The Ffestiniog Railway owns and operates a number of heritage and modern-day steam and diesel locomotives. A full list of these locomotives with details of their operational status is provided below.
Locomotives The list includes past locomotives and present locomotives that are owned by, or permanently housed at, the Ffestiniog Railway:
Steam locomotives NumberNameImageWhyte typeDatebuiltDate scrappedBuilderClassNotesAvailable for Service1Princess1863n/aGeorge England and Co.Small EnglandOne of the first two delivered in July 1863 and the first to be steamed. It was also the last to be used before the line closed in 1946. Restored cosmetically for the 150th anniversary of steam on the railway in 2013. Visited Kings Cross Station in February 2016No2Prince1863n/aGeorge England and Co.Small EnglandThe oldest operable Ffestiniog Railway steam locomotive. Returned to service in time for the 150th anniversary of steam on the railway in 2013. Went out of service in 2023 for its 10-yearly overhaulYes3 (1)Mountaineer18631879George England and Co.Small EnglandThe first locomotive delivered to the Ffestiniog railway. Delivered as a side tank locomotive and the only one of the George England locomotives never to carry a saddle tank. Dismantled in 1879 when it was considered to be worn out. Some parts were donated to the other George England locomotives.No4Palmerston1864n/aGeorge England and Co.Small EnglandRestored to service in 1993 after many years out of use, including a period when used as a stationary boiler at Boston Lodge. Returned to service in 2015 following its annual ten-yearly overhaul.Yes5Welsh Pony1867n/aGeorge England and Co.Large EnglandWelsh Pony was the first of the Large England class, being delivered in July 1867. It ran until February 1940. It was cosmetically restored for the Ffestiniog Railway's Steam 150 event in May 2013. It has since been restored to full working order; its first run after restoration was on 27 June 2020. New inner frames, new cylinders, and a new boiler were fitted, with older parts fitted back around these core items.Yes6Little GiantAugust 18671929George England and Co.Large EnglandWorks number 235. Single slide-bar replaced in 1868. Rebuilt in 1887 with a new boiler. New steel frames fitted in 1890. D-shaped smokebox fitted in 1893. Extensively rebuilt with a new boiler in 1904. Overhauled in 1920, but condemned in 1929 and boiler fitted to Palmerston in 1933.No7 (1)Little Wonder18691882George England and Co.Double FairlieScrapped 1882. First Fairlie locomotive built for the Ffestiniog Railway.No8 (1)James Spooner18721930Avonside Engine Co.Double FairlieBuilt by Avonside Engine Co. to G.P.Spooner's design, it was first recorded as running in December 1872. It was last rebuilt with a wagon-top boiler in 1908. Last steamed in 1928 and dismantled for boiler work, before being condemned in 1930.No8 (2)James Spooner2023n/aBoston LodgeDouble FairlieOn completion became the most recent Double Fairlie locomotive in the world. Announcement of replacement locomotive carrying this name and number made by FRCo in March 2016. Locomotive completed in 2023.Yes9 (1)/7 (2)Taliesin1876/19991924Vulcan Foundry/ Boston LodgeSingle FairlieReplica Single Fairlie locomotive built at Boston Lodge works in 1999. The original 1876-built locomotive was condemned in 1924. The replica used a few parts from the original (therefore making it a rebuild) but was largely built from scratch. Named after the 6th century Welsh poet Taliesin. Having been built for easy conversion between oil and coal firing, the locomotive has been coal-fired since 2007. In service and usually found on low season trains. Fitted with piston valves and boiler pressure increased to 200 psi in 2011.Yes10Merddin Emrys1879n/aBoston LodgeDouble FairlieThe first Double Fairlie to be built at Boston Lodge Works. The oldest operating Double Fairlie on the railway. Named after the 6th century Welsh poet. The locomotive underwent a major rebuild in 1987/8. Returned to steam in 2005 and converted to coal firing during the winter of 2006/2007. Returned to service in 2016 following an annual ten-yearly overhaul.Yes11 (1)/3 (2)Livingston Thompson1885n/aBoston LodgeDouble FairlieWithdrawn 1971 and restored 1988 as a static display at the National Railway Museum in York. Named Taliesin II from 1932 until 1961, when it was renamed Earl of Merioneth. In 1988 its original name was restored after Earl of Merioneth II had been built.No11 (2)Earl of Merioneth II1979n/aBoston LodgeDouble FairlieThe first Double Fairlie built by the restored Ffestiniog Railway, and the only one of its kind to deviate from the classic design with the cuboid side tanks. Converted to coal firing in 2006. Her final date in service was on Sun 8 April 2018 prior to the expiry of her boiler ticket.
