Ffestiniog Railway 'Alistair'

FRS AGM: Alistair, a 13HP Ruston and Hornsby outside Goods Shed at Portmadoc, this loco later became resident at Tan-y-Bwlch for Station Master John Harrison - Apr 1968. Photo: John Ryan

A 13 hp Ruston & Hornsby 4wDM locomotive (Model 11/13 hp Builder's number 201970 of 1940). It came to the Ffestiniog railway from a Mr. H.A. Bierrum of Bierrum & Partners Ltd, Smallford Depot, Herts, on 27 February 1968, after an appeal by Dan Wilson in "Country Life" (November 1967). It was originally stationed on the lower end of the line and distinguished itself on 23 July 1969 by rescuing some carriages from a train at Minffordd following a derailment. Bunny Lewis was the only Deviationist to qualify as a driver whilst a volunteer.

Later it was used extensively on the Deviation as well as transport for Tan y Bwlch Station Master John Harrison otherwise known as Lord North. During this period it received a new cab. It was sold to Mr A Gartell, Yenstone, Templecombe, in April or May 1991, for his Gartell Light Railway. Now (2016) on loan from the Hayling Seaside Railway to the Hampshire narrow gauge railway trust at Bursledon brickworks in Hampshire. (Luckham 2016)