Friday 13 May saw a special Steam Railway donors preview event and was not open to the public. Before this train departed a speech was made by Nick Brodrick (Steam Railway), David Mitchell and TR Chief Executive Dave Scotson.
During the evening the Narrow Gauge Railway Society (also celebrating their Diamond Jubilee) chartered a mixed Corris train hauled by No 3 ‘Sir Haydn’ featuring carriage 17, all serviceable Corris wagons and Van 6.
The main event was on Saturday 14 May, when Dolgoch officially returned to service. Following the ‘unveiling’ of Dolgoch at Wharf, we ran a recreation of the first train in railway preservation up to Brynglas. The passengers disembarked to re-marshall the original TR carriage set as they did in 1951. Originally we only ran to Rhydyronen so the train headed back there for several run pasts. There were photographers and well wishers lining every bridge the train went past and it really was wonderful to hear Dolgoch’s whistle and distinctive sound again. In the afternoon Dolgoch and Talyllyn double headed a train to Abergynolwyn, with Dolgoch swapping to the up train on the way back at Brynglas.
