Velinheli
From Festipedia, hosted by the FR Heritage Group
An ex-Dinorwic Hunslet 0-4-0ST, the first of the Hunslet "Alice" class of locos. It is one of the few quarry Hunslets to carry a domed boiler. The loco is owned by James Evans, instigator of the Lyd Project, and is based on the Launceston Steam Railway in Cornwall. Velinheli visited the FR for the 1993 and 1997 Galas and returned to run on the railway in 2002 for some charter work and winter storage, during which time it was photographed carrying the name Indian Runner. It returned once more in early 2007, and headed a special FR Heritage Group Inspection Train with Carriage 11 to Tan-y-Bwlch late in the afternoon of 25 March as seen at Minffordd [original here]. It also gave footplate rides at Harbour Station during the Easter period.
Veliniheli visited the WHR(C) for the Superpower Weekend on 14-15 September 2002 and returned for the same event [report here] on 13-14 September 2003.
Velinheli was the first steam locomotive to visit Beddgelert on the rebuilt WHR when it visited the line in the last week of April 2007. The public relations aspect was very successfully covered by inviting local schoolchildren to view the exciting spectacle.
Some of the information about the visiting Hunslets is from the book "Quarry Hunslets of North Wales" by Cliff Thomas.
*Date: Hunslet 100 Gala 1993 *Photo: Martin Cowgill
*Date 18th March 2007 *Photo: David Barnwell
*Date Sunday 6th May 2007 *Photo: Keith C. Bradbury