... and a few years ago at Porthmadog.
I really can't remember when I took this record shot, I'd guess at late '80s, early '90s. Alco (Cooke works) 2-6-2T 'Mountaineer' has been out of traffic now for some time, so any educated guesses at a date would be good to hear.
These 2ft gauge 'Prairie' tanks were one of a few basic short life expectancy locomotives built for operation on the supply lines of 'The Western Front' during WW1. Rival manufacturer Baldwin produced a similar but more numerous 4-6-0T ... one of which No590 worked later in peace time on the original Welsh Highland Railway. British manufacture Hunslet of Leeds also built large numbers of 4-6-0 tank locomotives for the WD, and one of these too latterly saw use on the WHR. Before coming to the Ffestiniog, 'Mountaineer' ... though obviously not yet so named, worked on a sugar beet tramway in France.
I gather the Alco has never been particularly popular with FR crews, though I'm not sure why. I've always enjoyed riding behind it and quite like it's appearance, though I realise that's no real recommendation!
... and a few years ago at Porthmadog.
I really can't remember when I took this record shot, I'd guess at late '80s, early '90s. Alco (Cooke works) 2-6-2T 'Mountaineer' has been out of traffic now for some time, so any educated guesses at a date would be good to hear.
These 2ft gauge 'Prairie' tanks were one of a few basic short life expectancy locomotives built for operation on the supply lines of 'The Western Front' during WW1. Rival manufacturer Baldwin produced a similar but more numerous 4-6-0T ... one of which No590 worked later in peace time on the original Welsh Highland Railway. British manufacture Hunslet of Leeds also built large numbers of 4-6-0 tank locomotives for the WD, and one of these too latterly saw use on the WHR. Before coming to the Ffestiniog, 'Mountaineer' ... though obviously not yet so named, worked on a sugar beet tramway in France.
I gather the Alco has never been particularly popular with FR crews, though I'm not sure why. I've always enjoyed riding behind it and quite like it's appearance, though I realise that's no real recommendation!