Geograph - photograph every grid square

On The Vale of Rheidol Railway. I had a go too and it was excellent. Running light engine only very small inputs on throttle and air brake were required to control this large narrow gauge steam engine. At the other end of the line the same deal was available on a 'quarry Hunslet'. The engine is GWR No. 1213, a 2-6-2T built in 1924.

This engine was an example of very creative accountancy as the works was only mandated to build two engines for the narrow gauge line but three were wanted. The original No. 1213 was a Davies and Metcalfe engine that was sent to the works in 1924 for a rebuild but was quietly scrapped instead. Its number plate was transferred to a locomotive assembled from 'spare parts' that thus officially became a rebuild but was in reality new.

This engine has the air pump for the brakes in plain view on the right front. Nos. 7 & 8 have been rebuilt with the pumps 'hidden' in the right hand tank, although the compressor cylinder extends below the running plate.

This line was the last British Railways line to operate steam and I saw one of the locos in the 1980s in blue with the double arrow logo. They are currently all three in GWR 1920s livery.