Ffestiniog Railway double-ended Fairlie locomotive Merdinn Emrys at Tan-y-Bwlch station in the 1930s
The Ffestiniog Railway or Rheilffordd Ffestiniog (previously spelled Festiniog Railway) is a narrow gauge railway running from Porthmadog Harbour Station to Blaenau Ffestiniog in North Wales. Built, owned and operated by the Festiniog Railway Company it opened in 1836 and continues to operate as a popular tourist attraction. The line was opened in 1836 as a carrier of slate from the quarries to the ports. Steam locomotives, including the famous Double Fairlies, and passenger trains were introduced in the 1860s. During the first half of the 20th century slate traffic declined but tourist traffic picked up. The line closed in 1946 but control of the company was obtained by a group enthusiasts and transferred to a charitable trust. The line was progressively re-opened (including the famous deviation) and continues to thrive as a popular tourist attraction. Merddin Emrys was the first locomotive to be built by the Festiniog Railway Company in its own workshops at Boston Lodge and the third FR Double Fairlie. Merddin Emrys was built in 1879 to the design of George Percival Spooner and has spent its entire working life on the Festiniog Railway. When the railway closed in 1946 Merddin was the only double engine still available for service. Merddin was returned to service in 1961 and has been much rebuilt since. It was reboilered in 1970 and converted to oil burning in 1973. The locomotive was rebuilt again in 1988 when the opportunity was taken to give it a more heritage style appearance. In 2007, as part of the FR's fuel diversification process, the locomotive reverted to coal firing. Merddin Emrys is named after a legendary Welsh wizard (more often spelled Myrddin Emrys) who later became the basis for the wizard Merlin of Arthurian legend
Size: 4125px × 2622px
Location: Tan-y-Bwlch station Gwynedd Wales
Photo credit: © Digbydachshund / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: double-ended, emrys, fairlie, festiniog, ffestiniog, gauge, gwynedd, locomotive, merdinn, narrow, railway, steam, tan--bwlch, tower, wales, water
