Three miniature and narrow-gauge railways – Fairbourne Railway, Littlehampton Miniature Railway and the Ruislip Lido Railway – have announced that they are to work together on a project to restore the historic Fairbourne locomotive ‘Tony’ and return it to operational use.

Tony began its life as Sylvia, built by G&S Light Engineering in 1961 as a 15″ gauge 4w-4w petrol hydraulic locomotive. Sylvia was one of several Trevor Guest locomotives which ran at Fairbourne when it operated on 15″ gauge.

In 1984, Sylvia was rebuilt at Fairbourne, remade as a diesel-powered locomotive, and with significant changes to its bodywork. The rebuilt locomotive was renamed Lilian Walter.

The following year, the loco was re-gauged to 12¼” gauge, to fit the new gauge being installed at Fairbourne.

In 2013, Sylvia/Lilian completed its transition and returned to service as Tony, after its bodywork was changed to a style more similar to the original.

After a few years, Tony fell out of use, but restoration work began in 2021. However, as the work was carried out, it came to light that some of the transmission components were life-expired and could not be replaced at the time.

This problem was addressed last year, as a good-quality twin-disc powershift transmission became available when former RLR diesel locomotive Graham Alexander was converted to battery power. Detailed work has been carried out to prepare for installing this transmission in Tony.

Tony travelled to Littlehampton in April, and the team there stripped it down to its frames. The new part has also travelled to Littlehampton, with an RLR flat wagon to assist.

Work to install the transmission, together with further refurbishment, will now take place at Littlehampton in West Sussex. It will be carried out primarily by Chief Engineer and Fairbourne volunteer Tom Sanders.

Once the work is completed, Tony will be tested and will run at Littlehampton. This will offer the first opportunity that enthusiasts have had to ride behind Tony for around a decade.

Tony will then spend three years on loan at Ruislip, which will allow the Ruislip diesel fleet to undergo long-term maintenance work.

The Fairbourne Railway is overhauling steam locomotive Beddgelert.