor Rail Simplex diesel No. 5 Alan Meaden, Winson Engineering No. 7 a Tattoo class[49] similar to the Talyllyn's No. 4, battery-electric Clayton shunter No. 9 Aberllefenni[50] and Corris Railway No. 10, a new build Falcon similar to the Talyllyn's No. 3.[51] All these locomotives are from the Corris Railway.
In July 2016, another gala was held, with three visiting locos, all built by Fletcher, Jennings and Co. Together with Talyllyn and Dolgoch, this was an assembly of all five surviving locos in the UK built by this firm.[52] As with the previous gala, temporary track was laid due to the differing gauges.[53] One of the locomotives, Captain Baxter, ran on a short section of standard gauge track. The other two Fletcher Jennings locomotives, William Finlay and Townsend Hook, were static exhibits only and are therefore not listed below. William Finlay remained at Tywyn after the event and is now on display at the Narrow Gauge Railway Museum.
In September 2021, to mark the centenary of No. 4, Corris Railway No. 7 made another visit to the Talyllyn, along with the other preserved Kerr Stuart Tattoo class, Stanhope, and Sirdar class Diana. Stanhope and Diana ran on temporary 2 ft (610 mm) track laid at Wharf station, and No. 7 pulled several trains along the full length of the line.[54]
A former 2 ft (610 mm) gauge diesel from Staveley Lime Products, Hindlow, Derbyshire, named in honour of the Corris Society's founder. It visited the Talyllyn in 1983 and 1990.[55]
Prince was built in 1863 or 1864 for the Ffestiniog Railway and is the oldest FR locomotive still in operating condition. It has spent all of its working life on the FR, but in 2015 ran on a short length of 1 ft 11+1⁄2 in (597 mm) gauge track laid at Tywyn Wharf station as part of the TR's 150th anniversary celebrations.
Built in 1906 for the NWNGR, Russell later ran on the Welsh Highland Railway. After the WHR closed in 1937 it moved to the Brymbo Ironworks railway and then in 1946 to Fayle's Tramway in Dorset. It was rescued for preservation in 1954 and between 1955 and 1965, Russell was on display as a static exhibit outside the Narrow Gauge Railway Museum at Tywyn. Since 1965 the locomotive has belonged the WHHR. It visited Tywyn again in 2015 as part of the TR's 150th anniversary celebrations.
A four-wheeled battery-electric locomotive from Aberllefenni quarry and now owned by the Corris Railway. It visited the Talyllyn in September 2023 as part of a heritage weekend.[50]
Carriages
The Talyllyn railway has a total of 23 carriages, with two more under construction As of 2024[update]. The first five are the original carriages built for the railway, though they were not provided with numbers until preservation in 1951. After that time, the remaining carriages were built by the railway or acquired from elsewhere.[59] With the exception of ex-Corris carriage No. 17, all the bogie coaches were built for the railway after preservation; the smaller four wheeled coaches are generally older.
All the stock is third class only, unless otherwise stated. Where two figures are given for the number of seats, the larger figure is the maximum number of passengers than can be carried in a heavily loaded train.
This was originally a first class carriage; it is now third class.[61] It is 14 feet 6 inches (4.42 m) long, 12 inches (300 mm) longer than the original carriage to allow for extra legroom.[62] Carriages 1 to 3 were all built with doors on both sides, though the doors on the south side of the line are all permanently locked shut with no handles as the platforms are all on the north side.[62]
This carriage is identical to carriage number 1, but has always been third class only.[64] Basic cushion seats were added after the railway was preserved.[64]
This was the first carriage to be delivered,[66] and is 1 foot (30 cm) shorter than Nos. 1 and 2. Originally third class, it was later changed to composite (first and third class), but is now third class again.[61]
This was the original guard's van. It was out of use between 1946 and April 1949 while its wheels were repaired at the Britannia Foundry in Porthmadog.[70]
Believed de Winton. Rebuilt by the Talyllyn Railway.
c. 1900
13
This was ex-Penrhyn Quarry Railway open carriage 'H'. It operated on the Talyllyn until 1961, and was later used as a tea van at Abergynolwyn, then as a generator wagon. During 1985 and 1986 it was completely rebuilt as a wheelchair saloon with guards compartment.[73]
This was originally Penrhyn Quarry Railway open carriage 'P', which operated on the Talyllyn from 1952 until 1964. The bodywork was condemned and scrapped, and a new semi-open coach built in 1966.[75]
Penrhyn Quarry Railway. Converted by the Talyllyn Railway.
