Farewell To The Earl

Double Fairlie ’Earl of Merioneth’ worked it’s last trains at the Ffestiniog Railway over the weekend of April 7th. and 8th. 2018. This video is a compilation of shots of the loco taken between 2015 and 2017. Affectionately known as ‘The Square’ or ’The Mighty Square’, the double Fairlie’s ten-year boiler ticket is due to expire, and requires a new boiler, boiler cradle, smokeboxes, chimneys and water tanks before it can steam again. It is probably the first new build engine to be withdrawn from service. Its current power bogies, built in 1986, will be overhauled and used in the construction of a new double Fairlie, ’James Spooner’. ’Earl of Merioneth’ will be placed in dry storage on its original 1979-built power bogies, so as not to preclude restoration at a later date.