Moel Tryfan (locomotive)
Encyclopedia
Moel Tryfan was a narrow gauge
steam locomotive
built for use on the North Wales Narrow Gauge Railways
(NWNGRs) in 1875. The locomotive was an single Fairlie
locomotive built by the Vulcan Foundry
near Manchester.Mitchell 1993, page VIII It spent its entire working life on the NWNGRs and its successors the Welsh Highland Railway
(WHR) and the Ffestiniog Railway
(FfR).
with Rhyd Ddu
, north west of Beddgelert
. Two identical locomotives were ordered from the Vulcan Foundry to work the new railway. They were built to Fairlie's patent for articulated locomotive
s and were designed by George Percival Spooner
, son of Charles Eaton Spooner, the manager of the nearby FfR.
The locomotives were the first s in the British Isles. They were named Moel Tryfan and Snowdon Ranger. Moel Tryfan was named after the local mountain
where the slate quarries
that provided most of the railway's commerce were located. The locomotives entered service in 1875. In 1903, Moel Tryfan underwent a major overhaul (with new boilers and fireboxes) at Davies and Metcalfe
in Manchester
, a year after Snowdon Ranger. Despite these repairs, one of these two locomotives was dilapidated by 1908. On 19th March J C Russell, the Receiver and Manager, applied to the Chancery Court for authority to spend £1,300 to purchase a new locomotive (Gowrie delivered later that year). Russell's affidavit explained that it was "in place of one of the original locomotives which has been running since the Line was opened in August 1877. In spite of constant renewals and repairs one of the old Engines is quite worn out and the Engineer of the Company (Mr Aitchison) has informed me it is impossible to renew it except by rebuilding which is practically the same as acquiring a new Engine and that it would be less efficient, less powerful, and less economical in working than the proposed new Engine." Snowdon Ranger was photographed at Dinas on 23rd June 1909 and new piston rings were ordered for the engine in September 1910 and Moel Tryfan in February 1911. But in February 1914 GC Aitchison (who had taken over as Receiver and Manager following Russell's death in 1912) swore an affidavit saying there were three engines, two of which (Moel Tryfan and Russell) had "collapsed", needing money spent on them. The third engine he referred to was presumably Gowrie, which implies that Snowdon Ranger had gone (or at least been taken out of service. It has been recorded that the best components of both locomotives were amalgamated into a single maintainable unit (although there is no evidence that a ten-year-old boiler was retained as a spare). The frames from Snowdon Ranger (which were renewed by Hunslet in 1908) are said to have been placed under the superstructure of Moel Tryfan, with the combined locomotive taking the latter name. This evidence suggests a date for the demise of Snowdon Ranger of around 1912 or 1913.
along with Russell. Of the two Moel Tryfan was in the poorest condition, so when services were resumed as the WHR in July 1922, Russell performed the majority of the work. By November of that year, Moel Tryfan was in such a poor condition that it was taken out of service, only to be used in emergencies.
In order to operate the new railway efficiently, Moel Tryfan was sent to the Boston Lodge
works of the neighboring FfR for repairs in July 1923. During this repair, the locomotive was cut down in order to enable it to work on the Ffestiniog Railway, whose loading gauge
was considerably smaller than the WHR's. This involved reducing the height of the locomotive's cab, funnel and dome. Boiler repairs were also undertaken and the locomotive then re-entered service and continued in use until 1937, when the FfR formally acquire the WHR.
in 1939. No further work was done on the locomotive and it was still in its dismantled state when the FfR closed in 1946.Boyd 1988, page 56
The remains of Moel Tryfan survived long enough to become part of the fleet of the restored Ffestiniog Railway in the early 1950s. However by this time it was little more than a rusting hulk, and on 2 October 1954 it was towed to Harbour Station
where it was cut up for scrap. The proceeds from the sales of the remains were used to fund the further restoration of the Ffestiniog Railway. The trailing bogie survived and was ultimately used to provide pony trucks for the locomotives Linda and Blanche when they were converted from s into s along with the bogie frame, one side tank sheet and the air receiver..Mitchell 1996, page 16
Narrow gauge
A narrow gauge railway is a railway that has a track gauge narrower than the of standard gauge railways. Most existing narrow gauge railways have gauges of between and .- Overview :...
steam locomotive
Steam locomotive
A steam locomotive is a railway locomotive that produces its power through a steam engine. These locomotives are fueled by burning some combustible material, usually coal, wood or oil, to produce steam in a boiler, which drives the steam engine...
built for use on the North Wales Narrow Gauge Railways
North Wales Narrow Gauge Railways
The North Wales Narrow Gauge Railways was a gauge railway running from Dinas to Bryngwyn, Wales, which was authorised by Act of Parliament 1872. The same act authorised a branch from Tryfan Junction to South Snowdon...
