THE Ffestiniog &Welsh Highland Railway’s (Ff&WHR) September 14/15 Superpower weekend presented an impressive array of big narrow gauge motive power, including four Garratts and Funkey-built Bo-Bo diesels Castell Caernarfon and Vale of Ffestiniog working trains on the Welsh Highland main line.
The star of the show was the first public appearance in steam of ex-South African Railways Société Anglo-Franco-Belge (works No. 2684) NG15 ‘Kalahari’ 2-8-2 No. 134. As reported last month, the ‘Kalahari’ moved for the first time in over 30 years, and the first time in Britain, under its own steam on September 11, following a long, and costly restoration by Cymdeithas Rheilffordd Eryri/ Welsh Highland Railway Society, led for the last three years by Adrian Strachan.
During the Superpower weekend the NG15 steamed gently back and forth along the bay platform road at Dinas, providing footplate rides for visitors.
Vying for top billing was 0-4-0+0-4-0 Garratt K1 which returned to North Wales for the event. K1 is a Ff&WHR locomotive currently based at Statfold Barn Railway where it was returned to steam in 2020 but visits the WHR for special events.
Also in action through the weekend were Garratt NG/ G16s Nos. 87, 130 and 143. The event primarily focussed on the Caernarfon – Rhyd