Template:Featured picture/October 2021

Harlech Castle is medium sized diesel locomotive that forms part of the Ffestinog Railway's Infrastructure Department locomotive fleet.

This 0-6-0DH locomotive (Builder's number 3767 of 1983) was built by Baguley-Drewry of Burton-on-Trent, for an order from Mozambique which was subsequently cancelled. INA (as Harlech Castle is sometimes known) acquired her nickname from the Mozambique company's Instituto Nacional do Acucar (National Sugar Institute) initials on her cab side.

The locomotive did trials on the Ffestiniog Railway in 1985 but was found to be too large to fit within the loading gauge. Subsequently, the company purchased her in 1988 from the Bredgar & Wormshill Light Railway in Kent in part exchange for The Peckett. She was altered at Boston Lodge with funding from the INCA Programme, with a repositioned and differently-profiled cab and a replacement transmission. Fitted with RAF waggon couplings and no vacuum brakes, she went into service in 1990 with the Permanent Way Department. Her 180hp CAT engine, fully enclosed cab and seats make a nice change from other works engines. She has a HARLECH CASTLE nameplate on one side and CASTELL HARLECH on the other. These plates had been made in 1986 with the intention of renaming Upnor Castle but that plan was later cancelled and the plates given to the new locomotive instead.

Photo credit: User:JamesH125

Recently featured:

• NGG16 Garratt 87 heading back to Dinas South Yard
• 1939 timetable
• Welsh Pony and Van 8