The fireman couples 'Talyllyn' (engine No. 1 of the Talyllyn Railway) at Nant Gwernol in readiness for the journey back to Tywyn Wharf on 18th February 2012. If you look closely, you can see me on the extreme left (blue/grey jacket, brown cloth cap).
'Talyllyn', as you could imagine, was the very first engine built for the TR. When built in 1864, it was an 0-4-0ST with no cab but in later years, the engine had a cab fitted as well as two non-driven wheels making it, of course, an 0-4-2ST. When the railway closed in 1946, poor old 'Talyllyn' laid out of use until restoration was complete in 1958. Nevertheless, what can I say except well done to the Talyllyn Railway Preservation Society for keeping their engines 'alive and healthy'!
On the fictional side, 'Talyllyn', like all the other engines on the Talyllyn Railway, became the basis for an engine on the Skarloey Railway (in Talyllyn's case, of course, 'Skarloey').
As a bonus, why don't you tune into this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7gMAtW9CJO0
...And this, too!: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nRW6uhDKEe4