Motive Power.

Since the railway was reopened as an interpretation centre in the 1990's, the railway has gone from strength to strength and has seen a massive transformation in it's fortunes with locomotives coming and going from the line.

The four stations on the line have seen a complete rebuild with improved signalling and new rolling stock being introduced to share the burden with the older members of the fleet. 

The Current Fleet

The current fleet consists of several locomotives from different countries. Each locomotive on the railway is unique, which makes the maintenance schedule very varied, due to the different complexities of each locomotive.

Steam Locomotives

Fletcher Jennings No. 1 "Glyn"

When the line was rebuilt in 2000, there was a lack of funding available for the repairs that were needed on Glyn. The loco needed a new boiler and the cylinders required an almost total rebuild. It's full rebuild was completed not long before the railway's full reopening in 2011. It is currently painted in an all over Indian Red colour scheme until funds can be raised to hire in a skilled painter to fully line the locomotive. It is intended that this will be completed when the locomotive is given it's first ten year overhaul in 2021.

Fletcher Jennings No. 2 "Dolgoch" Replica

Dolgoch and Talyllyn are two of the most famous steam locomotives in the world. The Bron Effans line was gifted a replica of Dolgoch by one of it's founding members. It is a privately owned engine but the railway has permission to steam it for passenger use on the proviso that the owner can have unlimited access to his engine. It was often seen running in tandem with Glyn to emulate the look of the Talyllyn Railway. Dolgoch was moved to a new home in 2019 and has been replaced by a newer and more reliable replica.

Fletcher Jennings No. 3 "Cefyndryd"

Cefyndryd is the third member of the fleet that is built to the Fletcher Jennings design. Cefyndryd was rebuilt by apprentices of BAE Systems as a long term training project. Cefyndryd was originally deemed to be beyond economic repair. However, the Cousins Trust raised the funds to replace all major damaged components and she is now a mainstay of the fleet. The locomotive bears the Welsh name for Cousin due to the fact that the Cousins trust was formed by the Cousins family and were great supporters of the line when it was first being rebuilt. She differs from the original Glyn in that she has a larger boiler and a greater tractive effort. She is often seen hauling service trains in high season alongside the newly built No. 4.

No. 5 "Eger"

No. 5 or "Eger" as it is unofficially called is a short wheelbase locomotive. It was refurbished for the line's reopening in 2000 and has completed several years of reliable service. It is not capable of hauling a full rake of carriage stock on it's own and must double head with another locomotive if it is used in high season. This is often reserved for gala days or special events. No. 5 has been an invaluable part of the railway and is currently running in it's original black livery with it's Eger-Bahn running plates. Eger was unfortunately scrapped at the end of 2019 owing to a fatal malfunction on a passenger train. The damage was deemed to be beyond economic repair.

No. 7 "Sir Donald" 

No. 7 was purchased as a mainline locomotive in 2012 to haul high season passenger trains. It originally ran on the Zilleterbahn Railway and has a proven record of being able to haul the heaviest trains comfortably. However, it had to be taken out of service in 2018 owing to a major failure on a low season train. The engineers at Aberglyn decided that the locomotive was beyond economic repair and was sold off to a private owner in early 2019. The owner has enlisted the services of the Vale of Rheidol Railway to draw up a rescue plan for this historic locomotive. As of 2019 "Sir Donald" has been rebuilt and renamed as "Ziller" in tribute to it's original railway. It is regularly used on passenger services in high season, where it's phenomenal tractive effort comes into play.

DB 203020 "Sir Anthony"

"Lord Anthony was built in the early 20th century for a German narrow gauge line. It was originally used on large coal trains from the mountains, where it could easily haul a load of several large wagons full of coal. It has been moved to the Bron Effans line through a private consortium of volunteers and has been restored to running condition for use on high season trains. It is often run with it's cousin Ziller to mimic the running of a European narrow gauge railway. It has proven an exceptional locomotive owing to it's high power output and range through the use of a tender. This has allowed it to run further with fewer water stops, a boon on high season days where turnaround time at stations is more limited. Sir Anthony has been moved to a new home on a railway near Manchester. 

Fletcher Jennings No. 4 New built locomotive.

