Going LOCO

The miniature locomotive ` APOLOGY`was built by, William Thomas who worked at Glyncymmer (GOODY)Colliery until 1909, William Thomas later moved to Birmingham where he became an apprentice electrician with G.E.C.
In 1914 he became Chief Electrical Engineer in the B S A (TOOLS ) Company, a position he held until he died in 1952.
In his spare time William Thomas was a model engineer and he built ( APOLOGY) as a nine & a half gauge locomotive. It measures approximately twelve feet long and stands about two feet high.
William Thomas named the locomotive ` APOLOGY) because it was based on more than one locomotive. It appears to be a mixture of LMS and Great Western locomotives and has a strong resemblance to the` Royal Scot.`
He died before completing his locomotive and efforts were made by his nephew to have it completed and operational. It was brought to the Afan Valley from Birmingham but it was left in a dismantled condition and left in the backyard of a local house in Cwmafon where it deteriorated. William Thomas's nephew later collected the remains and stored them in a Maesteg garage.
During the mid 1990's Harold Thomas, William's son, who was living in Australia , visited the South Wales Miners ' Museum. He donated the remains of the locomotive, hoping the museum could complete it and put into operational condition.
Although the museum made many enquiries, into doing this work it was eventually put into storage again in 1998. Since 1998 the South Wales Miners Museum through great efforts had raised enough money to complete `APOLOGY`
The locomotive now named GLYNDWR, in memory of Glyn Thomas the former Director/Secretary of the Miners Museum who died in 2001.
Thanks to Peter the loco driver, Brian & Jack for all the information.