Double Fairlie

From Festipedia, hosted by the FR Heritage Group

A Double Fairlie is a steam locomotive built to the Fairlie's Patent design of Robert Francis Fairlie using two articulated power bogies, one at each end of the engine. The Ffestiniog Double Fairlies are all of an 0-4-4-0 wheel arrangement.

The FR is famous as the home of the Double Fairlies. The first design of narrow gauge Double Fairlies were built for the 3ft6in gauge in Queensland in 1866-designed by Charles Fox. They contained some unique features and were not successful. The next design was built for the FR by the Fairlie Engine and Steam Carriage Company. On the narrower gauge it was a great success. It saved the FR from having to go to the considerable expense of doubling the line and provided the impetus for narrow gauge railway building across the world.

The Double Fairlie went on to enjoy considerable if generally short-lived success in various countries, notably Mexico and the Caucasus.

The use of a steam bogie allowed the development of the single fairlie, examples of which were built for the FR ( Taliesin) and the NWNGR (Snowdon Ranger, Moel Tryfan and Gowrie)

[edit]Ffestiniog Double Fairlies

No. 7, Little Wonder, built by Fairlie Engine and Steam Carriage Company in 1869

No. 8, James Spooner, built by Avonside Engine Company in 1872

No. 10, Merddin Emrys, built by Festiniog Railway Company, (Boston Lodge), in 1879

No. 11, Livingston Thompson, built by Festiniog Railway Company (Boston Lodge), in 1886

Earl of Merioneth, built by Festiniog Railway Company (Boston Lodge), in 1979

No. 12, David Lloyd George, built by Festiniog Railway Company (Boston Lodge), in 1992

Source: Boyd, The Festiniog Rly, Vol 2

For the first time since the 1920s, the Ffestiniog had three Double Fairlies on the locomotive roster. Engines, from left to right, are David Lloyd George, Earl of Merioneth and Merddin Emrys
*Date: 28th May 2005 *Photo: Tim Goodspeed

[edit]FR Fairlie Power Bogies

The power bogies for the Ffestiniog's Fairlies (doubles and single) have some standard features but are not interchangeable:

• Tal's are totally different to the double engines due to the provision of sanders.
• Merddin's two bogies and Tal's single have steam-operated drain cocks, but DLG and EoM have "manual" cocks.
• DLG's bogies are the oldest pair dating from pre-preservation days, and came from the then-stored EoM in 1992. EoM's current bogies were new in 1988 and came from Merddin in 1996. Tal's was built around 1997.
• Merddin's current bogies were new in 2004-2005.

[Source: Tony Willmore, WHR eGroup posting 22681 ]

Power bogies from Earl of Merioneth in the erecting shop at Boston Lodge. In the background, Merddin Emrys is receiving attention to its 'bottom end' bogie.
*Date: April 2006 *Photo: Andrew Thomas

[edit]See also

• FR Locomotives