The Vale of Rheidol Railway has proudly announced that when the railway opens for the new season in late March, on static display will be the oldest narrow-gauge locomotive in existence.
The locomotive, Fire Queen, is a unique steam locomotive as it is thought to be the oldest narrow-gauge locomotive in existence, having been built in 1848.
Together with the Directors Coach, Fire Queen and its tender were entrusted on loan to National Trust Cymru in lieu of tax by HM Treasury in 2021. Since then, Fire Queen has been on temporary display at Penrhyn Castle pending a decision on its permanent base.
At the Vale of Rheidol Railway in Aberystwyth, it will be on public display in the restored 1938 engine shed which has been transformed into a museum, display, and events building as part of a larger project called “Wales to the World”, which is developing the railway's terminus into a more-attractive Great Western-style station.
The Director's Coach will move to the Bala Lake Railway in the future.
Fire Queen's visit to the Vale of Rheidol is only temporary while its home at Parc Padarn is being restored by Cyngor Gwynedd, using the UK government's Levelling Up funding.
Llŷr ap Iolo, Managing Director of the Vale of Rheidol Railway, said: “We are grateful to Julian Birley for offering us the Director's Coach for short-term display until the Bala Lake Railway can exhibit it themselves, and also for recommending us to Cyngor Gwynedd as a possible temporary home for Fire Queen.
“It is good that the public can continue to enjoy it, rather than it going into temporary storage behind closed doors. We are excited to have such a historic exhibit to display in our museum, to showcase alongside other rare and unseen rolling stock from our collection. We are really happy to have Fire Queen on public display until it returns home to where it belongs at Gilfach Ddu.”
Councillor Nia Jeffreys, Deputy Leader of Cyngor Gwynedd and Cabinet member for the Economy and Community Department, said: “Our industrial history and heritage continues to fascinate and inspire people of all ages, and we very much look forward to welcoming the Fire Queen home to Gwynedd and more specifically to Parc Padarn soon.
“In the meantime, we are pleased to work with the Vale of Rheidol Railway to ensure the locomotive and tender has a fitting residency while restoration work is carried out on its original shed in Llanberis.”
Julian Birley, Bala Lake Railway said: “Taking on the safeguarding of the directors coach is a great responsibility. We are very grateful to the Vale of Rheidol Railway is offering it a home for the time being, as all of our efforts and resources are being directed towards extending our own railway into the town of Bala. It is wonderful that all the artefacts from the unique Padarn Railway are going to be kept together, most importantly here in Wales.”
I have only just heard of the acquisition of “Fire Queen” by the Treasury, and was concerned at what might happen to the locomotive. Now I have read this article, and have to say that I am delighted and relieved that this vitally important and most iconic item is to be returned to Gilfach Ddu in due course, and of its safe temporary accommodation with the Vale of Rheidol. I have a particular interest as I am a direct descendant of Griffith Ellis, the Dinorwig Quarry Manager from 1815 to 1860: it was during his term that the Padarn Railway was constructed and the locomotive delivered from the Horlocks works. I have long thought that “Fire Queen” should be at Llanberis, and now she will be going home!
(I do however agree with Mr. Scott-Morgan (above) that the carriage should go with her to Dinorwig – perhaps that will happen in due course?)
Although I am glad both Fire Queen and the directors saloon are on display at the V of R in Aberystwyth, its rather silly to split the exhibit at a later date and send the carriage, which has been exhibited with the locomotive to another location.
We do live in a daft day and age.