Beddgelert (Loco)
From Festipedia, hosted by the FR Heritage Group
Original NWNGR engine *Beddgelert*
The original NWNGR had an engine by the name of Beddgelert, built by Hunslet for the Bryngwyn Branch traffic. As well as being twice as powerful as the Vulcan Fairlies it marked a departure on that (a) it was not a Fairlie despite the NWNGR's undertaking only to use Fairlies, and (b) it was not built by Vulcan Foundry, the usual supplier of locos purchased under C.E. Spooner's influence. The design appears to have been Hunslet's own.
The livery carried on NWNGR engines was difficult to define because it was very prone to weathering. It initially was a red/brown which has been likened to Midland Railway red, whilst others have said North British Railways - whose "gamboge" green/brown livery was very different. It is possible that it was the former colour originally, and this weathered into the second colour due to the pigments used. Notably the company's initials were not carried on the engines. Beddgelert carried the company Coat of Arms on the cab panel.
The inclined boiler
The loco was supplied with a horizontal boiler , as shown by photographs and drawings (dated 05/08/1878). Hunslet records show that when returned for overhaul in 1894 the smokebox end of the boiler was raised slightly (i.e. in the opposite direction to a "kneeling cow" rack loco), and it is also very likely that it was on return from this overhaul that the loco was delivered facing to run cab-first out of Dinas, unlike the other NWNGR locos. The probable reason for the changes was to allow the loco to run cab-first up the Bryngwyn Branch, giving greater adhesion(with the weight on the driving wheel end) with a secondary benefit of less overhang at the bottom end coupling minimising any tendency to derail slate wagons on the steep and sharp near-180-degree curve out of Tryfan Junction. The change is clearly apparent in comparison of pipework on the works photo and the post-1894 picture of the loco by Dinas signal cabin, and is not an optical distortion as evident on certain earlier NWNGR loco photographs.
The loco appears to have been completely worn out in barely 25 years, and its place on Bryngwyn traffic was taken by Russell, which coincidentally arrived soon after Beddgelert's withdrawal.
| Item | Value |
| Cylinders | 10 in. X 16 in. |
| Weight | 17 tons |
| Heating Surface | 416 sq ft |
| Pressure | 160 lb. |
| Wheelbase total | 17 ft 8 in. |
| Gauge | 1 ft 11 3/4 in. |
| Driving Wheels | 2ft 6 in. dia. |
| Tractive Effort | 6400 lbs |
| Grate Area | 7 1/2 sq ft. |
| Wheelbase (Driving) | 6 ft 2 in. |
Present Day
The name has been re-used for an acquired locomotive located at WHR (Porthmadog) awaiting restoration. (external link). However, this has now been placed for sale.
There is a half sized replica of this loco that runs on The Fairbourne and Barmouth Steam Rilway. See the railway's website for more information.