Preserved Railway 2024 Narrow Gauge

Preserved Railway 2024: Narrow Gauge
A look back at narrow railway gauge highlights during 2024. We start off looking at Corris Railway's new build Falcon Number 10, which was joined for a period by original Corris Number 3, which is now Talyllyn Railway's Sir Hadyn. The pair of locos then starred in a series of events at the Talyllyn Railway including the Awdry Extravaganza were Sir Hadyn appeared as Sir Handel.
The Vale of Rheidol's former Great Western standard gauge engine shed at Aberystwyth opened to the public as a new multi purpose exhibition hall, with exhibits including the Padarn Railway Fire Queen. The team at Aber also overhauled Ffestiniog Railway Number 4 Palmerston which ran the line to Devil's Bridge over the summer including staring at a Steam Festival and taking part in a photo charter.
Threlkeld's annual summer event saw four Bagnall saddle tanks staring, including the West Lancs Light Railway's recently restored Dinorwic loco Sybil.
Visiting Ffestiniog in the Spring was Richmond Light Railway's pair of Decauville Lily and Chuquitanta which operated a series of goods train up to Tan-y-bwlch.
Quarry Hunslet action is seen with Sybil Mary visiting Thelkeld Quarry and Mining Museum, Margaret and Hugh Napier on footplate experience duties, with Hugh Napier also visiting Beamish. Irish Mail is captured on a goods train on the West Lancs while Britomart is captured near Rhiw Goch with a Ffestiniog goods during Bygones Weekend in the rain.
Talyllyn Number 1 is now in service in a beautiful blue livery. On the Welsh Highland, the pioneer K1 Garratt returned home for the Autumn from Statfold and NG15 134 steamed for the first time in Wales (looking forward to seeing more of this loco in 2025).
Diesels are seen on the Talyllyn Railway, Welsh Highland Railway and West Lancs Light Railway.
Moving to smaller gauge, miniature railway action is seen at Rhyl, Trago Mills and Pecorama (Beer Heights Light Railway during Loco Week)
www.preservedrailway.co.uk
(C) Lee Andrew Davies 2024