A STEAM train named Dougal is set to make the long sea journey home to Llanfair Caereinion from East Asia.
The little locomotive from the Welshpool & Llanfair Light Railway was loaded into a container on Wednesday, March 6, following a three-month spell in Taiwan at a ‘Taiwan and British Railway Culture Exchange’ themed Sugar Festival.
Dougal, 63, is expected to return home to Mid Wales this Spring.
The heritage railway favourite was one of the stars of the festival, which was held in December, and was featured on Taiwanese television.
A ‘Sister Railway’ co-operation agreement between the Welshpool & Llanfair Light Railway and the festival’s host Taiwan Sugar Corporation was signed at the festival in the city of Chiayi.
The agreement aims to attract more visitors from Asia to the UK and Wales.
“He’s coming home!” a spokesperson for the Welshpool & Llanfair Light Railway said.
“Our little loco ‘Dougal’, which has been on a holiday with our new friends at Taiwan Sugar Corporation, was loaded into a container for the long sea journey home. He’s expected back in Llanfair in April.”
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