On safari for a Welsh Pony

Much to our surprise, we managed two escapes to Wales this year; it looked like the Welsh were going to keep the border closed altogether for the whole duration.  Anyway, amongst the many things on the to-do list was for me (Ben) to try and get some pictures of "Welsh Pony".  This loco is probably my favourite engine full stop, having spent a lot of time during holiday visits to Porthmadog in the 1980's and 1990's scrambling all over it whilst it was plinthed outside the station.

Despite it being pretty much knackered (after being run mechanically into the ground in the 1940's, then exposed to sea air for the next several decades) the surprise decision was taken to restore it to traffic.  It didn't look like it would be all that useful being a smaller locomotive compared to much of the fleet, but then the Coronavirus Crisis hit, and the loco went from being tested to an essential working loco pretty much overnight.  Short trains of vintage stock running regularly from Porthmadog to Tanybwlch and back are the order of the post-Covid day, and "Welsh Pony" (running as plain old no.5 in a plain old livery, until a 'formal' naming event in the Autumn) became something I really wanted to photograph. 

With the loco running twice a day, nearly every day, there were plenty of opportunities to see the loco but the weather was the complicating factor.  Photographing a dark-coloured steam loco in a forest in dull light isn't easy.

A lot of logging has been taking place since the last time we were up around Tanybwlch, which has somwhat spoilt some of my regular locations up here.  Still, with the station cafe open it makes for some nice walks in the woods, and somewhere to go for a brew afterwards.

We took a ride on the train whilst we were up in Wales too- I like to try and support the railways I photograph wherever possible, particularly in these difficult times, even if it's just buying lunch from the cafe or trips to the gift shop.

"Linda" running-round at Tanybwlch, one of the most scenic stations on any preserved line.

Up in the hills again, and some nice colours in amongst the greenery.

"Prince" in a rare patch of sun.  Well I say rare; it was quite sunny on the second visit to Wales, but when you've been cooped up in the house for 5 months, and there's a choice between a walk in the woods on a sunny day or a trip to the beach, you go to the beach...

Platform shelter at Minfford; might make a nice prototype to try doing on the laser cutter at some point.

"Welsh Pony" itself, approaching Tanybwlch .  Nice to be able to see the loco, shame about the dull weather.

And the last train picture I took during the holiday, "Welsh Pony" at Penrhyndeudraeth.

The last photo I took on the first visit, and a rare patch of sun and nice weather.  This is the bridge over the road near Tanybwlch, and a shot I've wanted to take for years.  We'd been hoping, lockdown permitting, that we could get back up to the railway for the weekend when the loco is formally launched back into traffic.  That looks bloody unlikely now, so a goal for next year perhaps...