Tom Davies

Born 1901 in Penrhyn, Tom (Thomas)Davies was an engineman of Old Company and preservation days. His father, David Davies, and brother Will also worked for the old company and Tom and his brother were early volunters on the reopened FR. Tom worked at the Cookes explosives factory in Penrhyn when the FR closed. He was working there when the railway reopened and Alan Garraway asked him if he would return to the FR. On his wife's advice he asked what guarantee of continued employment there would be on the new FR - to which Alan Garraway replied "no guarantee". Tom sadly had to decline to leave his safe job and worked at Cookes until he retired. Then he was able to go back to work on the FR three days a week as a pensioner. By the 1960s he was living at Bron Madoc, a farmhouse house situated high above Boston Lodge and looking out over the Cob. He and his wife took in young volunteers and Tom worked on the engines. Mrs Davies undertook maternal supervision and encouragement for the young boarders while Tom sucked his false teeth and spoke lovingly of his Prince and of his memories of the railway. Volunteers staying with Tom had the opportunity to look at his excellent photograph albums with pictures of the FR before closure. Tom often worked with Evie Roberts, another pensioner repairing the fences when the trains were not running. He disapproved of the engines being flogged, especially Prince, and from time to time looked out over the Cob towards Portmadoc with a wistful expression.

Tom was a shrewd judge of character and knew how to let young volunteers know if he approved of their work and attitudes or not.

Tom was the driver of engine involved in the "breakaway" incident in Moelwyn Tunnel related by Boyd

Tom died in June 1971.

See also

• Personalities