Penrhyn Main Line class
Encyclopedia
The Penrhyn Main Line class was a class of three narrow gauge
steam locomotives built for the Penrhyn Quarry Railway
(PQR). These locomotives were built by the Hunslet Engine Company
between 1882 and 1893 and supplied specifically to work the railway that connected the Penrhyn Quarry
near Bethesda
in north Wales
to Port Penrhyn
on the Menai Strait
.
locomotives delivered in 1879. These proved inadequate for the task of moving substantial quantities of slate over the railway and in 1882 a more conventional locomotive was ordered from Hunslet to work the railway. This was the first of the "Main Line class" locomotives Charles. Charles was joined in 1893 by two more locomotives to the same design but slightly enlarged, which were named Linda and Blanche. These were the sole locomotives built to this design.
.
Linda was loaned to the nearby Ffestiniog Railway
in July 1962. For the 1963 season the locomotive was regauged to the Ffestiniog's and purchased, along with Blanche at the end of the year. Both have since received extensive modifications including tenders, pony truck
s and superheating
.
Narrow gauge
A narrow gauge railway is a railway that has a track gauge narrower than the of standard gauge railways. Most existing narrow gauge railways have gauges of between and .- Overview :...
steam locomotives built for the Penrhyn Quarry Railway
Penrhyn Quarry Railway
The Penrhyn Quarry Railway first opened in 1798 as the Llandegai Tramway; it became the Penrhyn Railway in 1801 although on a different route. Constructed to transport slate from Lord Penrhyn's slate quarries at Bethesda to Port Penrhyn at Bangor, Wales. The railway was around six miles long...
(PQR). These locomotives were built by the Hunslet Engine Company
Hunslet Engine Company
The Hunslet Engine Company is a British locomotive-building company founded in 1864 at Jack Lane, Hunslet, Leeds, West Yorkshire, England by John Towlerton Leather, a civil engineering contractor, who appointed James Campbell as his Works Manager.In 1871, James Campbell bought the company for...
between 1882 and 1893 and supplied specifically to work the railway that connected the Penrhyn Quarry
Penrhyn Quarry
The Penrhyn Slate Quarry is a slate quarry located near Bethesda in north Wales. At the end of the nineteenth century it was the world's largest slate quarry; the main pit is nearly long and deep, and it was worked by nearly 3,000 quarrymen. It has since been superseded in size by slate quarries...
near Bethesda
Bethesda, Wales
Bethesda is a town lying on the River Ogwen and the A5 road on the edge of Snowdonia, in Gwynedd, north-west Wales, colloquially called Pesda by the locals.- History :...
in north Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
to Port Penrhyn
Port Penrhyn
Port Penrhyn is a harbour located just east of Bangor in north Wales at the mouth of the River Cegin. It was formerly of great importance as the main port for the export of slate from the Penrhyn Quarry, the largest slate quarry in the world at the end of the nineteenth century...
on the Menai Strait
Menai Strait
The Menai Strait is a narrow stretch of shallow tidal water about long, which separates the island of Anglesey from the mainland of Wales.The strait is bridged in two places - the main A5 road is carried over the strait by Thomas Telford's elegant iron suspension bridge, the first of its kind,...
.
Penrhyn Quarry Railway
The original locomotives to work the "main line" of the PQR were a series of vertical boilered De WintonDe Winton
De Winton & Co were engineers in Caernarfon, Wales. They built vertical boilered narrow gauge locomotives for use in Welsh slate mines and other industrial settings. At least six De Winton locomotives have been preserved...
locomotives delivered in 1879. These proved inadequate for the task of moving substantial quantities of slate over the railway and in 1882 a more conventional locomotive was ordered from Hunslet to work the railway. This was the first of the "Main Line class" locomotives Charles. Charles was joined in 1893 by two more locomotives to the same design but slightly enlarged, which were named Linda and Blanche. These were the sole locomotives built to this design.
Preservation
All three locomotives were preserved after the closure of the PQR. Charles was donated to the Penrhyn Castle Railway MuseumPenrhyn Castle Railway Museum
The Penrhyn Castle Railway Museum is a museum of industrial railway equipment, located at Penrhyn Castle near Bangor in Wales.In the nineteenth century, Penrhyn Castle was the home of the Pennant family , owners of the Penrhyn slate quarry at Bethesda...
.
Linda was loaned to the nearby Ffestiniog Railway
Ffestiniog Railway
The Ffestiniog Railway is a narrow gauge heritage railway, located in Gwynedd, Wales. It is a major tourist attraction located mainly within the Snowdonia National Park....
in July 1962. For the 1963 season the locomotive was regauged to the Ffestiniog's and purchased, along with Blanche at the end of the year. Both have since received extensive modifications including tenders, pony truck
Pony truck
A pony truck, in railway terminology, is a leading truck with only two wheels.Its invention is generally credited to Levi Bissell, who devised one in 1857 and patented it the following year. Hence the term Bissel bogie or axle is used in continental Europe...
s and superheating
Superheater
A superheater is a device used to convert saturated steam or wet steam into dry steam used for power generation or processes. There are three types of superheaters namely: radiant, convection, and separately fired...
.
Technical specification
The following technical specification are for the locomotives as delivered from Hunslet and are from unless otherwise stated:| Charles | Linda and Blanche | |
|---|---|---|
| Boiler grate area | 4.5 sq ft (0.41806368 m²) | 5.2 sq ft (0.483095808 m²) |
| Boiler pressure | 140 lbf/in2 | 140 lbf/in2 |
| Water storage | 500 gallon Saddle tank | 500 gallon Saddle tank |
| Cylinders | Two, outside, 10 by 12 in (254 by 304.8 mm) | Two, outside, 10.5 by 12 in (266.7 by 304.8 mm) |
| Driving wheels | 2 in 1 in (635 mm) diameter | 2 in 1 in (635 mm) diameter |
| Wheelbase | 5 in 0 in (1.52 m) | 5 in 0 in (1.52 m) |
| Front overhang | 5 in 7 in (1.7 m) | 5 in 7 in (1.7 m) |
| Rear overhang | 6 in 0 in (1.83 m) | 6 in 3 in (1.91 m) |
| Tractive effort | 5050 lbf (22.46 kN) | 5550 lbf (24.69 kN) |
See also
- Ruislip Lido RailwayRuislip Lido RailwayThe Ruislip Lido Railway is a gauge miniature railway around Ruislip Lido in Ruislip, west of central London. Running from the main station at Woody Bay by the lido's beach, on a track around the reservoir, the railway passes through Ruislip Woods to Ruislip Lido station near the Water's Edge...
– Mad Bess is a 12 inches (305 mm) gauge miniature railway locomotive based on Blanche