PUBLISHER Steve Cole stevec@warnersgroup.co.uk EDITOR Andrew Charman 12 Maes Gwyn, Llanfair Caereinion, Powys, SY21 0BD. Tel: 01938 810592 Email: editor@narrowgaugeworld.co.uk FEATURES EDITOR David Joy Email: dawjoy1@gmail.com DESIGN & PRODUCTION Andrew Charman MULTIMEDIA SALES MANAGER Sarah Jarman Tel: 01778 392055 Email: sarah.jarman@warnersgroup.co.uk AD PRODUCTION Allison Mould Tel: 01778 395002 Email: allison.mould@warnersgroup.co.uk SUBSCRIPTIONS Tel: (0) 1778 392469 (UK & Overseas) Email: subscriptions@warnersgroup.co.uk UK: £40.50; Rest of Europe: £52.00; Outside Europe: £60.00 DISTRIBUTION News trade Warners Distribution – Tel: 01778 392417 Model Trade Warners Trade Sales – Tel: 01778 392404 Overseas Agents JAPAN: Eriei Co, Ltd, 1-1-12 Toyotama-kita, Nerima-ku, Tokyo 176 Printed by: Warners Midlands Plc Lincolnshire All rights reserved. Material is only accepted on the understanding that there are no copyright restrictions. Although every care will be taken, all materials submitted are at the owner’s risk and Warners Group Publications cannot be held responsible for loss or damage however caused. Copyright on all materials in this magazine remains vested in the Authors and Warners Group Publications. Reproduction of the whole or any part is forbidden without the relevant permissions. Warners Group Publications and the Editor cannot be held responsible for any error that might occur in text or advertisements. Reliance placed upon the contents of the magazine is entirely at the reader’s own risk. © WARNERS GROUP PUBLICATIONS PLC 2024 ISSN: 1466-0180 Cover: The Bala Lake Railway welcomed yet another Quarry Hunslet to its ranks when Paul Lewin brought his 1886-built example ‘Velinheli’ to the line’s Gala over the August bank holiday. Soon after the BLR learnt it had gained planning permission to extend into the centre of Bala itself – the full story is on page 06. The inset is indicative of a bit of a theme in this month’s NGW, looking at the long-lost metre gauge ironstone trains of the Midlands and the museum dedicated to them today. Photos: Joey Evans and Clive Hawley Issue No 188 October 2024 www.narrow-gauge-world.co.uk www.facebook.com/narrowgaugeworld Email: editor@narrowgaugeworld.co.uk 05 First Lines Volunteer competition 06 Headline News Bala extension is go CONTENTS 36 07 UK News Two big engines on the 2ft 14 World News Blaze turns Harz into fire-fighter 18 36 NG Innovation Burmese home-made railbuses 39 NG Modelling The Project layout is back 18 Waite’s World Forestry lines in China 22 Narrow Gauge Industry Midlands metre gauge 25 News Gallery Late summer action 30 Collections Ironstone memories in Irchester 34 Locomotives Pair of unique Mallets 42 NG Modelling 009 laser-cut building review 44 On the Shelf Remarkable Alishan travelogue 46 Viewpoint Greek and Welsh memories 47 NG Extra A Guinness loco in Surrey 48 Diary Autumn action and where to find it 50 Encounters Brecon in its earliest days 50 NARROW GAUGE WORLD is published nine times per year. This issue on sale 27th September 2024 Next issue published 25th October 2024 www.warnersgroup.co.uk No 188 – Subscribe at www.narrow-gauge-world.co.uk 30 NEXT ISSUE – NOV-DEC 2024 On Sale 25th October 03