Douglas, locomotive
Douglas is a narrowDouglas is a narrow gauge steam locomotive. It was built by
Andrew Barclay Sons & Co. Ltd. in 1918. It was originally used by
the Air Service Constructional Corps (RAF) then was bought in 1949
by Abelson & Co. (Engineers) Ltd. who then sold it to the Talyllyn
Railway in 1953.
The history of the Talyllyn Railway is inextricably tied up with the
history of Bryn Eglwys slate quarry. All but invisible from the main
valley road and from the present-day terminus of the Talyllyn
Railway at Nant Gwernol, the quarry once employed 300 men and in its
time produced 300,000 tons of slate and slabs. Bryn Eglwys lies on
the same veins of slate as the quarries further east around Corris
and Aberllefenni. Slate was first quarried at Bryn Eglwys in the
1840s, by John Pughe of Aberdyfi, the end product being carried to
Aberdyfi by pack animals or on carts or sledges for onward shipment
by sea.
When the line was restored in the 1950s, No.6 engine
was donated by a Midland’s company, Abelson & Co., and was named
"Douglas" at the request of the donor, Douglas Abelson.
Douglas spent Douglas spent most of its working life at RAF Calshot near
Southampton, and was later bought by an engineering company
called Abelson's. In the early days of preservation, the
Talyllyn Railway had contacted this and other similar firms,
asking for redundant equipment. Abelson's offered the locomotive
to the Talyllyn, and in return they named it after the donor,
Douglas Abelson.
Although smaller than the other locomotives
on the Talyllyn Railway, it has performed well
and was returned to service in 1995, with a new boiler fitted,
and turned out in its old Air Ministry Works & Buildings livery.
In recent years Douglas has been painted in standard
Talyllyn Railway livery of deep bronze green lined with black
borders and yellow lining; however as of 2010 it is painted red,
acting as Duncan from the fictional Skarloey Railway. Upon its
return in 2013, it will still be in a red livery, but will
mainly run as Douglas and running as Duncan during school
holidays.
All the steam-operated engines on the Talyllyn
Railway (and diesel locomotive Midlander) appeared many times in
The Railway Series books by the Rev. W. Awdry on the Skarloey
Railway. Talyllyn's and Dolgoch's counterparts were Skarloey and
Rheneas, respectively. Sir Haydn and Edward Thomas are
represented in the series by Sir Handel and Peter Sam, whose
original names were Falcon and Stuart. Douglas formed the basis
for the character Duncan.
See also:
• Douglas vehicles
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