Narrow Gauge
FAIRBOURNE Railway’s May 27-29 gala featured an interesting mix of steam and internal combustion. Trains on the 12.25in gauge main line between Fairbourne and Barmouth Ferry station were handled in rotation by Fairbourne’s Curwen 2-6-2T Yeo, Milner 0-4-0STT Sherpa and Milner 2-6-4T Russell together with an internal combustion double-headed pairing of 4wDE Albert visiting from the Littlehampton Miniature Railway and Fairbourne’s 20/28hp Motor Rail 8937/1944.
MR8937 was purchased by the Fairbourne Railway last year (RM, July 2022) and regauged from 2ft to 12.25in gauge (RM, December 2022) and is believed to be the only 12.25in gauge Motor Rail Simplex in existence. Although it has hauled passenger coaches over the full line, the gala formed its first appearance on public passenger services.
As has become usual during a Fairbourne gala, between main line services a 15in gauge shuttle ran on the quarter-mile dual gauge section alongside Beach Road. These trains featured 4-4-2 visiting from the Rhyl Miniature Railway, the 1946-built G & S Engineering 4-4wPMR GWR Railcar from. The GWR railcar was not only a first-time visitor to Fairbourne but has not been seen operating in public for many years. It is known to require refurbishment and the visit to Fairbourne revealed issues with the engine’s carburettor and it was taken out of service part-way through the Sunday.
