It would be churlish not to note 4415's trips from Boston Lodge across the Cob as part of the WHR100 celebrations on the 24th & 25th June as progress.
All of Rob Collins’ lovely paint job will be getting grit blasted off in the next twelve months if we stick to the current plan to rivet up the body next winter, so here are a few views at least to capture some of the many completed components enjoying a trip out rather than languishing in the finished parts store.
Seen below, meeting up with former Dinas shed mate ‘Russell’ at Boston Lodge at 08:54 on Saturday morning.
Optimistically coupled to a rake of 1920s style coaches below, it looks the part, and is the only decent photo I have showing the radiator & the replica ‘MACLAREN’ plate (cast using an original plate from the road roller).
In the end it ‘double headed’ with Welsh Pony, being somewhat lacking in the engine department.
Eventually the sun came out, just as the loco returned to Boston Lodge on Saturday evening and a posed for a few minutes by the cliff.
Sunday saw 4415 going off shed with the full line up of surviving of Ffestiniog Railway early IC motive power.
The head turning impact of early IC motive power can be fully appreciated when you see the platform in this view of the 1917 build, 40HP petrol powered Motor Rail Tractor and the 1927 build 60HP Diesel 4415. It’s a niche market.
Some of the ‘facts’ in this blog may be made up.
