Boston Lodge Porthmadog Wales - This is the moment an historic narrow gauge steam locomotive ran under its own power for the first time in 80 years.
 
"Welsh Pony" was built by the George England company for the Ffestiniog Railway in 1867.
 
It was one of two locomotives built for the line to an improved and larger design.
 
After two major overhauls in 1891 and 1915, Welsh Pony continued in use until 1940 when it was stored out of use at the Boston Lodge workshops.
 
Built to carry slate from the quarries of Blaenau Ffestiniog to the wharves at Porthmadog for export around the world, the line was closed in 1946 but taken over by a group of enthusiasts in 1954.
 
Gradually the line was reopened and locomotives were brought out of storage and overhauled and put back into traffic.
 
Parts of Welsh Pony were used to repair other locomotives and plans for its restoration put back due to lack of resources.
 
In 1984 the locomotive was cleaned up and painted red for display outside the Goods shed at Harbour Station.
 
The following year it was moved to a plinth at the entrance to the Harbour Station car park and was popular among yongsters who were able to climb onto its footplate.
 
Welsh Pony remained there until March 2002 when it was taken back into storage, this time at Glanypwll.
 
After a consultation on what should be done with the locomotive it was decided to return it to steam.
 
Welsh Pony was taken into the works at Boston Lodge in 2014, and following a comprehensive overhaul, returned to steam last weekend.
 
Millie, the daughter of Ffestiniog Railway General Manager Paul Lewin, had the honour of lighting the first fire in Welsh Pony's firebox.
 
Once steam pressure had been raised railway chaplain Rev Richard Buxton blessed the loco and it was pulled out of the shed.
 
After a long blast on its whistle the brakes were released, the regulator opened, and the loco reversed back onto the main line and back again.
 
Despite the poor weather a small number of people, many of whom had worked on the loco's restoration, watched the historic occasion.
 
Later, as the weather improved, Welsh Pony made a spirited run past the workshops.
 
When the railway reopens after lockdown, hopefully later this month, Welsh Pony will be used to haul up to six carriages on passenger trains to Blaenau Ffestiniog.
 
Currently in a plum colour which matches some of the railway carriages, and a wooden name plate simply with Number 5 on it, Welsh Pony will be officially renamed at a public event.
 
Railway officials hope this will be at the ever popular Victorian Weekend event in October.
 
Meanwhile work continues on building an entirely new loco at the works.
 
It had been hoped to run Welsh Pony and James Spooner side by side this summer but work on the latter has been on hold due to the closure of the works.
 
Eryl Crump.