Beddgelert (Loco)
Original NWNGR engine *Beddgelert*
The original NWNGR had an engine by the name of Beddgelert, built by Hunslet for the Bryngwyn Branch traffic. As well as being twice as powerful as the Vulcan Fairlies it marked a departure on that (a) it was not a Fairlie despite the NWNGR's undertaking only to use Fairlies, and (b) it was not built by Vulcan Foundry, the usual supplier of locos purchased under C.E. Spooner's influence. The design appears to have been Hunslet's own.
The livery carried on NWNGR engines was difficult to define because it was very prone to weathering. It initially was a red/brown which has been likened to Midland Railway red, whilst others have said North British Railways - whose "gamboge" green/brown livery was very different. It is possible that it was the former colour originally, and this weathered into the second colour due to the pigments used. Notably the company's initials were not carried on the engines. Beddgelert carried the company Coat of Arms on the cab panel.
The inclined boiler
The loco was supplied with a horizontal boiler , as shown by photographs and drawings (dated 05/08/1878). In 1893 traffic on the railway saw a dramatic increase following an advertising campaign, 35% up on 1892. One of the results was 6 new carriages in 1893 and 1894, and a proposal to buy a new engine from Hunslet for around £1,500. This was because the 3 engines (Moel Tryfan, Snowdon Ranger and Beddgelert) were not sufficiently powerful for the heavy trains at the peak of the summer, requiring double heading. Also, only 3 engines left no reserve if one broke down or was under repairs. Hunslet produced a quotation accompanied by a design drawing of a 2-6-2ST in February 1893 (reproduced in Welsh Highland Heritage Group Journal No 46 December 2009 and explained in No 47 March 2010), and probably other manufacturers also quoted. However, the idea was dropped, maybe there was a lack of takers for the issue of Debentures (after all the issues in the previous few years) because only £1,000 was ever raised of the intended £1,523, (which was all that remained of the borrowing powers granted by the 1890 Act). Whatever the reason for the change of mind, in March 1895 it was decided to spend £350 on sending Beddgelert to Hunslet Engine Co. in Leeds for repair and modification. When the engine was dismantled it was found that further repairs were needed, increasing the estimate to £400. Hunslet records show that when returned from this overhaul the smokebox end of the boiler was raised slightly (i.e. in the opposite direction to a "kneeling cow" rack loco), and it is also very likely that it was on return from this overhaul that the loco was delivered facing to run cab-first out of Dinas, unlike the other NWNGR locos. The probable reason for the changes was to allow the loco to run cab-first up the Bryngwyn Branch, giving greater adhesion(with the weight on the driving wheel end) with a secondary benefit of less overhang at the bottom end coupling minimising any tendency to derail slate wagons on the steep and sharp near-180-degree curve out of Tryfan Junction. The change is clearly apparent in comparison of pipework on the works photo and the post-1894 picture of the loco by Dinas signal cabin, and is not an optical distortion as evident on certain earlier NWNGR loco photographs.
An affidavit in 1902 obtained permission from the Court to purchase three new boilers and fireboxes, two of which were obtained for Moel Tryfan and Snowdon Ranger. The third would have been for Beddgelert. Clearly this was never done and Beddgelert struggled on (maybe latterly out of service) until the National Power & Traction Co. Ltd bought Russell for the NWNGR in 1906 and Beddgelert could be withdrawn.
| Item | Value |
| Cylinders | 10 in. X 16 in. |
| Weight | 17 tons |
| Heating Surface | 416 sq ft |
| Pressure | 160 lb. |
| Wheelbase total | 17 ft 8 in. |
| Gauge | 1 ft 11 3/4 in. |
| Driving Wheels | 2ft 6 in. dia. |
| Tractive Effort | 6400 lbs |
| Grate Area | 7 1/2 sq ft. |
| Wheelbase (Driving) | 6 ft 2 in. |
Present Day
The name was re-used for an acquired locomotive that was located at WHR (Porthmadog) awaiting restoration. Further information here.
There is a half sized replica of this loco that runs on The Fairbourne and Barmouth Steam Rilway. See the railway's website for more information.
