RHYL Steam Preservation Trust has brought the steam locomotive Billie to Rhyl, adding to its Miniature Railway fleet.

Billie was built by in 1922 for the Dreamland Miniature Railway in Margate, but returned to Rhyl yesterday (June 29) and will now be able to steam again alongside its four sisters, all of which were built in Rhyl.

Rhyl Steam Preservation Trust is the charity which runs Rhyl Miniature Railway; its 15-inch gauge steam trains have been running around the Marine Lake since 1911.

During the 1920s, six handsome 4-4-2 locomotives were built in Rhyl by Albert Barnes.

Rhyl Journal: The train when in service in Margate.The train when in service in Margate.

At the moment, Joan and Railway Queen are still in regular use at the railway, while a third loco Michael is being reassembled following engineering work to its boiler.

In addition, a fourth similar locomotive Billy is owned by Rhyl Town Council and is on display in the museum at Central Station.

Les Hughes, chairman of the Trust, has supported the railway since 1980, when he first had the idea of bringing all the locomotives built by Albert Barnes back together.

“This is a real achievement,” said Les.

“It now means that we have five of the six locomotives with us at Rhyl Miniature Railway.

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“It is another chapter in a dream I have been following for the last 40 years.

“I would like to thank everyone who has supported us during the last few years and have made this possible, in particular the passengers who ride on the trains and our team who operate the railway.”

Billie is thought to be celebrating its centenary this year, but it has not hauled any public trains since 1983.

Rhyl Miniature Railway has purchased the loco from Austin Moss of the Windmill Farm Railway in Lancashire, who had done much work to restore the locomotive, which will now be returned to steam at Rhyl Miniature Railway.