Welsh Pony overhaul project approaches completion

THE Ffestiniog Railway (FR) anticipated debuting England 0-4-0ST Welsh Pony back in steam during a June 20-21 Welsh Pony launch event.

In early March the cab and saddle tank were back in position, and fittings, including an original displacement lubricator from Prince, were being added to the rebuilt loco, which last steamed in 1940.

The Welsh Pony launch event replaced the previously publicised June 19-21 Fairlie Eventful event, which has been postponed for a year, the new dates being June 18-20, 2021.

The June 2020 dates were to mark the 150th anniversary of the 1870 locomotive trials, which demonstrated the capability of the first FR Double-Fairlie, Little Wonder.

Significantly, the then-new Double Fairlie was matched against Welsh Pony in those trials.

With the FR closed and all work at Boston Lodge suspended at the time The RM went to press it remains to be seen whether the launch of a competed Welsh Pony in June will remain possible.