European Railroad Discussion > Boston Lodge Works

Boston Lodge Works on the Ffestiniog Railway claims to be the oldest working locomotive works in the world and the only one to have built locomotives in three separate centuries - the 19th, 20th and 21st. Last Friday, on the eve of the Snowdonian special over the combined railway, the participants got a behind the scenes tour of Boston Lodge.

First picture is of a new piece of MoW equipment, a well wagon that gets plant to inaccessible locations - of which both railways have many.

There were seven engines in steam on shed on Friday evening, including the modified Lynton & Barnstaple replica Manning Wardle 2-6-2T Lyd and NGG16 Garratt 138, the former was built in 2011, the latter in 1958.

Here's Mel Finzer with Linda on the left and David Lloyd Geoge, the most recent Double Fairlie from 1999, on the right. Last time i saw DL-G it was in works grey, now it's been restored to the rather lovely Indian Red. Linda was simmering lightly whilst DL-G was cold



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/25/15 04:20 by 86235.

---

---

---

Merddin Emrys having had its fire cleaned over the pit is run into the shed next to single Fairlie Taliesin, rebuilt at Boston Lodge in 1999 although precious little of the original survived.

All three of these are in steam, on the left is Taliesin, on the right 0-4-0STT Prince (George England 1863) and behind is double Fairlie Merddin Emrys.

Standing in this shed surrounded by gently simmering steam engines, with the acid tang of coal smoke mixed with oil hanging in the air, is a magical experience, Linda is facing us, she too was ready for service on the Snowdonian.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 04/26/15 00:24 by 86235.

---

---

---

Elsewhere we came across Earl of Merioneth, which was the first new locomotive to be built at Boston Lodge in the modern era, being completed in 1979. Its angular appearance isn't to everybody's taste and there are plans to restore it to a more traditional appearance at its next overhaul. Traditional shaped tanks have been made, but they need some work done to make them suitable now Earl's been converted to coal firing. In the meantime it remains one of the railway's most reliable workhorses.

And this is a Fairlie power bogie, possibly one of the old ones off David Lloyd George, which has received new bogies complete with a monobloc cylinder and piston valve casting. The principle is used today on modern diesel and electric locomotives

Finally, waiting patiently to take us back to Harbour station Funkey diesel Vale of Ffestiniog. To the amusement of many of the participants waiting to board, the ejector on VoF would not create a vacuum to release the brakes until it was struck with a hammer by the drivert, acting under instructions from Paul Lewin, the General Manager.

 



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/25/15 04:25 by 86235.

---

---

---

Excellent report from up North Nick, thank you!

Interesting to find this doubleheaded locomotive!