Built by Beyer Peacock, of Manchester in 1902, this 0-6-0T is one of two original locomotives built for the 2ft 6in gauge Welshpool & Llanfair Light Railway.

The W&L opened in 1903, linking Welshpool with Llanfair Caereinion, a distance of nine miles, carrying not only passengers but also livestock and farm produce.

Like the neighbouring Cambrian Railway, the W&L remained independent until the Great Western Railway took it over, in 1923, as did British Rail in 1948.

Sadly, the GWR closed the line to passengers in 1931, after losing out to the local bus service. But goods traffic kept going until BR shut it down completely, in 1956.

Fortunately, by 1963, a preservation society restored and reopened the line albeit between Llanfair Caereinion and Castle Caereinion (where this photo was taken) before the line was reopened as far as a new station at Raven Square, one mile short of the British Rail station, at Welshpool in 1981.

Since the preservationists took over, the locomotive and carriage fleet was strengthened by the acquisition of engines and coaches from such other parts of the world as Austria, Romania, Sierra Leone, and even the Caribbean!