Festiniog Railway Princess

Princess is an 0-4-0 ST + T steam locomotive built by George England for the Festiniog Railway in 1863. It is one of the earliest narrow gauge steam locomotives and is one of the three oldest surviving narrow gauge locomotives still on its original railway.[1][2][3]

Princess
Princess at Porthmadog Harbour Station around 1870
Type and origin
Power typeSteam
BuilderGeorge England
Build date1863
Specifications
Configuration:
​
 • Whyte0-4-0 TT
Gauge1 ft 11 1⁄2 in (597 mm)
Driver dia.2 ft (0.61 m)
Loco weight11 long tons (11 t)
Water cap380 imperial gallons (1,700 l; 460 US gal)
Boiler pressure160 psi (1,100 kPa) †
CylindersTwo, outside
Cylinder size8.25 in × 12 in (210 mm × 305 mm)
Valve gearAllan straight link valve gear
Career
OperatorsFestiniog Railway
Class'Small England' class
NumbersFfR 1
Official nameThe Princess
Princess
Last run1 August 1946
Withdrawn1 August 1946
Current ownerPaul Lewin

History
Princess on display at Dublin's Heuston station as part of the celebration of its 150th. anniversary.

Princess was the first steam locomotive delivered to the Festiniog Railway. She was originally named The Princess - after Princess Alexandra of Denmark - and carried the number 1. As delivered she was an 0-4-0 side tank without a cab. She began hauling public trains in September 1863.[4]

From 1868, The Princess began hauling trains on the Festiniog and Blaenau Railway as well as the Festiniog Railway.

In December 1882, The Princess underwent a substantial overhaul and a large cast iron weight was placed over the side tanks and boiler, giving the locomotive extra adhesive weight and the appearance of a saddle tank. She continued to run a significant mileage during the 1880s and early 1890s. In 1893 she underwent another major overhaul, receiving a full cab and a true saddle tank; at the same time her name was shortened to Princess. After returning from overhaul in 1923, Princess also worked trains on the Welsh Highland Railway which by then was being operated by the Festiniog Railway. She worked until the closure of the Festiniog Railway on 1 August 1946, when she hauled the last train.

After the railway was saved for preservation, Princess remained in the same condition she was withdrawn in. In 1969 she was put on public display at Blaenau Ffestiniog. In 1981, after being repainted in a red livery, she was placed in Spooner's Bar at Harbour Station.

In 2012, Princess was moved out of Spooner's, and in 2013 she was displayed at Paddington Station to commemorate the 150th. anniversary of its construction.[5]

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See also

References
  1. "Princess of Paddington celebrates 150th birthday". Rail.co.uk. 4 April 2013.
  2. Kidner, R.W. (1960). The Narrow Gauge Railways of Wales. The Oakwood Press. p. 5.
  3. Kidner, R.W. (1960). Light and Narrow Gauge Locomotives. The Oakwood Press. p. 24-25.
  4. Quine, Dan (2013). The George England locomotives of the Ffestiniog Railway. London: Flexiscale.
  5. "Welsh wonder: Princess returns to Paddington to celebrate 150th birthday". Daily Mail. 25 February 2013.
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