(NWNGRs) in 1875. The locomotive was an single Fairlie
Fairlie
A Fairlie is a type of articulated steam locomotive that has the driving wheels on bogies. The locomotive may be double-ended or single ended...
locomotive built by the Vulcan Foundry
Vulcan Foundry
Vulcan Foundry was a British locomotive builder sited at Newton-le-Willows, Lancashire .-History:It was originally opened in 1832 as Charles Tayleur and Company to produce girders for bridges, switches and crossings, and other ironwork following the opening of the Liverpool and Manchester Railway...
near Manchester.Mitchell 1993, page VIII It spent its entire working life on the NWNGRs and its successors the Welsh Highland Railway
Welsh Highland Railway
The Welsh Highland Railway is a long restored narrow gauge heritage railway in North Wales, operating from Caernarfon to Porthmadog, and passing through a number of popular tourist destinations including Beddgelert and the Aberglaslyn Pass. At Porthmadog it connects with the Ffestiniog Railway...
(WHR) and the Ffestiniog Railway
Ffestiniog Railway
The Ffestiniog Railway is a narrow gauge heritage railway, located in Gwynedd, Wales. It is a major tourist attraction located mainly within the Snowdonia National Park....
(FfR).
North Wales Narrow Gauge Railways
The North Wales Narrow Gauge Railways was an ambitious scheme to lay gauge railways through many of the valleys of north Wales. Only one of the proposed lines was built, connecting Dinas Junction, near CaernarfonCaernarfon
Caernarfon is a Royal town, community and port in Gwynedd, Wales, with a population of 9,611. It lies along the A487 road, on the east banks of the Menai Straits, opposite the Isle of Anglesey. The city of Bangor is to the northeast, while Snowdonia fringes Caernarfon to the east and southeast...
with Rhyd Ddu
Rhyd Ddu
Rhyd Ddu is small village in Snowdonia, North Wales.Rhyd Ddu is well known as a popular starting point for walks up Snowdon , Moel Hebog, Yr Aran and the Nantlle Ridge....
, north west of Beddgelert
Beddgelert
Beddgelert, or in older English spelling often Bedgellert, is a village and community in the Snowdonia area of Gwynedd, Wales. It is reputed to be named after the legendary hound Gelert. Population 617.- History:...
. Two identical locomotives were ordered from the Vulcan Foundry to work the new railway. They were built to Fairlie's patent for articulated locomotive
Articulated locomotive
Articulated locomotive usually means a steam locomotive with one or more engine units which can move independent of the main frame. This is done to allow a longer locomotive to negotiate tighter curves...
s and were designed by George Percival Spooner
The Spooners of Porthmadog
The Spooners of Porthmadog refers to the Spooner family of Porthmadog, North Wales who made important contributions to the development of narrow gauge railways both locally and throughout the world. James Spooner, together with his sons James Swinton and Charles Easton and other members of their...
, son of Charles Eaton Spooner, the manager of the nearby FfR.
The locomotives were the first s in the British Isles. They were named Moel Tryfan and Snowdon Ranger. Moel Tryfan was named after the local mountain
Moel Tryfan
Moel Tryfan is a small mountain near the villages of Rhosgadfan, Y Fron and Betws Garmon, in northern Gwynedd. The higher and more famous peak of Tryfan above Dyffryn Ogwen has also sometimes been referred to as "Moel Tryfan" in the past....
where the slate quarries
Slate industry
The slate industry is the industry related to the extraction and processing of slate. Slate is either quarried from a slate quarry or reached by tunneling in a slate mine. Common uses for slate include as a roofing material, a flooring material, gravestones and memorial tablets, and for electrical...
that provided most of the railway's commerce were located. The locomotives entered service in 1875. In 1903, Moel Tryfan underwent a major overhaul (with new boilers and fireboxes) at Davies and Metcalfe
Davies and Metcalfe
Davies and Metcalfe Ltd was a railway equipment and locomotive manufacturer from Romiley, Manchester, England originally founded in Aberystwyth in 1878...
in Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
, a year after Snowdon Ranger. Despite these repairs, one of these two locomotives was dilapidated by 1908. On 19th March J C Russell, the Receiver and Manager, applied to the Chancery Court for authority to spend £1,300 to purchase a new locomotive (Gowrie delivered later that year). Russell's affidavit explained that it was "in place of one of the original locomotives which has been running since the Line was opened in August 1877. In spite of constant renewals and repairs one of the old Engines is quite worn out and the Engineer of the Company (Mr Aitchison) has informed me it is impossible to renew it except by rebuilding which is practically the same as acquiring a new Engine and that it would be less efficient, less powerful, and less economical in working than the proposed new Engine." Snowdon Ranger was photographed at Dinas on 23rd June 1909 and new piston rings were ordered for the engine in September 1910 and Moel Tryfan in February 1911. But in February 1914 GC Aitchison (who had taken over as Receiver and Manager following Russell's death in 1912) swore an affidavit saying there were three engines, two of which (Moel Tryfan and Russell) had "collapsed", needing money spent on them. The third engine he referred to was presumably Gowrie, which implies that Snowdon Ranger had gone (or at least been taken out of service. It has been recorded that the best components of both locomotives were amalgamated into a single maintainable unit (although there is no evidence that a ten-year-old boiler was retained as a spare). The frames from Snowdon Ranger (which were renewed by Hunslet in 1908) are said to have been placed under the superstructure of Moel Tryfan, with the combined locomotive taking the latter name. This evidence suggests a date for the demise of Snowdon Ranger of around 1912 or 1913.
Welsh Highland Railway
Following the closure of the NWNGRs, Moel Tryfan was stored in the locomotive shed at DinasDinas, Gwynedd
Dinas is a large hamlet near Bontnewydd, Caernarfon, in Gwynedd, north-west Wales.It is in the ancient parish and modern community of Llanwnda and is served by the parish church of St...
along with Russell. Of the two Moel Tryfan was in the poorest condition, so when services were resumed as the WHR in July 1922, Russell performed the majority of the work. By November of that year, Moel Tryfan was in such a poor condition that it was taken out of service, only to be used in emergencies.
In order to operate the new railway efficiently, Moel Tryfan was sent to the Boston Lodge
Boston Lodge
This article is about the locomotive works. For the station see Boston Lodge Halt.Boston Lodge is situated at Penrhyn Isa, Minffordd, Penrhyndeudraeth, on the A487 road about 1 mile SE across the Afon Glaslyn causeway from Porthmadog, Gwynedd in north-west Wales.It has a station on the Ffestiniog...
works of the neighboring FfR for repairs in July 1923. During this repair, the locomotive was cut down in order to enable it to work on the Ffestiniog Railway, whose loading gauge
Loading gauge
A loading gauge defines the maximum height and width for railway vehicles and their loads to ensure safe passage through bridges, tunnels and other structures...
was considerably smaller than the WHR's. This involved reducing the height of the locomotive's cab, funnel and dome. Boiler repairs were also undertaken and the locomotive then re-entered service and continued in use until 1937, when the FfR formally acquire the WHR.
Ffestiniog Railway
After the takeover of the WHR, the FfR moved Moel Tryfan to Boston Lodge for overhaul. The locomotive was stripped down to allow much needed repairs to its firebox and boiler. However repair work had not started by the outbreak of World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
in 1939. No further work was done on the locomotive and it was still in its dismantled state when the FfR closed in 1946.Boyd 1988, page 56
The remains of Moel Tryfan survived long enough to become part of the fleet of the restored Ffestiniog Railway in the early 1950s. However by this time it was little more than a rusting hulk, and on 2 October 1954 it was towed to Harbour Station
Porthmadog Harbour railway station
Porthmadog Harbour station in North Wales is the southern passenger terminus of two narrow gauge railways: the Ffestiniog Railway, which was built in 1836 to carry dressed slate from Blaenau Ffestiniog to Porthmadog for export by sea, and the Welsh Highland Railway, built in 1923, which runs to...
where it was cut up for scrap. The proceeds from the sales of the remains were used to fund the further restoration of the Ffestiniog Railway. The trailing bogie survived and was ultimately used to provide pony trucks for the locomotives Linda and Blanche when they were converted from s into s along with the bogie frame, one side tank sheet and the air receiver..Mitchell 1996, page 16