Ffestiniog Railway 'Taliesin' (As Built) Single Fairlie
MMH-FR109A • by Tyneside ModelsPrototype Information
About Taliesin I: (From Festipedia, click for more)
Taliesin was an 0-4-4T Single Fairlie locomotive built for the Festiniog Railway in 1876. It was completely rebuilt between 1898 and 1900. Over subsequent years, the locomotive fell into increasing disrepair and was dismantled in preparation for a new boiler in 1924. However, despite recommendations from the Locomotive Superintendent and Engineer, the Board refused to purchase a boiler. Boyd states that Taliesin was reassembled with its existing boiler, but the archives have no record of this. The remains were later scrapped.
About the kit
This kit is a collaboration between Robex & Tyneside Models, originally conceived in 2013 and brought to life in 2026 with the availability of a suitable chassis; the Bachmann USA Sir Handel / Sir Haydn.
The kit depicts Taliesin I in 'As built' 1876 condition. The Bachmann Sir Handel / Sir Haydn chassis is used with a pony truck to make Taliesin a 0-4-2-2 rather than strictly a Farlie locomotive. NEM coupling pockets are provided at the front and rear to connect Taliesin to commercially available stock. The overall wheelbase is shorter than scale length to suit the chassis, however this allows the loco to negotiate tighter radius bends.
This body kit includes the main body, the smokebox door, cab roof, sandboxes, false trailing bogie frames, cylinder covers and a pony truck including wheelset. You will need to file down the 'pinpoint' protrusions from the wheel before fitting it to the pony truck.