'Fairlie' locomotive 'Earl Meirionnydd', dating from 1979, waiting to depart from Porthmadog Harbour station with a Ffestiniog Railway train to Blaenau Ffestiniog on 22nd May 2016. The first double-bogied articulated steam locomotives, known as 'Fairlies' after their designer, Robert Francis Fairlie (1831-1885) were introduced to the Ffestiniog Railway in 1869. Constructed with swivelling power bogies, they enable longer trains to be hauled without increasing manpower costs and have long boilers with tall chimneys at both ends, giving them a very striking appearance. The FR is still building 'Fairlies' today and some can now be seen working as far afield as Australia and USA. This photo was taken while I was waiting to have my first ever ride on the Welsh Highland Railway to Caernarfon; I travelled on the FR to Blaenau Ffestiniog the following day.

Location: Porthmadog Harbour [FR]

Original line: Festiniog Railway

Photographer: David Bosher

Contact photographer: David Bosher

Contact editor

Photosets: Ffestiniog Railway 2016 and 2019  Welsh stations, National and Heritage Lines 1980-2022  

Date: 22/05/2016

Image number: 82535

eBay has some items listed which may be of interest. RailScot is an eBay affiliate. Buying an item may help offset the running costs of the site. Further items