Sir Haydn

In the early 1980s, the Talyllyn was experiencing a slowdown in terms of traffic and visitors. In a bid to stem the decline, the railway sought ways to appeal to the public and give them more of a reason to visit. It was decided to repaint Sir Haydn into the guise of Sir Handel for the 1982 season, though it was met with apprehension by some enthusiasts. The Rev. W. Awdry gave his blessing and with co-operation from the publishers, Kaye & Ward, the launch date was set for June 3rd, 1982. Numerous journalists were present at the event and the Rev. W. Awdry attended as a "representative" of Sir Handel Brown and explained that the reason for Sir Handel's presence was that Sir Haydn needed repairs and that the Skarloey Railway had lent the Talyllyn Sir Handel. The venture was so successful that "Sir Handel" remained on the Talyllyn until 1984, at which point Sir Haydn was repainted back into its regular livery. The following year, the events were included in Christopher Awdry's book, Great Little Engines. Sir Haydn was mentioned in The Island of Sodor: Its People, History and Railways and Sodor: Reading Between the Lines.