Following a busy summer touring North Wales, Velinheli returned home to Launceston on Wednesday 28th September. She was quickly unloaded in our car park – visitors may have noticed the length of track in the car park for unloading materials, but as Velinheli will (just) fit under the bridge between the station and the car park it is also the easiest location to load and unload her.
With steam raised the opportunity was taken to run Velinheli as far as possible onto the site of the original Launceston station, nearly fifty years since it closed. Following a quick run up the line she was returned to her shed for a few weeks well deserved rest, but she will be in steam and hauling passenger trains for a few days during the half term week at the end of October.
Owner James Evans attends to Velinheli whilst steam is raised
Flangeways are cleared in the track to allow Velinheli to enter the site of the original Launceston station
Velinheli sits approximately on the site of the original Launceston station
Our particular thanks to Paul Lewin of the Ffestiniog & Welsh Highland Railways for looking after Velinheli during her tour