If you can't beat them....

Our sister blog has come up with the novel idea of presenting a 'loco of the week', a cunning device that will introduce visitors to the growing collection of Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland locos that have served Dduallt over the years and soon Bron Hebog. Not to be outdone, the New Mills team are proud to present their first LOTW, our ex LNWR G2A class 49361.

Photo: Steve Gibbons

These successful eight-coupled locomotives were designed variously by Webb, Whale, Bowen-Cooke and Beames for the LNWR between 1892 and 1922 but underwent various upgrades. Interestingly these "Super Ds" as they were nicknamed, outlived the LMS built "Austin 7s" that were supposed to replace them! They could still be found on freight traffic until late 1964. I can vividly remember them clanking through Berkhamsted on lengthy coal trains. Great survivors and The Guru's model as shown above, appropriately weathered and detailed, certainly looks the part on New Mills.