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Welcome to Festipedia,
the FR Heritage Group wiki.
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From this month's featured article
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Taliesin was an 0-4-4 Single Fairlie built by the Vulcan Foundry in 1876, originally given the number 9. It had its first run on 10th August 1876, double heading with Little Giant, and was put into service on 17th August. It was completely rebuilt between 1898 and 1900. Over subsequent years the locomotive fell into increasing disrepair and was dismantled in preparation for a new boiler in 1924. However, despite recommendations from the Locomotive Superintendent and Engineer, the Board refused to purchase a boiler. The boiler was run into by Welsh Pony, in August 1924, whose tender was also damaged in the accident. Boyd states Taliesin was reassembled with its existing boiler, but the archives have no record of this. The maintenance records log the scrapping of what remained in 1937. A replica was built in 1999. The only parts of the original locomotive known to have survived are the reversing lever (used on the replica) and the eccentrics (which were used on Linda). A set of Fairlie wheels survives and may well be from this loco.
The name is that of a legendary Head Bard to Prince Elffin, who maybe lived around 520-560 A.D. The name means 'fair-brow'; it can also mean 'fair pay' or 'reward.' The story is that William Williams (a bard himself, Gwilym Meirion) persuaded the FR Board that the legendary bard was just the name for the loco, but as there was a pay dispute between the Board and their staff at the time, it gave some glee to the men seeing the loco puffing up the line displaying the brass plate 'Fair Pay.' (more...)
Recently featured: Minffordd Yard – Coed y Bleiddiau – Charles Easton Spooner
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Purpose
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Festipedia is dedicated to recording the history of the Festiniog Railway from the 19th Century to the present day. There is a user friendly index to help you find your way around the main categories. You will also find much detail on the Welsh Highland Railway |
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Contributing to Festipedia
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A wiki is a collaboratively edited website. All users can edit any page. You have complete freedom to add to, edit or delete the work of previous authors.
It is easy to create new pages, link to wiki pages and format the text on pages. There is a full help system so that you can find out how to do things. You will find it similar to Wikipedia.
There is a recent changes page listing all pages that have changed recently. There is also a discussion page where contributors can discuss possible changes to Festipedia, as well as a discussion page for each article. |
First time visitors
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If this is your first visit to Festipedia you may find it useful to log in first. That will allow you to set up your username and decide how certain features should work. All contributors to Festipedia are encouraged to log in. If you know little or nothing about the Festiniog Railway then History of the FR is a good place to start. You can also choose from the list in the banner at the head of this page. |
Returning visitors
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If you have visited Festipedia before, you may want to visit the community portal for the latest news including information on updates to the wiki software. |
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This month's featured picture
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Moelwyn Is a 2-4-0 Diesel locomotive built for use by the French during the First World War. It was acquired by the FR in the 1920s and has worked there ever since.
Built by Baldwin Locomotive Works of Philadelphia in 1918 (possibly Builder's number 49604), this locomotive was an 0-4-0PM built for service in Word War I with the French Army. It was purchased in February 1925 for use on the Festiniog and also the Welsh Highland through Honeywell Brothers, the agents used in the purchase of the Simplex - at what seemed to be a bargain £248 13s 4d. Put to work shunting at Minffordd and together with the Simplex it was used for a short time to replace horse traction on part of the Croesor Tramway. It proved too heavy for the light track there and was returned to shunting duties. The need for economical winter services led in 1928 to the Baldwin being fitted with vacuum brakes for service on the Welsh Highland. Although no records are known to survive as to its actual use it probably was used on the WHR and it was certainly used as a rescue engine for passenger trains on occasion.
In 2016 Moelwyn was repainted into a grey livery to represent its first world war condition. It is seen here at Beamish in June 2016.
Photo credit: User:GeoffHill
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