Monday, April 13, 2015

130 year old steam train engine restored and back to running the rails


 Pete Waterman re-launched the 130 year old steam engine Winifred, in Gwynedd. It's got it's own Facebook page! https://www.facebook.com/BalaLakeRailway?rf=110078215752017

The steam engine, Winifred, was built in Leeds before being transferred to the Penrhyn Quarry, near Bethesda, on 13 April 1885. In 1964 Winifred was sold to a Canadian who shipped the train out to the USA.

A huge railway enthusiast, Waterman originally worked as a fireman on steam trains and has since founded Britain’s largest railway heritage business, London and North Western Railway Heritage Company. (and recently auctioned off his scale model collection http://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2015/03/pete-watermans-collection-of-model.html )

 Winifred has a considerable heritage itself having worked in slate quarries in north Wales for many years before retiring. After several decades – many of them in North American museums – Winifred was purchased by Bala Lake Railway supporter Julian Birley, and returned back to Wales to be based at Bala in 2012.



 The locomotive has since been returned to working order by the railway’s chief engineer, Rob Houghton.

http://www.cambrian-news.co.uk/news/i/47304/
http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-north-west-wales-32252349

- by Be For

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