After the departure of "Dolgoch" the Bron Effans Society began a fundraising campaign to build a new and modern example of the Fletcher Jennings locomotive. Construction began in late 2015, with a large donation from an anonymous source allowing the project to be expedited in preparation for the 2020 summer season. New features of the locomotive are a slightly shorter wheelbase to negotiate tight corners and point-work at the eastern end of the line; where space is at a premium. The locomotive has only recently been given it's basecoat of Midland Red and requires further detailing work before the railway commissions it for full passenger service. 

Kerr Stuart "Tattoo" Locomotive No. 6

In 2020, a project was launched to build a replica "Tattoo" class steam locomotive to supplement the Fletcher Jennings locomotives on more intense service days. The locomotive was built in house and follows similar design principles to those of the ones on the Talyllyn and Corris railways. The main diversion of the design is that it is built for use on a 2 foot gauge railway. It is awaiting the fitting of brake equipment to allow it to be used on the main service trains. This is expected to be completed in 2021 when more funds are available. 

No. 8 "Sham"

Sham is a saddle tank locomotive that has been donated to the line for restoration. Not much is known of her pedigree, there are elements of design from several manufacturers. She hails from a quarry works near Penrhyn. She was the main workhorse of the quarry. She is an 0-4-0 locomotive which makes her well suited to the twisted and steep curves of a quarry railway. She was acquired by the Bron Effans Railway in 2019 and has undergone a heavy restoration. She is able to make steam and run under her own power. However, she does need some further works before she enters the main locomotive fleet. She currently wears a plain BR green livery.

Visiting Steam Locomotives

Baldwin 590 (Replica)

The railway has hired in the replica of "590" from the Welsh Highland Heritage Railway as additional motive power, whilst a replacement steam locomotive is acquired for the railway. It is currently being deployed on high season trains alongside No. 1. It has proven to be a dependable asset for the railway and the management is considering building an example of a Baldwin locomotive for the railway to replace No. 7. 590 has been taken on board on a semi-permanent loan at the Bron Effans Railway to bolster passenger services in high season.

George England No. 2 Prince

Built originally for the Ffestiniog Railway, Prince has been a frequent visitor to the railway and has attended several gala days. The Bron Effans Railway maintains strong links with the Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland Railway and regularly shares rolling stock with them. For more information about Prince please see the attached link. https://www.festipedia.org.uk/wiki/Prince

Prince has since returned home to the Ffestiniog Railway to operate their Covid service trains.

Baldwin "GVT"

This is the second example of a Baldwin locomotive on the line. She was built by the Glyn Valley Heritage Preservation trust and is housed on the railway under a reciprocal agreement that she can be used on service trains and maintained by the Bron Effans company. The Society part funds the repairs and maintenance and is allowed use of the locomotive on private specials using the GVT railway replica stock on the line. 

Diesel Locomotives

Diesel No. 1 "Castell Powys"

Diesel No. 1 and Diesel No.2 were built in a seperate batch to the Castle locomotives on the Ffestiniog. They are both used as passenger diesels alongside the steam fleet in high season. They are both dependable locomotives. 

Castell Powys is named after Powys Castle near Welshpool. She is painted in a similar livery to Castell Caernarfon on the Welsh Highland Railway. Castell Powys is due for an overhaul and repaint in the next few years.

Diesel No. 2 "Castell Carndochan"

Diesel No. 1 and Diesel No.2 were built in a seperate batch to the Castle locomotives on the Ffestiniog. They are both used as passenger diesels alongside the steam fleet in high season. They are both dependable locomotives. 

Castell Carndochan is the newer of the two castle diesels in that she was the later of the two diesels to be rebuilt by the railway. She is painted in a similar livery to her cousins Criccieth and Harlech Castle from the Ffestiniog Railway. 

Diesel No. 3


Diesel No 3 was purchased for the railway when it was still an interpretation centre and museum. The centre offered brake van rides along a short stretch of track. The locomotive was originally built by F. C. Hibberd & Co for local slate quarries. It is capable of 100 BHP and can handle any train that it is required to pull. It is often seen on low season trains, where it is not cost effective to run a full steam train, or special Diesel only gala days. It is used by the permenant way department for their works trains. It is currently undergoing a full repaint, after an extensive rebuild, into Southern Green with Yellow hazard panels for the 2019 season. The owner of the locomotive asked for it to be returned to their private garden railway in late 2019 and has since left the line. 