The loco requires a new boiler, boiler cradle, smokeboxes, chimneys and water tanks. Its current power bogies are to be overhauled for use on newbuild double Fairlie "James Spooner", it will however be re-united with its original power bogies so that a future overhaul is not deferred. No12David Lloyd George1992n/aBoston LodgeDouble FairlieThe second-most recent Double Fairlie locomotive in the world and also the most powerful locomotive on the railway. Named after the Welsh statesman. Originally built to burn oil rather than coal. Returned to service in May 2014 following overhaul, fitting of new power bogies and conversion to coal firing.Yes -Blanche1893n/aHunslet Engine Co.Penrhyn Mainline HunsletOriginally an running on the Penrhyn Quarry Railway, purchased by the Festiniog Railway in 1963. Rebuilt as in 1972, with the pony truck from Moel Tryfan, an engine used on the original Welsh Highland Railway. Received a new boiler in 2003. A ten-yearly overhaul was completed in December 2017.Yes -Linda1893n/aHunslet Engine Co.Penrhyn Mainline HunsletOriginally an running on the Penrhyn Quarry Railway, hired by the Ffestiniog Railway in 1962, and purchased in December 1963. Named after Linda Blanche Douglas-Pennant. Returned to service in 2011 after a lengthy seven-year overhaul. Withdrawn for an extensive overhaul in 2021. Repainting was completed in January 2024.Yes -Mountaineer II1917n/aALCOBritish War Department Light Railways 2-6-2TBuilt for the British Army's use in World War I; later ran on the Tramway de Pithiviers à Toury in France; purchased by a supporter of the Festiniog Railway in 1967. A regular performer for four decades, the locomotive last operated in 2006 and is currently awaiting overhaul. Scoping of overhaul currently underway and work expected to start when Welsh Pony is completed.FRCo GMNo -Britomart1899n/aHunslet Engine Co.Quarry HunsletUsed as a shunting engine around Boston Lodge and Harbour station; occasionally ventures up the line for specials and footplate rides at Tan-y-bwlch and Blaenau stations during special events. A ten-yearly overhaul was completed in 2017.Yes -Lilla1891n/aHunslet Engine Co.Large HunsletOriginally built for Cilgwyn Quarry and transferred to Penrhyn Quarry in 1921 Lilla is a unique loco. Saved for preservation by Bernard Latham. New boiler built at Boston Lodge and fitted in 2008. Supported by group of volunteers. Underwent an overhaul in 2019.Yes -Hugh Napier1904n/aHunslet Engine Co.Quarry HunsletOwned by the National Trust. On long-term loan to Ffestiniog Railway Company and supported by volunteer team. Ten-yearly overhaul completed in 2020.Yes 14Lyd2010n/aBoston LodgeLynton and Barnstaple Manning WardleBuilt at Boston Lodge works as a replica of the Manning Wardle locomotive Lew built for the Lynton and Barnstaple Railway in 1925. Sister locomotives were scrapped in 1935 (Lew itself was shipped to Brazil and its subsequent fate remains a mystery). Lyd entered traffic in 2010 wearing unlined black livery before being turned out in lined BR black livery in 2011. In 2012 it was repainted into a Southern Railway livery. First ten-yearly overhaul completed June 2021.Yes - Dahuichang 41988n/aHarbin WorksChina Railways C2Privately purchased in 2006, now in purpose built workshop and actively being restored at Boston Lodge. One of the world's last commercially built narrow gauge steam locomotives for industrial use. Re-gauged from 30" to 1 ft 11.5 ". This is not yet classified as an FR loco.No
