Diesel Power

Bala Lake Railway owns 3 diesel powered locos and is home to a number of other, privately owned vehicles. Diesels are used to haul steam engines out of their shed in the mornings to enable them to raise steam; to move carriages into the main platform to form up the days train and to haul wagons around the railway for coal, for timber and for maintenance purposes.

Chilmark, Ruston & Hornsby, works no. 194771

The oldest of the railways diesels is Chilmark, 40DL diesel mechanical 3-speed built in 1939 for the Air Ministry.

It was used by the Royal Air Force for hauling explosives and ammunition at RAF Chilmark, Wiltshire.

The loco was purchased in 1976 and heavily rebuilt following its December arrival at Llanuwchllyn. Due to mechanical failures, Chilmark has been out of use for some years, however it is currently undergoing a major rebuild and it is hoped it will be back in service in the near future.

Merionnydd, Severn-Lamb, Works No. 22

Bo-Bo diesel-hydrostatic Meirionnydd was built for the railway by Severn Lamb, of Stratford-upon-Avon in 1973. She is based on a Western class standard gauge locomotive outline design.

Meirionnydd has had a overhaul with a new engine fitted and work to its hydraulic system is ongoing.

The locomotive, will hopefully, be fully restored to working order and be externally refurbished in the near future.

Bob Davies, Baguley Drewery, works no. 780

Bob Davies is the railways main standby diesel, used to haul out of season trains, for yard shunting and goods or works train haulage.

The Baguley Drewery 0-6-0 loco was built as 2ft 6in gauge for the Royal Navy at Fishgaurd, purchased by Pete Briddon's Yorkshire Engine Company and regauged to 2ft

Named 'Bob Davies' in honour of a remarkable railway man, the loco was ultimately sold to the Bala Lake Railway company.

Wickham ex-MOD Target Tug

Ex MOD Lydd Ranges (Kent) Wickham target trolley

Wickham 0-4-0 ex-MOD target tug, powered by a J.A. Prestwich & Co. Ltd (JAP) petrol engine and is direct chain driven.

It is believed that the vehicle operated on a circuit at the MOD Lydd (Kent) gunnery ranges. Basically the tug supported a target and was set off (in self-propelled mode) round the loop to be fired at by artillery and infantry.

This unusual vehicle is privately owned and awaiting conversion into a Permanent Way inspection truck.

Supported by Volunteers

The railway is supported by Bala Lake Railway Society (Cymdeithas Rheilffordd Llyn Tegid), whose members provide train crews & carry out repairs & maintenance to the line's infrastructure.

You do not need to be a member to volunteer on the railway but new members are always welcome.

Accumulated society funds are used to benefit the railway. One example was the partial cost of the rebuilding of Glanllyn/Flag Station.

Visit the society website for further information and details of how to join.

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