Template:Featured picture/August 2016

From Festipedia, hosted by the FR Heritage Group
Moelwyn at Beamish in June 2016

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