After many years out of use, one of the 15in gauge Atlantics built at Rhyl in the 1920s finally has a secure future and is set to return to steam.
The Rhyl Miniature Railway was built by Miniature Railways of Great Britain Ltd which had been founded in 1904, with W J Bassett-Lowke as managing director, and Henry Greenly as engineer.
To operate the railway, a standard Greenly-designed Bassett-Lowke Little Giant 4-4-2 was provided, named Prince Edward of Wales.
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The line was quickly sold to Rhyl Amusements Ltd, owned by a Mr Butler, which already operated the other attractions at the Marine Lake in Rhyl. The company had a manager named Albert Barnes.
Although a second Little Giant was purchased second-hand, the two engines struggled as traffic grew. Bassett-Lowke had already produced larger versions of the Little Giant, but Greenly designed the more powerful Albion class for Rhyl and six were built by Albert Barnes & Co at its Albion Works in Rhyl. The two original engines were disposed of, as were two of the relatively-new Barnes engines, but their names Michael and Billie were transferred to the last two of the new ones so they remained all named after Mr Butler’s children.
Read more in Issue 243 of HR – on sale now!
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