Hunslet Taylor 6357

Current ownership to be identified.

A little-publicised fact resurfaced in 2008. When the engines that became Vale of Ffestiniog and Castell Caernarfon were purchased by the Festiniog Railway Company from South Africa, a third engine was involved. This was Hunslet Taylor No 6357 of 1964, an ex Eastern Province Cement Co. (later Pretoria Portland Cement Ltd.) 6wDM, sidelined after Spoornet had taken over operation of the branch around 1986.

The locomotive was built new for the private siding of Pretoria Portland Cement Ltd, a twelve mile branch from the South African Railways Avontuur line. It was originally powered by a 377 HP Rolls Royce engine.

As it was not needed by the FR, and as part of the purchase arrangement, it remained in Port Elizabeth, SA and was offered to ACR for a token sum. Apparently ACR had second thoughts and declined the offer.

Subsequently, ownership passed to the Apple Express Society, a heritage steam railway operation in South Africa. Additionally, as part of this arrangement, there was the possibility of the motor being removed, and returned to UK, if no attempt was made to restore it (all three had identical Cummins engines). These arrangements took less than a week, and is probably amongst the shortest period an engine was owned by the FR Co.

As of August 2008, it had been heavily vandalised, and although Sandstone had looked at acquiring it recently, no further progress has been made.

See also

• Vale of Ffestiniog
• Castell Caernarfon