Diesel locomotives NameImage Type Built BuilderNotesMary Ann1917Motor RailThe first locomotive to work the revived Ffestiniog Railway in 1954. Built for British Army use in WWI and bought by the Ffestiniog Railway in 1923. Returned to operation in 2004 following a rebuild. In 2016 it received a cab roof so as to represent its World War I appearance.Moelwyn1918BaldwinAnother ex-WWI locomotive, purchased by the Ffestiniog Railway in 1925. Originally an 0-4-0 but was extensively modified in the 1950s and 1960s with a new diesel engine, frame extensions and carrier wheels in order to improve its running. Received heavy overhauls in 1998 and 2009 and is mainly used as a yard shunter at Boston Lodge. Painted into World War I grey for the first time in preservation in 2016.Alistair1940Ruston and Hornsby An 11/13 hp model, works number. Purchased from the Smallford Depot of Bierrum & Partners Ltd. on 27 February 1968, after an appeal by Dan Wilson in Country Life magazine. It was used on the construction of the Deviation and to transport the Tan y Bwlch Station Master John Harrison. It was sold to the Gartell Light Railway in 1991. In 2016, it was operating at Bursledon Brickworks Museum.Upnor Castle1954F.C. HibberdBuilt for the Chattenden and Upnor Railway to gauge, bought from the Welshpool and Llanfair Light Railway in 1968. Now in use on the Welsh Highland Railway.Moel Hebog1955Hunslet Engine Co.Originally built for the National Coal Board as a flameproof mines locomotive. Purchased in 1969 and mainly used for permanent way maintenance trains.Conway Castle/Castell Conwy1958F.C. HibberdBuilt for the Admiralty's line at Ernesettle, purchased in 1981. Now in use at the Welsh Highland Railway. Bilingually named.Ashover1948F.C. HibberdBuilt for the Ashover Light Railway and purchased by the Ffestiniog Railway in 1981.The Lady Diana1957Motor RailPurchased by the Ffestiniog Railway in 1974.The Colonel1943Motor RailBuilt for the St. Albans Sand and Gravel Company, purchased by Colonel Campbell of Dduallt Manor for his private use on the Ffestiniog Railway. Purchased by the railway in 1982.Criccieth Castle/Castell Criccieth1995Boston LodgeBuilt by the railway from parts supplied by Baguley-Drewry. Used on passenger services. Bilingually named.Harlech Castle/Castell Harlech1983Baguley-DrewryBuilt for service in Mozambique, but purchased by the Ffestiniog Railway in 1988 after the order was cancelled. Used as an engineering locomotive and primarily stationed at Minffordd. Bilingually named.Harold1979Hunslet Engine Co.Built for the railway at North Bierley sewage farm and bought by the Ffestiniog in the early 1990s.Vale of FfestiniogB-Bd1967CH Funkey & Co (Pty) LtdBuilt for the Eastern Province Cement Company in Port Elizabeth, South Africa, purchased by the Ffestiniog Railway in 1996 and extensively rebuilt. Used for passenger services. The twin of 'Castell Caernarfon' on the Welsh Highland RailwayMoel-Y-Gest1965Hunslet Engine Co.Built for the Royal Naval Armaments Depot at Dean Hill in Wiltshire. Purchased by the Ffestiniog Railway in 2004 and in use as a shunter at Boston Lodge.BustaFairbanks MorseA platelayers trolley originally used by U.S. Army. Used on WHR as a platelayers trolley in the 1920s and 1930s.MonsterBoston LodgeA diminutive diesel built by the North Staffordshire Group for the Ffestiniog Railway. Sold to Rich Morris in 1976, and subsequently displayed at Gloddfa Ganol. Returned to the FR, and restored in 2010.
Battery locomotives