Welshpool poised to get Taiwanese diesel locomotive from sister line

THE Welshpool & Llanfair Light Railway is negotiating with sister line the Alishan Forest Railway in Taiwan to take a diesel locomotive on loan. It has been offered DL-34, a 25-ton 520hp diesel built specially for the Taiwanese line by Mitsubishi in 1972.

WLLR chairman Steve Clews said: “We are most grateful to the Alishan Forest Railway and Taiwan’s Forestry Bureau for their most generous offer.

“DL-34 will be a welcome and valuable addition to our roster.

“We hope that once the pandemic has receded sufficiently, Taiwanese visitors will be able to come and see the loco in action here for themselves.”

It is hoped that the locomotive can be delivered by December.