Welsh Highland Heritage Railway: Russell in the Rain

On a cold and wet July 23, 2022 the Welsh Highland Heritage Railway of Porthmadog, Wales was offering rides over their half-mile line behind the last surviving steam locomotive from the original Welsh Highland Railway, "Russell." While the Welsh Highland Railway that runs on the original route today operates as a modern tourist attraction with South African motive power and largely modern coaches, the Welsh Highland Heritage Railway uses its short run between Porthmadog's High Street and Pen-y-Mount Junction (where it interchanges with the bigger WHR) to preserve the original equipment and atmosphere of the legendary if perpetually poor railway. While I was mainly focused on filming the two bigger steam railways in town and couldn't spend as much time on the WHHR as I'd have liked, I did manage to make it over to see this historic locomotive a few brief times throughout the day. I also had lunch at their Russell Cafe, which was pretty good.
Russell was built by Hunslet in 1906 for the Porthmadog, Beddgelert, and South Snowdon Railway. Originally intended as an electric railway to bring slate from the quarries past Beddgelert to Porthmadog harbor, the electrification plan was dropped at the last minute and a 2-6-2T was ordered. However, by the time the engine was completed the project was faltering and the locomotive would soon be sold to the nearby North Wales Narrow Gauge Railways where it would be named "Russell" after that road's chairman. As a rigid-framed locomotive, Russell was a little out of place among the articulated 0-6-4T Single Fairlies that made up the rest of the NWNGR's fleet, but it served the line well even as the slate industry declined and the railway fell into disrepair. By the time the NWNGR & PBSSR were combined and reopened as the Welsh Highland Railway in 1922-23, only Russell and the Fairlie "Moel Tryfan" remained as viable motive power. Unfortunately the new railway had poor luck and would only last about 15 years before closing, with Russell pulling the final train in 1937. In the final years of operation the WHR was leased by the neighboring Ffestiniog Railway, and Russell's height was cut in an attempt to use it on that line. However, the engine was too wide to fit through their tunnels and so when the WHR closed Russell was abandoned along with it. It would be brought back to life during World War II for use at a steel mill in Southern England, and after the war spend time serving a clay pit railway. During these years Russell was converted to an 0-6-2T. In 1954 the engine was rescued for preservation by the Birmingham Locomotive Club and sent to the newly reopened Talyllyn Railway for display. In 1964, the Welsh Highland Railway Limited was formed with the goal of rebuilding the railway as a heritage line. Russell was donated to them in 1965 and work began on rebuilding the locomotive to its original condition, being completed in 1987. However, Russell was not to be used on its own home rails - while the rebuild was taking place, the WHRL, Ffestiniog Railway, and other parties were engaged in a long and complicated legal battle for control of the WHR right of way. In the meantime, a former standard gauge spur that paralleled the narrow gauge was purchased and converted into a short museum railway. Ultimately, the Ffestiniog would be granted the right to rebuild the WHR, and they began construction from Caernarfon in 1997. To avoid confusion, the WHRL changed their name first to Welsh Highland Railway (Porthmadog) and later to Welsh Highland Heritage Railway. While the fight for control of the railway was bitter, relations have improved between the organizations over recent years and in 2018 and 19 Russell ran with excursion trains as far as Beddgelert. On July 24, 2022, the day after my visit, Russell ran the entire length of its former home rails to Dinas in preparation for an event the following weekend, celebrating the original 1922 reopening of the railway.

[@Thomasboi01]

Look it's Fearless Freddie! Russell is a cute little steam engine! ❤❤❤❤

[@frglee]

Russel is a little star - every time it ventures out on the WHR there is never any shortage of fans and photographers. Now that the engine and coach set have proven themselves on the 'main line', here's hoping we see this historic and beautifully restored lomomotive travelling out on it more often, perhaps with private charters. In the meantime runs on the short WHHR will have to suffice.

[@SmokyMtnSteam]

A nice little engine indeed, I'd love to see it puffing across Snowdonia myself someday,

[@kellyashfordtrains2642]

Way back in the 1990s, when I was younger, I had a few rides on the Fairbourne & Barmouth Light Railway. On one or two occasions, I was lucky enough to ride behind Russell in sunshine. The engine was on loan at the time. Thanks for bringing back this sort of railway memory for me.😂

[@SmokyMtnSteam]

No problem! Russell is a great little engine.

[@RailfanLoy]

His subscribers:how many railways did you go to.
smoky mountain steam:yes

[@SmokyMtnSteam]

In 9 days I saw 16 steam locos on 9 heritage railways plus 1 on the mainline. Considering most of what I had planned to see got cancelled by the heatwave I think I did pretty good.

[@williamfischer5336]

@@SmokyMtnSteam With that being said, what is your official locomotive count at now?

[@SmokyMtnSteam]

@@williamfischer5336 I have one more video I'll post in a few days covering some steam I saw in England on my way to airport, that will bring the total number of steam locos featured on this channel up to 80. I'm getting closer to 100!

[@VojtovySumavskeVlakyCZ]

Nice video like and subscribed from Czech Republic 🙂👍👍👍🔔🇨🇿🇪🇺

[@SmokyMtnSteam]

Děkuju vám! I'm glad you enjoyed the video.