1922 - The locomotive became the property of the Welsh Highland Railway (WHR), which acquired the NWNGR and the (partially completed) PB&SSR.[2]
1924 - After the WHR was taken over by the neighbouring Ffestiniog Railway (FfR), Russell was reduced in height in order to allow it to work trains on the FfR. The Ffestiniog's bridges and tunnels were built to a restrictive loading gauge. The work entailed lowering Russell's chimney, steam dome and cab; however the locomotive was still too wide and could not pass through the long Moelwyn tunnel.
1937 - The WHR closed, with Russell running the last through train. The locomotive was left in the sheds at Dinas.[3]
1970 - Fitted with a new boiler by its makers the Hunslet Engine Company at Leeds[5] and it returned to Kinnerley on 29 January 1971.
1971 - Sent to Lakeside Railway Estates Co. Ltd. at Carnforth for further repairs.
1974 - Moved from Carnforth to Hills & Bailey Ltd. at Llanberis for further overhaul work.[5] Subsequently the engine was moved to the Gelerts Farm Works of the WHR where the restoration work continued.
2000 - Visited the Welsh Highland Railway (Caernarfon) and operated trains on the occasion of the official reopening of the line between Dinas and Waunfawr.
2005 - Was withdrawn from service pending the commencement of a major overhaul, with the aim of running again between Porthmadog and Dinas, on the completed Welsh Highland Railway.
2014 - Russell back in service on WHHR
2015 - Russell attends the Talyllyn Railway's 150th anniversary.
2018 - Russell completed a test run on the main Welsh Highland Railway, reaching Beddgelert for the first time in over 80 years.
A 2-6-2T steam locomotive, the design of Russell is more closely related to Hunslet No 865 of 1905 otherwise known as Leeds Number 1, although certain engineering aspects can be more readily associated with design of locomotives supplied to the Sierra Leone Government Railway. One of the driving wheel centres bears the initials SLR, however this has been found to have been a later replacement and not as originally supplied. Originally built with air train brakes, it was converted to vacuum train brakes following the linking of the Welsh Highland and Ffestiniog Railways.
A character named "Fearless" Freddie based on this locomotive appeared in the children's television series Thomas & Friends.
Boyd, James I.C. (1972). Narrow Gauge Railways in South Caernarvonshire, Volume One: The Embankment Tramway, Gorseddau Tramway, Festiniog and Blaenau Railway, Croesor Tramway, Bettws-y-Coed & Festiniog Railway, North Wales Narrow Gauge Railways and Portmadoc, Beddgelert and South Snowdon Railway. The Oakwood Press.