Rebuilt Funkey Diesel No. 8 "Vale of Elan"

The Funkey diesel locomotive was purchased from a South African freight company in early 2019. She has had a complete overhaul to a style similar to that of the Vale of Ffestiniog locomotive. The most significant difference between these two locomotives is that she has a slightly lower powered engine due to the Bron Effans Railway running smaller rakes of carriages. She was purchased using an EU grant to improve commuter links in the area and to encourage people to use the railway instead of their cars to commute to Aberglyn and beyond. She is still in the testing phase; but it is hoped that she will enter full service by the end of the 2019 season to run commuter trains in  the winter months, whilst the other rolling stock is being inspected.

Diesel No. 11 O&K 

Diesel No. 11 was acquired as a direct replacement to Diesel No. 3. It hails from a narrow gauge line in Romania and was extensively rewired and rebuilt as a condition of the purchase. She was re-gauged from 2ft 6inches to 2ft to be able to work on the line. She is one of the most powerful diesels on the line boasting an impressive 90hp. She is capable of working any number of trains on the line due to her dual braking capabilities and high tractive effort. She is due to enter the workshops in December 2020 for a full service and some cosmetic works.

Baguley Locomotive Number 12 "St Cadfan II"

St Cadfan was acquired by the railway from RNAD Trecwn in late 2007. She was given a full engine rebuild over a period of 13 years. This work was completed in 2020 and has not yet entered full service. She possesses 99hp making her the second most powerful diesel on the line. She is is a diesel hydraulic locomotive which makes her suited to passenger trains. She was given the name St Cadfan around the same time as the example on the Talyllyn railway, after an administrative error. The duplication was overlooked and she is affectionately known on the line as No. 2 or the twin. She is still awaiting the fitting of her new couplers, which are on order to allow her to work with stock on the line. She is distinguishable from her twin by her original yellow livery. 

Privately owned Simplex

The Simplex tractor was used extensively in World War One on the Trench railways. After the war ended, it was put to use at a paper mill near Stoke-On-Trent. It was purchased by a well known Youtube presenter as part of their mechanical marvels collection. The railway houses the locomotive and has use of it on inspection trains and as a works shunter. It is a quirky little engine that draws attention at galas and events. It lacks the pulling power of other locomotives on the line but is very handy when train movements do not require one of the larger diesels to be put into use.

Engineering Train. "The Banana"

The Engineering train was adapted from a Schoma diesel shunter from the Eurotunnel construction project. It was given a second cab with the intention that it would be put to use on passenger services. However, it was deemed to be lacking in the necessary power to haul a full train of passengers. It came into full use on the reconstruction of the line between Aberglyn and Aber Effans in the late 1990's. 

Despite the fact that it lacked the power for a full supply train, it proved invaluable to the construction crews, acting as transport and carrier from supply sites to the head of the rail. 

It saw attention in early 2004 when it was given a brand new gearbox and its now 'famous' yellow livery. It has since been utilised on maintenance workings and weekly inspection workings due to it's dual cab and excellent fuel economy.

Owing to several technical failures in 2019, the decision was taken to remove "The Banana" from service and utilise one of the line's other diesel locomotives in it's stead. The power unit, which is still fairly new, will be rebuilt and used as part of a trial DMU that is being built for the railway as part of a European Union Grant to boost transport links across North Wales.

The Banana shortly before it was decommissioned.

Project Effans

The railway was awarded a grant in 2019 to commision a prototype DMU (Diesel Multiple Unit) for the railway. It has been designed to allow the railway to boost transport links to the local communities along the lines through a grant from the European Union. The intention is to build a two car unit that will be capable of carrying 50 passengers between the two main towns along the line. The Bron Effans Railway won the grant based on it's track record for reliability and the relatively low gradients along the line, which would suit a vehicle of this type. If successful, this design is intended to be reproduced on other popular Welsh lines to boost commuter services in the future. There is scope for this unit to be converted into a hybrid in the future if finances allow which will allow the railway to meet it's green emissions targets in the future. As much as the railway is steam oriented it cannot use a steam engine for commuter services everyday and keep costs low. The unit has used the original prime mover from The Banana, as it is a low profile engine system, and has been mated with an identical power unit in the second car. Both cars work in multiple with each other, meaning the unit can be driven from either end with no loss of performance. The western car features a second handbrake to comply with operating standards on passenger services. 

The unit proved to be very unreliable and was sold off in early 2020 to another railway.