Conway Castle
From Festipedia, hosted by the FR Heritage Group
This 77hp FC Hibberd "Planet" 4wDM (Builder's number 3831 of 1958, Model SCN) arrived from the Royal Naval Armament Depot at Ernesettle, Devon, on 29 April 1981. It was regauged from 2ft 6ins and rebuilt at Boston Lodge with a Gardner 6LXB 180hp bus engine. It is fitted for operating Push Pull trains. At its naming ceremony at Blaenau Ffestiniog on 5 July 1986 it carried nameplates CONWY CASTLE and CASTELL CONWY. The CONWY CASTLE name was not used in service and was replaced by CONWAY CASTLE, with the Welsh name on one side and the English on the other.
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[edit]Initial Entry into Service
The locomotive was named in 1986 by Mrs Molly Willdig, the Constable of Conwy Castle; the livery of orange, black and grey referred to the colours of Mrs Willdig's robes. On the day, a spare nameplate CONWY CASTLE was presented to the Conwy Council and a badge of the seal of the town saying SIGILLUM PROVESTRI ET DE CONWEYE was presented to the FR. This badge was on the front of the loco until it was replaced by a more mundane badge saying 'Gardner 180hp.' The Conwy badge now adorns the front of the gearbox inside the cab; this must be one of few diesel locos with a Latin inscription.
[edit]Push Pull
[edit]Transfer to Welsh Highland Railway
It received a replacement Gardner 6LXB power unit in 1999, and was transferred to WHR(C) in 2000 to be used as the Dinas yard shunter. It has also seen use on Phase 3 and 4 construction work, and limited passenger duties.
It should be noted that the FR has purchased a number of standard gauge Hibberd locomotives for spare parts at various times. These have not come to the railway.
[edit]References
- Bradley, Vic [1992] (1993). Industrial Locomotives of North Wales. London: Industrial Railway Society. ISBN 0-9010-9672-5. OCLC 27769657.