The Vale of Rheidol has gifted 0-6-2T Conqueror to the Welshpool and Llanfair Light Railway.

The locomotive was built in 1922 and has been in a collection since 1994.

Conqueror is not currently in working order and there is no current plans to restore it, however, there is an option in the future to expand the working fleet of locomotives at the WLLR.

The locomotive will initially become an exhibit at Welshpool, alongside fellow former Bowaters locomotive, Monarch.

Conqueror spent its working life in Kent, working at the Bowates paper mill. When the mill closed, the locomotive was one of four locomotives acquired by Sir William McAlpine for use on a new railway line that he was building at ZSL Whipsnade Zoo.

The locomotive worked until 1983, when it was withdrawn for overhaul and stored. In 1994, Peter Rampton acquired the locomotive, which was privately stored with other locos at his private premises in Surrey.

Sadly, Peter passed away in 2019, and responsibility for the collection was passed on to the Vale of Rheidol Railway, with some of the items finding new homes in the new museum at Aberystwyth.

Others, like Conqueror, have been passed on to new owners where it has been deemed that they could be more useful elsewhere.

“Being of the wrong gauge to run on the VoR, it was felt that it was appropriate that the loco should move to a railway of the correct gauge with a long-term potential for restoration and return to service,”

“As part of a long-term plan to consolidate and focus the Vale of Rheidol Railway’s collection of historic locomotives, the Railway are very pleased to have agreed the gift of 2ft 6in gauge Bagnall 0-6-2T ‘Conqueror’ to the Welshpool and Llanfair Light Railway Preservation Co. Ltd.

Chair of the Vale of Rheidol board Patrick Keef

“This locomotive has good connections with the W&L. It worked at Bowaters Paper Mill in Kent, home of our friends at the Sittingbourne & Kemsley Light Railway and it joins Monarch, a Bowaters loco that has been with us for decades.

“This is a powerful locomotive that should be suited to our line. Though there are currently no plans to get her operational the acquisition gives us more alternatives for the future and storage under cover will ensure that she is protected until that day comes.”

W&LLR Chairman Steve Clew