Locomotive No. 12 St Cadfan is Formally Named

On Sunday 30th October 2016 the Bishop of Bangor, the Rt. Revd. Andrew John, formally named the Talyllyn Railway’s latest Diesel locomotive, No.12, St Cadfan, at Tywyn Wharf station.

The name was chosen to commemorate St Cadfan, who established a Christian community in Tywyn 1500 years ago, and the naming ceremony was part of the celebrations taking place this year to mark the anniversary event.

Bishop Andy, as he likes to be known, is no stranger to the Talyllyn having taken part in a number of events over the years. During the short ceremony at Tywyn Wharf he performed a blessing on the locomotive and then unveiled the nameplate before anointing the locomotive with a bottle of bubbly (photos right, by Barbara Fuller). There to witness the occasion was a large group of invited guests and onlookers. They represented the local community and churches as well as those who had been involved in bringing the locomotive to Tywyn from the ex-Royal Navy Ammunition Depot at Trecwn in South Wales.

Loco No. 12 is a Baguley-Drewry four-wheel diesel shunter that will be used for engineering trains. Built in 1983 it was part of a class of seven diesels used on the 2 ft 6 in gauge railway at Trecwn. Upon the closure of the depot three of the class were purchased by a consortium of members in 2008, and brought to Tywyn where they remained in storage at Tywyn Wharf station.

Ownership of the locomotives was eventually transferred to the railway, and two of the locomotives were sent to Alan Keef Ltd’s works near Ross-on-Wye for re-gauging to the Talyllyn’s 2 ft 3 in gauge. The third locomotive is being used for spares.

St Cadfan has been repainted in Indian Red livery, similar to that currently carried by the Talyllyn’s two original steam locomotives Talyllyn and Dolgoch. It is planned that the other locomotive will also be repainted and named Trecwn in due course.

Ian Drummond