The Welshpool and Llanfair Light Railway have revealed that No. 10 Sir Drefaldwyn is anticipated to be back in service for the upcoming season following a substantial overhaul by the devoted workshop team.

The overhaul has met a major milestone with the successful completion of the locomotive engine boiler inspection and subsequent steam test.

Currently work is underway with painting and adding boiler lagging for the locomotive and its final assembly is also now started.

The locomotive was built in France in 1944  for the German Military Railways and numbered 699, but spent the majority of its working life based in Austria before being acquired by the Welshpool and Llanfair Light Railway in 1969.

The locomotive was given the name ‘Sir Drefaldwyn’ which is the Welsh name for the County of Montgomery and entered service for the heritage railway in  1970. A real workhorse for the railway, the locomotive operated right up to its boiler ticket expiry in 2000, when she was withdrawn from traffic.

The railways commitment to getting Sir Drefaldwyn back on the tracks has been impressive with many difficulties along the journey, even seeing other locomotive overhaul’s contracted out.  

To find out more about Sir Drefaldwyn’s overhaul please follow the Welshpool & Llanfair Light Railway Facebook page or visit: https://wllr.org.uk