The following
details update the list published in Appendix A of ‘Dyffryn Nantlle – a
landscape of neglect’. This is the 5th version of the original list, which
accounts for all the steam locomotive survivors and includes updated comments.
The locos are listed in two groups – Table 1 shows the locos that have
steamed in preservation and Table 2 includes the rest. The locos are
listed chronologically. Future updates to this list will be published on my
website http://www.darkhorse.co.uk/nantlle/locos.htm
TABLE 1
Ex-Nantlle
Vale quarry locomotives that have steamed in preservation.
CHALONER Pen-y-Bryn De Winton / 0-4-0 VBT / 1877 Leighton Buzzard Railway
Pen-yr-Orsedd
The
only original vertical boiler loco to have been restored until PENDYFFRYN’s
return in 2012. Built in Caernarfon for
Pen-y-Bryn quarry who sold both their De Wintons to Pen-yr-Orsedd – CHALONER in
1888 and Rhymney (scrapped 1933) in 1892. One of about ten De Wintons
owned by Pen-yr-Orsedd (PENDYFFRYN & GELLI are the other 2 survivors). One
of the oldest working locos in the UK. Steams occasionally at
Leighton Buzzard and makes occasional guest appearances elsewhere (including several
visits in recent years to the Ffestiniog Railway).
LILLA Cilgywn Hunslet (554) / 0-4-0 ST / 1891 Ffestiniog Railway
Delivered new to
Cilgwyn but bought by Penrhyn quarry in 1928. Bought out of private ownership
by the F.R. in 1997 and placed in the care of the Lilla Locomotive Group. Helps
to run shuttle trains at gala events and raises revenue towards her own upkeep
with footplate experience runs, including the Minffordd Slate Shunt. Returned from a major overhaul in 2009 which included a new boiler
& firebox. Will be steamed on both the FR and WHR
in 2012.
PENDYFFRYN Pen-yr-Orsedd De Winton / 0-4-0 VBT / 1894 Brecon Mountain Railway
One
of the last De Wintons. Bought from Pen-yr-Orsedd (where it
probably hadn’t steamed since the late 1940s) in 1965. In Feb 2012 was being
reassembled following a full restoration (including new boiler) at the BMR.
Will be completed by the end of April, 2012, and with that assurance Pendyffryn
is now included in Table 1.
BRITOMART Pen-yr-Orsedd Hunslet (707) / 0-4-0 ST / 1899 Ffestiniog Railway
The first of 3 quarry
Hunslets to be acquired by Pen-yr-Orsedd (SYBIL and UNA being the others).
Privately owned and Ffestiniog based. Returned in 2009 from a
comprehensive overhall (including replacement firebox). Appears at
special events for footplate experience runs and is booked for charters.
DOROTHEA Dorothea Hunslet (763) / 0-4-0 ST / 1901 Launceston Steam Railway
One of two Dorothea
steam survivors – WENDY is the other. Last reported working
in 1941. Was in a sad state when brought down from the Dorothea waste
tip having been abandoned for almost 30yrs during which time her shed fell down
around her! Restoration has now been completed at Launceston where she was
steamed as a complete locomotive in Nov, 2011 . (Was privately steamed in late 2001 - her centenary year – using a
boiler borrowed from Covertcoat.) Will be rostered for passenger trains
in 2012,
SYBIL Pen-yr-Orsedd Hunslet (827) / 0-4-0 ST / 1903 Brecon Mountain Railway
Worked
with UNA and BRITOMART at Pen-yr-Orsedd. Used in the B.M.R.’s
early days, but not powerful enough for current requirements. In March 2012 was
being reassembled following a rebuild with a new boiler. Will
be steamed at the BMR in 2012 (but not in service).
Table 1 /
continued
UNA Pen-yr-Orsedd Hunslet (873) / 0-4-0 ST / 1905 Welsh Slate Museum
Worked
at Pen-yr-Orsedd (with SYBIL & BRITOMART) until 1960. Following
10yr boiler inspection (March 2012) will continue to be in steam in the Slate
Museum yard in the Padarn Country Park, Llanberis. (Had a trip on the adjacent Llanberis
Lake Railway extension in 2004 and has had the occasional outing down the line
with a demonstration slate train.) The star exhibit at the
museum (where entry is now free).
WENDY Dorothea Bagnall (2091) / 0-4-0 ST / 1919 Burlesdon Brickworks
Ex Votty & Bowydd
quarry (Blaenau Ffestiniog). Sold as scrap to Dorothea in
1930 – working there from 1935 – 1945. Named after the
daughter of the Dorothea Managing Director. Now owned by Hampshire
Narrow Gauge Railway Trust and restored to original condition. Extensive boiler work was carried out in 2011. Wendy will be
reassembled at Amberley in 2012 and then transferred to Bursledon Brickworks
Industrial Museum (BBIM) where she will be the Bursledon Light Railway’s
resident loco. She is expected back in steam by the middle of 2012.
TABLE 2
Ex-Nantlle
Vale quarry locomotives that have not yet steamed in preservation.
GELLI Pen-yr-Orsedd De Winton / 0-4-0 VBT / 1893 Not on
public display.
The frame.
and wheelsets were discovered in one of the loco sheds
at Pen-yr-Orsedd a few years ago. Now in private storage in Hampshire.
A small amount of restoration has commenced.
JUBILEE 1897 Cilgywn Manning Wardle (1382) / 0-4-0 ST / 1897
N.G. Museum, Talyllyn Railway
On
display in ‘as used’ condition in the Narrow Gauge Museum, Towyn.
There is no intention to restore her to working order, as this would involve
making changes to the original loco which is against museum policy. A companion
of LILLA at both Cilgwyn and Penrhyn quarries (Penrhyn bought both locos in
1928).
DIANA Pen-yr-Orsedd Kerr Stuart (1158) / 0-4-0 T / 1917 Not on public display
Originally worked at
the Oakley quarry (Blaenau Ffestiniog) and sold to Pen-yr-Orsedd in 1945. Being patiently restored in South Wales by private owners who “will
not skimp anything”. A new boiler has been fitted but there are still
other parts to be made and in March 2012 there was no forecast of a completion
date. When completed, Diana will run on the Bala Lake Railway.
A
few other details which don’t fit into Tables 1 & 2 are worth recording in
these notes.
The
side tank from TAFFY, a Votty & Bowydd (Blaenau Ffestiniog), ex
Fron, loco (a "sister" of the KELSO locos one of which was at Pen-yr-Orsedd)
was salvaged from the upper Votty tips and is now at Gelert’s Farm, Welsh
Highland Railway. One tank doesn’t make a loco so this Vulcan Foundry 0-4-0T
isn’t regarded as a ‘survivor’.
At
least two ex-Nantlle diesels survive
R/Hornsby
(235711)
appropriately named Pen-yr-Orsedd (worked at Pen-yr-Orsedd and was then
sold to the contractors who were repairing the fire damage on the Menai Tubular
Bridge in 1971). Was bought for the narrow gauge museum at Gloddfa Ganol (now
closed) and is now at Devon Railway Centre where, in 2012, it is reported as
potentially a runner but has no brakes! Scheduled for a full
re-build in the next 2 years.
Lister
(3916)
supplied new to Tarmac Ltd (Wolverhampton) in 1931. Purchased
by Dorothea in 1951 and in service there until 1968 (bought for £16 in the
Dorothea auction!). Privately owned, fully restored and runs on the lime
kiln railway on open days at Twyford Waterworks (near Winchester).
AJC