On 27th June 2020, Welsh Pony was steamed for the first time since 1940. This is part three of the days proceedings which sees the loco finally moving under its own steam for the first time in eighty years.
What can I say, I am just so pleased to see this lovely historic locomotive back in steam and looking amazing. I was very worried in the 1990s' when I was cleaning around and on the locomotive and tender that it was past restoration, but as usual the amazing team at Boston Lodge have pulled out all the stops and I am actually feeling very emotional about seeing it running. Well done to all concerned, what a fantastic job.
it must have been simply a amazing private event for the Ffestining railway to be able to steam up Welsh Pony this England class engine for the first time in 80 years, it must have been a great moment for everyone when they saw her move under her own steam
To Welsh Pony, let me offer the ancient steppe nomad salute: "May you run like the wind!" I know how much money,work, dedication and sheer effort went into it. Amazing to see it steam once more. Aye, great job lads!
I'm glad RU-vid recommended this video to me, I just rewatched all the updates until now. Congrats to the team and all volunteers for managing to get Welsh Pony steamed up again, you've made a fantastic accomplishment. Also thanks for sharing this process online with everyone. Hope to visit one day!
Go for it, Welsh Pony. Nothing can outsmart you. You could find yourself taking passengers for a ride before you know it. Lockdown and isolation are slowly lifting as I'm sure you're already aware of. Preserved railways are opening one by one. If you're lucky, my Little Pony, your railway might reopen just before Christmas. If not sooner than that, of course. Happy Steaming to you, Prince, Maid Marian, Blanche and all your other Ffestiniog Railway friends. May Lady Luck bring in the sunshine for all of you.
despite the world we are in right now, there are some things that are truly beautiful and that put smiles onto anyone's face and that shine through the cracks of a broken world. this, is one of those times. well done. you put a smile on not just mine, but many other faces seeing something really special like welsh pony back in action, it is truly amazing may welsh pony and all the other engines on your railway have dry rails and smooth running!
as a talyllyn trainee, you've convinced me to come down to film! it'd certainly be interesting in comparison! well done putting no.5 back into service, i enjoyed this a lot :)
On a dismal Saturday in early 1972 the ‘Signal Gang’ were asked to assist in moving the ‘Dead Loco line’ by the late Paul Dukes. This entailed using bars and brute force to enable the wheels to move a quarter of a turn, the purpose of this exercise I was told was to stop the axles seizing into the white-metal bearings. If I recall, at that time Welsh Pony was not quite the last loco before the stops, but was at some point moved as well. However, comments were made by the Works staff that there was probably little point as it was considered at that juncture that ‘it’ and the remnants of another loco (which I can’t recollect the name) were beyond economic recovery; also the space was needed with time and monies were being used for an urgently needed new Double Engine. , ‘Thank the Gods’ it somehow survived, I don’t think anyone at that time had the ‘guts’ to take the cutting torch to it ! Just wonderful to see it back in work, a superlative and almost unbelievable restoration. I’ll have to find the photos (transparencies) if they have survived I took at that time to remind myself of the state it was in nearly 50 years ago !
Another fantastic engineering achievement at Boston Lodge works and congratulations to all involved, including those who helped fund it. My dad first took me to Portmadoc in around 1967 when I was just five or six and have visited the line many times since. The "England locos" are very special and it has been reassuring to see each addition to the running fleet since Prince gallantly carried the flag those years ago. If I am right I think I have seen Welsh Pony on a plinth in Blaenau and at the Harbour station, and maybe also inside Spooners ? Great to see it back in steam, but now is the time to resurrect my Festiniog favourite "Mountaineer". Last time I saw her in steam was on a trip from Aberystwyth to Devils Bridge. How fantastic would it be to be able to repeat that !!!
Congratulations on such a huge success! It'd also be nice if Little Giant still existed, but who knows. Maybe this'll encourage a group that want to build a replica!
Ryno Dynomyte would be good to see princess in steam again, specially since there’s going to be a replicated mountaineer. as for the surviving parts of little giant, they are: his nameplates, 2 tenders he used (now owned by prince and linda), his connecting rods and his rear buffer beam (now owned by moelwyn) And a cab side that’s privately owned in bangor
congrats. I know covid has made things difficult, but if it goes ahead will details/timings of superpower be available before the event. always been put off going due to the lack of being able to plan what trains i want to travel/phot etc...
Nice clip and a worthy task magnificantly carried out. One question please; it seems to use coal briquettes as fuel, but has no fireman. ¿Has it got an automatic stoker?
Amazing job , I thought she was destined to be static , one more now And a George England's quartet will be back complete , Process with an open cab would be wonderful
did the old Ffestininog railway write down the date that their engines last ran? was the Englands taken out of service one by one? until Princess was the only one left in steam. is it at all possible that Welsh pony had a black livery when she was last steamed by the old company? the livery that she has at the moment reminds me of the well known war time black livery.
My 5 year old son at the time put 5 pound coins in the pot when we visited you about 3 years ago for this engine. Cant wait to show him this video when he gets home from school today
Welsh Pony is what is known as a Large England whereas Prince and Palmerston both started life as Small Englands. Prince has somewhat grown over the years of preservation so size wise is about the same. As to livery... wait and see.