NGG16 No87 on duty at Porthmadog.
I was built at the Cockerill factory in Belgium in 1936 and delivered to my first home in South Africa in 1937. I brag that I have a 2-6-2 + 2-6-2 configuration and I run on narrow gauge railway tracks. I had to work hard for lots of years and boy’ was it hot! But in 1986 South African Railways retired me and I eventually was purchased, an headed this time to England, where I spent some time on The Exmoor Steam Railway. Now I am in another country, this time Wales, working for the Welsh Highland Line. They have taken great care of me, I am fully refurbished and went on trials in 2009. I must have done alright as at the end of the year they stripped me down and gave me a brand new coat of paint….I am very proud new livery. It is also great fun as I have to haul lots of passengers, holiday makers and their children to and from Carnarvon through Beddgelert and the Aberglaslyn Pass to Porthmadog. I get lots of admirers and have to pose for lots of photos. Yes, I like it here even when it rains and sometimes snows….now that was a shock, it made all my pipes shiver…..
I also get to meet my smaller friends on the Ffestiniog Railway, we sometimes swap passengers before it heads off into the mountains whilst I head back to my sheds Caernarvon.
My sisters may be smaller but are beautifully formed….. and boy’ they really do ‘pack a punch!’
I am off now…Toot Toot but you can find more about me and my friends at http://www.festrail.co.uk/
2nd August
© David Oakes 2014
DAVID OAKES - IMAGES. 