Dolgarrog
From Festipedia, hosted by the FR Heritage Group
This small cabless Simplex diesel, Motor Rail 22154 of 1962, with a Dorman 2LB engine, was originally based on the Llyn Cowlyd Tramway and used for the maintenance of dams above the Conway Valley until around 1968. The history of these dams and reservoirs is closely linked to that of Henry Joseph Jack and the North Wales Power And Traction Co. Ltd, and it is of interest that the best part of a century later the connection between the WHR and the name Dolgarrog should be restored.
Futher information on the tramway can be found on this external link
Dolgarrog is not the first loco from the Llyn Cowlyd line to work on Welsh Highland construction; in 1922/3 the WHR contractors made use of an unamed Bagnall 0-4-0ST (2080 of 1918) that had previously been used there.
From 1975, the Simplex was one of several small diesels that saw use installing power cables alongside the Llanberis Lake Railway.
It was latterly displayed in the Dolgarrog Power Station Museum from where it visited the Festiniog Railway for the 1995 gala.
Following being put on loan to the WHR Project by Innogy in whose colours it is painted, it spent some time in store at Dinas. It was intended to use it from the Waunfawr construction base on Phase 2, but in the event this did not happen due to security considerations as no secure storage was available.
In May 2002 it was moved to the Phase 3 base at Rhyd Ddu North, to be used for delivering track materials to the advancing Head of Steel on that section. Secure storage was provided in a transportable container "shed".
It was moved to the FR's Glanypwll depot for a heavy overhaul in early 2006 in preparation for its use on Phase 4. Since then, it has been based at Rhyd Ddu and used extensively on Phase 4 for delivering rail, staff and tools to the head of steel. Its train comprises FR wagon 96, fitted out as a tool carrying vehicle, two ex-Imperial War Museum (Duxford) Hudson wagons rebuilt by the East Anglian Group and a braked flat wagon. At the end of 2007, the loco's shed was relocated to the siding at Hafod y Llyn to cut down journey times to and from the head of steel.
Dolgarrog has the distinction of being the first loco to travel on each new section of Phase 4 as it is completed. It is almost certainly destined to be the first WHR loco to reach Porthmadog on completion of the line in 2008.
