The sun was out at the Talyllyn Railway on Monday 14th May 2018 for Founders Day that marked the 67th Anniversary of the World's First Preserved Railway – Sir Haydn also returned to steam after a major overhaul to haul the Founders Day Special.
No.3 returned to the Talyllyn Railway at the end of April and has since gone through a series of tests and running run.
The Talyllyn Railway celebrated its 67th Anniversary too, the railway opened in in 1951 from Tywyn to Rhydyronen, the day included a re-enactment of the cutting of the tape originally performed by the first chairman of the Talyllyn Railway Preservation Society, Bill Trinder.
Sir Haydn did not participate in the first day, although it arrived in Tywyn by that time having been saved from scrap at the Corris Railway. It is also famous for appearing in the Rev. Awdry's Skarloey Railway as ‘Sir Handel'
Sir Haydn was built in 1878 at the Falcon Works in Loughborough for the Corris Railway. When the Corris Railway closed, it stayed at Machynlleth Station along with Corris Railway Loco No.4 until both were bought by the Talyllyn Railway Preservation Society in 1951. No. 3 was named ‘Sir Haydn' after the Talyllyn's previous owner Sir Henry Haydn Jones.
What did the officials say?
Commenting on the day the current Talyllyn Railway Preservation Society Chairman, Ian Drummond, said:
‘Founders' Day is an occasion that enables us to remember all those who have given of their time and talents to keep this Railway running through the years. This year it was made particularly special by the return to service of ‘Sir Haydn', which had played such an important role in the history of the preserved railway. We are delighted to see it back in service again, and we want to thank the staff at the Vale of Rheidol workshops for the work that has been done.'
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