Template:Featured picture/April 2017

Princess was the second locomotive to be delivered to the Festiniog Railway. This engine was carried by the LNWR from London to Caernarfon and then brought (around 22 July 1863) by road to Portmadoc on Job and Harry Williams' specially built cart or wain drawn by ten horses. This was the first locomotive to run on the railway and was first steamed on 4 August 1863. Princess was numbered 1 in the earliest of photographs as in the photograph, however Charles Spooner referred to her as No.2 in 1879, perhaps remembering the order of delivery. The Princess was named after Princess Alexandra of Denmark (1844-1925), who had married Albert Edward, Prince of Wales (later Edward VII, 1840-1910) in March 1863. Princess has not been restored to working order but remains as she was left by the old company in 1946. For a year or two in the mid 1960s, as shown in the photo, she was on display at Porthmadog Harbour Station at the end of the siding nearest the sea with a notice which read "No 1 Princess, This locomotive was the first engine in steam on the railway, 4th August 1863. and also hauled the last slate train 1st August 1946, It now awaits restoration." Photo credit: John Lloyd Temple Recently featured: Penrhyn Quarry Rail Carriage 118 Bristol Meeting