THREE centuries of history came together in Bala last week at an emotional reunion.

The Bala Lake Railway had the “great pleasure” of hosting a special charter train for David Jones, grandson of the original driver of “cherished” locomotive Winifred, Llew Bach.

Winifred was built in 1885 by the Hunslet Engine Company for the Penrhyn Slate Quarry.

The steam engine spent most of its working life at Port Penrhyn – where Llew Bach piloted it in the late 19th Century – where Winifred sorted wagons of slate ready for loading onto ships for transport all over the world.

The engine then spent the last 10 years of her life working in the quarry itself.

When the quarry decided to change to diesel locomotives Winifred was sold and transported to America where she spent the next 50 years in a museum store out of sight.

She was purchased by Bala Lake Railway chairman Julian Birley in 2012 and brought home to Wales.

Following completion of an extensive overhaul in the railway’s own workshops, Winifred returned to steam in the spring of 2015.

A spokesperson for the Bala Lake Railway said: “As the photo shows, David had a fantastic time, rekindling many happy memories of his Taid in beautiful surroundings, on the loco he cherished.”