Accucraft Dolgoch in steam

Announced in February this year, Accucraft UK's 16mm scale model of Talyllyn Railway's locomotive Dolgoch was seen in steam for the first time at their open day.

Dolgoch was built by Fletcher, Jennings & Co. in 1866 and is one of the oldest locomotives still in active service. The locomotive was renamed Pretoria between about 1900 and 1914 in celebration of the relief of that township in South Africa by Lord Roberts during the Boer War. In early 1945, Dolgoch was sent to the Atlas Foundry in Shrewsbury to be overhauled. At this time, the railway’s only other locomotive Talyllyn was so worn out it could not be safely operated and services on the railway were suspended. Dolgoch returned to service in September 1945. Dolgoch was the only operable locomotive from 1945 until 1952, when Edward Thomas was restored for use. Between 1954 and 1963, the locomotive underwent a major overhaul.

The model shown is running on 32mm gauge, although a 45mm gauge version will be available. A percentage of the retail profit from each sale will be donated to the Talyllyn Railway for the future overhaul of Dolgoch.

General Manager, Graham Langer, says that orders are coming in well, and the limited run is nearly sold out. For more details of the model, visit the Accucraft UK website.