Do the locomotion

The Welsh Highland Railway is set to receive a very special gift after English music mogul Pete Waterman agreed that the Waterman Railway Heritage Trust would purchase the NG/G16 Beyer Garret locomotive No 109 to run on the narrow gauge railway. Waterman, who has produced and written over 200 hit songs in a career spanning 25 years, is a keen railway enthusiast and owns a business devoted to the creation of accurate model locomotives, as well as the repair of full size ones. He was invited by Ffestiniog & Welsh Highland manager Paul Lewin to visit the new line from Caernarfon to Beddgelert on a luxurious Pullman and was so impressed he agreed the purchase of the Garret within days.

The Garret locomotive is a British-designed steam train that is articulated in three parts. Garret No 109 was constructed in 1939 and was the first Beyer/Peacock built NG/G16 to be sent to South Africa, and the first to come home after being rescued by the Exmoor Steam Centre. The Garret will be brought back to life by the London and North Western Railway Company in Crewe. It is hoped that it will be back on the tracks in full working order within two years.

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