Unknown. Converted in 1955.
24
This is a semi-open carriage, originally Penrhyn Quarry Railway open carriage 'D', which was converted by the Talyllyn in 1955. It was rebuilt as a semi-open coach with a roof and doors in 1959.[77]
Ex-Corris Railway No. 8 and GWR No. 4992. Served as a greenhouse/summerhouse in Gobowen from 1930 to 1958 before being restored by the Talyllyn Railway.
This was a semi-open four wheeled carriage, originally Penrhyn Quarry Railway open carriage 'C', which was converted by the Talyllyn in 1956. It was rebuilt as a semi-open coach with a roof and doors in 1958.[77] In 2019 the body was scrapped, and the frames converted to a flat wagon.[94]
Goods wagons
The Talyllyn Railway was primarily constructed for conveying slate. Prior to the beginning of the 20th century, the railway owned over 115 wagons,[95] mainly slate wagons, but also a number of other general and special purpose goods wagons. Some of these survived into the preservation era, and since then a large number of additional wagons have been purchased and built. The following table lists the main types of wagon currently in use:
Original general purpose wagon, built with sheet iron sides and designed to prevent spillages while hauled on the Abergynolwyn village incline,[103] owned by the Narrow Gauge Railway Museum.
146
No. 2 Covered van
Talyllyn Railway
Original van, owned by the Narrow Gauge Railway Museum.
The Narrow Gauge Railway Museum is a purpose-built museum dedicated to narrow gauge railways situated on the Tywyn Wharf station. It owns several wagons formerly in use on the railway (listed above), as well as rolling stock and other artefacts from other narrow gauge railways around the world. The wagons are still used occasionally on the Talyllyn.
Liveries
The standard livery for locomotives on the Talyllyn is deep bronze green,[105] lined in black and yellow, although since the 1980s there has been a policy of varying some of the liveries for a period of time. Previously, No. 1 and No. 2 carried lined black and TR Crimson red liveries respectively. No. 2 Dolgoch had for a time carried Atlas green livery in preservation. No. 3 and No. 4 have carried Corris Railway Indian Red during certain times in Preservation. No. 4 had also carried Great Western Railway Middle Chrome Green, as well unlined British Railways black.
The liveries carried by the steam locomotives as of 2023 are as follows:-
No. 7: Standard Talyllyn green with standard lining. Burnished motion and black background to builders/name/number plates.[25]
The vintage rolling stock and the carriages built for the line after preservation are cherry red, lined with deep bronze green. Additionally, the railway has preserved rolling stock from other railways. These retain their original liveries.
The Corris coach (Talyllyn No. 17) and brake van (Talyllyn No. 6) are brown lined with gold leaf and the two Glyn Valley Tramway coaches (Talyllyn Nos. 14 and 15) are green lined with white.[105]
Notes
^There is evidence that during the 1910s, Henry Haydn Jones, the owner of the railway at the time, requested estimates for a new locomotive for the railway.[7] However, no purchase was made.
^The railway also intends to build a new battery-electric locomotive using parts from two locomotives it owns.[8] As this is not yet operational, it is not included in this list.
^This refers to the year the locomotive was built by the Talyllyn. The Bord na Móna locomotive used for some of the constituent parts was built in 1949.
^The third loco, formerly T 0009 00 NZ 35 (BD 3781), will not operate on the railway, but is being used for spares.
^Names in inverted commas refer to unofficial nick-names, not formally applied.
^One source uses the spelling "Charley's Ant".[29]