Farewell to Russell (for now...) - Saturday 19th April 2025

Описание: Sole-Surviving Welsh Highland Railway locomotive 'Russell' bowed out of service on Saturday 19th April 2025 at the end of her current boiler ticket.

The previous day, Russell had completed an historic (Sold Out!) solo passenger train the entire length of the completed Welsh Highland Railway but spent her final day hauling trains on her home railway; The Welsh Highland Heritage Railway as part of their Easter Bunnies event

With recently completed Baldwin 590 on test and Gelert being warmed up for duties the following day, along with resident miniature loco 'Enw' and visitor 'David Curwen' running on the Porthmadog Woodland Railway, the day had a true gala feel and a true sense of occasion, with plenty of whistles and salutes to say Farewell to Russell. Even from Garratts 130 & 143 on the WHR Mainline!

The day concluded with an impromptu triple header with Baldwin 590, Gelert and Russell, after the last passengers had departed

Russell will be one of 26 steam locomotives taking part in the '200 Wheels on the Cob' Cavalcade on Sunday 22nd June 2025 as part of the Ffestiniog Railway Platinum Jubilee Weekend and as part of the national Rail 200 celebrations (Russell will not be in steam and is scheduled to be hauled by Taliesin). Full details here: https://www.festrail.co.uk/fr70/

You can donate to the Russell Overhaul Fund here: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted...

Filmed and edited by Matthew Hall