AN Historic train has taken to the rails at Talyllyn Railway to celebrate the centenary of the RAF.

To help celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Royal Air Force, the historic Talyllyn Railway in Snowdonia is displaying and running a 100-year-old engine that served with the RAF in the year of its creation.

The Talyllyn Railway is the oldest preserved railway in the world, with seven miles of railway line taking tourists on historic steam engine journeys from Tywyn to the heart of Snowdonia. The line dates from 1865, and the Preservation Society was formed in 1951.

The RAF steam engine, known as Locomotive No 6 Douglas, was built in 1918 by Andrew Barclay of Kilmarnock. In 1918, it served at RAF Manston, assisting with constructing large underground silos. In October 1921 it was dispatched to RAF Calshot, where it worked until 1946, before being sold.

It arrived at the Talyllyn Railway in 1953, where it has been in continual use to this day.

The engine also has a connection to the Rev WH Awdry’s Thomas the Tank Engine Books, which were written at Talyllyn, and where the RAF engine was named Duncan.

To commemorate the centenary a new livery reflecting its RAF heritage was commissioned.

The RAF’s most senior officer in Wales, Air Commodore Adrian Williams said: “As the RAF celebrates its centenary in 2018, it is a real privilege to be able to commemorate and celebrate the centenary of an original RAF steam engine from 1918 that is now part of the Talyllyn Railway.

“Whilst the aircraft of the RAF have always tended to grab the attention and the headlines, there is so much more to the RAF and our history. In this RAF centenary year, as we celebrate our creation as the world’s first independent Air Force, it is fantastic to work with the Talyllyn Railway and recognise the very special connection between this steam engine and the RAF, all the way back to our very first days as an Armed Service.”

Ian Drummond, chairman of the Talyllyn Railway Preservation Society, said: “When considering plans for locomotive No.6’s centenary it was felt appropriate to mark its long association with the RAF.

“We are delighted at the overwhelmingly positive response there has been, both during the event and on-line.

“The superb finish on the locomotive is a tribute to our paint shop team and thanks must also go to the local RAF Association for the help they have given us.”