After five years of service on the Welshpool & Llanfair Light Railway (W&LLR), Zillertalbahn No.2 Zillertal has returned to its home base in Austria.

Zillertal was the only engine of its type ever to operate in Britain, and during its time at Llanfair Caereinion operated regular passenger trains and was also popular during special events.

The Zillertalbahn opened in 1900, and No. 2 Zillertal was one of two U Class steam locomotives built specially for the line’s opening.

When it arrived at the Welshpool & Llanfair, it became the oldest engine ever to operate on the railway, as it pre-dated the railway’s own locomotives, The Earl and The Countess, by two years.

ZiIllertal arrived at the Welshpool & Llanfair in time for the 2019 August Steam Gala, since when it has been a regular performer on passenger trains along the 8-mile line through Powys countryside.

In 1968, the Zillertalbahn donated four distinctive balcony carriages to the Welshpool & Llanfair, and they have been a unique aspect of the line’s experience for passengers ever since, and was the start of a long close relationship between the Welshpool & Llanfair and the Zillertalbahn.

The Zillertalbahn is a 760 mm gauge line running 32 kilometres (20 miles) from Jenbach to Mayrhofen along the valley of the river Ziller (Zillertal) in the Austrian Tyrol, Austria.

Most passenger train services are operated with modern diesel locomotives and railcars, but it also runs a seasonal steam passenger service with heritage rolling stock.

As well as having locomotives on loan from other railways, the Welshpool & Llanfair also loans locomotives to other lines, and earlier this year its smallest engine, Dougal, went to the Sittingbourne and Kemsley Light Railway on a four-year loan.

“It has been a privilege to be able to operate Zillertal over the past five years, which combined with our former Austrian four-wheeler carriages has been popular with both visitors and staff. Zillertal has also given us much-needed motive power during a period while our own steam engines The Earl and Sir Drefaldwyn underwent major overhauls. I would like to thank all at the Zillertalbahn and their transport partners at the Pressnitztalbahn who have made this possible and look forward to the next stage in our partnership.”

James Brett, Welshpool & Llanfair Light Railway General Manager