Russell simmering in the headshunt at Porthmadog station, July 1999.

Dave Gibbs

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Home or Away? This is August 2000, and Russell's first visit to Dinas, where the loco spent the first thirty or so years of its life. Dinas is now the main depot for the "other end" of the Welsh Highland, and Russell lived up to its reputation as a powerful engine with some impressive performances on the climb up to Waunfawr.

Andy Goodwin

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Russell takes water at Caernarfon during the August 2000 visit to the northern end of the Welsh Highland. Caernarfon Castle is in the background, as are two of the WHR(C)'s large Garratt locos.

Andy Goodwin

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Highly polished as ever, Russell backs off the train at the Porthmadog (WHR) terminus. This was Russell's last day in steam before he was withdrawn from service for overhaul, which explains why the fireman (Mark Herbert) is wearing a tie!

Thomas McNeilly

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Russell sits in the headshunt at Porthmadog station. The large brass dome is a source of strong emotions among steam crews. If you're a fireman, you either love it or hate it, and polishing the dome is always the first job given to a young trainee!

Thomas McNeilly

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Russell steams through the greenery between Porthmadog and Pen-y-Mount. Much of the work we need to do in the coming months will get the loco into shape so it can pull trains over the steeper sections of the line, due to open in 2009.

Thomas McNeilly

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Russell runs round the train at Pen-y-Mount. The loco has become one of the most famous narrow gauge steam engines in the UK, not just because it's the only original steam engine left from the old Welsh Highland Railway, but also because of its unusual history.

Thomas McNeilly

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Russell prepares to couple up for the return journey from Pen-y-Mount to Porthmadog. Russell is now safely back in Wales after wanderings as far as Dorset and Oxfordshire.

Thomas McNeilly

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Work nearly done for the day, Russell prepares to run round the train before heading back to the sheds for the night.

We hope to restore Russell to this condition, as well as doing work to bring it even closer to original 1906 condition. But we need your help...... donations.

Thomas McNeilly

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Russell rests outside the Big Shed at Gelert's Farm. The loco looks particularly fine paired with the original WHR toastrack, recently restored by the WHR(P).

Mark Herbert

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Motive power on shed: Russell on the left Gelert centre, and Glaslyn right.

James Hewett, 2004

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