Following its previous update in December, the Fairbourne Railway in Wales has issued a further update on the overhaul of steam locomotive Beddgelert.

The Railway, which is on the west coast of Wales, report that it has made “some real progress” on the overhaul during the winter months.

Railway volunteers have stripped the few remaining items from the frames and sent all the various foot-plating, steps, valance, and so on for grit blasting.

The Railway has also cleaned the locomotive’s frames back to a sound surface.

Most of the parts have now been reassembled.

The Fairbourne Railway has a lot of the materials that it needs to continue the overhaul.

However, it still does not have enough money to complete the work on the engine, as it requires expensive plumbing and fitting.

The Railway estimates that it needs around ten thousand pounds to pay for all the outstanding items.

Beddgelert is a 0-6-4 saddle tank locomotive. It was built in 1979 and has been a resident of the Fairbourne Railway since 1984.

Beddgelert has not run since 2008. An overhaul was started then, but paused when the Railway experienced a financial crisis.

While the overhaul was on hold, the locomotive was on display in the Railway’s museum.

The Fairbourne Railway is a 12-and-a-quarter-inch gauge railway at Fairbourne, on the Mid Wales Coast.
It runs from the village of Fairbourne to the mouth of the Mawddach estuary. From there, passengers can get a connecting ferry to the town of Barmouth.

Supporters can donate money via the Fairbourne Railway’s website.