A live steam 7 ¼” model of Vale of Rheidol (VoR) railway 2-6-2 tank No. 7 Owain Glyndwr has arrived at the Vale of Rheidol Railway, ready for its autumn debut in Aberystwyth.

The model is regarded as the finest miniature model of a VoR 2-6-2T in existence, and has been on display in the National Railway Museum’s (NRM) Great Hall for a number of years.

The NRM has presented the 7 ¼” Owain Glyndwr to the Vale of Rheidol Railway in memory of its commissioner, Jack Salem, who was a mill owner in Lancashire and a collector of model locomotives.

It was built by Harry Powell, a distinguished coppersmith and model railway engineer.

Completed in 1969, the model is an exact copy of a Vale or Rheidol 2-6-2T, scaled one-third of its original size, and finished in BR lined green. The full-size No.7 was built in 1923 at Swindon Works and is still in regular service on the line.

7 ¼” Owain Glyndwr will be unveiled at the VoR Steam Festival Weekend on 25th and 26 of October, which also coincides with the launch of No.9 Prince of Wales in its BR Blue livery.

The model will remain on public display throughout Pete Waterman’s ‘Making Tracks’ Model Railway event, which is taking place across the October half-term holidays from 25th October to 2nd November. This will be the second time Pete Waterman’s ‘Making Tracks’ model will be operating outside of its usual habitat.

“We’re delighted to pass the Powell model to the Vale of Rheidol, not just as a superb example of model engineering and tribute to Harry Powell and Jack Salem, but perhaps the finest large-scale model of a Rheidol tank that will ever be made. There’s nowhere else more suitable, and I look forward to seeing it on display soon.”

Anthony Coulls, Senior Curator of Rail Transport and Technology at the National Railway Museum

“This magnificent model is a wonderful new addition to our museum collection. Its arrival is perfectly timed for a season of celebrations — with the Steam Festival and Pete Waterman’s ‘Making Tracks’ both drawing visitors to Aberystwyth. It’s a chance to see our heritage in every size, from live steam models through to the full-sized locomotives that still run on the Vale of Rheidol today.”

Vale of Rheidol Railway Managing Director Llyr ap-Iolo