New 24 in. Gauge Locomotive

British enthusiast sites report that the Ffestiniog Railway in Wales will debut a brand new 2-6-2T locomotive on Sept. 11th. The two-foot (actually 1 ft. 11 1/2 inch) gauge locomotive named Lyd is a replica of a 1925 locomotive that saw service on the Lynton & Barnstaple in England's West Country. (By the way, the L&B, which was torn up in 1935, also rostered a Baldwin-built 2-4-2T. in addition to its trio of 2-6-2T's.)

Lyd cost approximately $550,000 and was a 15-year project for the Ffestiniog shop force. The railroad says that 21st century materials and design enhancements make it's newest locomotive somewhat more powerful than L&B's the original design.

The Ffestiniog's Boston Lodge works is reputed to be the oldest operational locomotive shop in the world. The new 2-6-2T is a feature of this weekend's railfan weekend on the Ffestiniog's affiliated line, the Welsh Highland Railway.