INSIGHT

InYours the 1960s if you wanted for your own £500... it was easy to buy one. Andrew Charman traces the varied stories of the many locos that departed the .

he short but no less fascinating Waste not... comparing average earnings nearer Tletter that heads this feature was Thankfully, the quarry policies of “Almost all £18,000), but apparently on the sent by the Dinorwic Quarry in May never scrapping withdrawn the Dinorwic reaction of his mother when she 1963 to Robert Fysh. Today Robert equipment, in case it could find a Hunslets looked out of her window one gets his live steam fix from 16mm later use, ensured that virtually all of morning to find the driver of a scale modelling in the garden, but in the locos survived to be available for that survive Pickford’s low-loader carefully the early 1960s he was one of a preservation. At Dinorwic, for today are measuring the gap between the growing number of young example, worn-out components hybrids...” gateposts in her driveway... enthusiasts, buoyed by the success of would see locos being withdrawn and Others were more successful the new preservation scene typified left on the level they had worked, however, and throughout the 1960s a by the Talyllyn and then-Festiniog only to be brought back into use steady stream of locos left Dinorwic Railways, who realised they could perhaps a couple of years later when for new lives elsewhere. Of the 22 actually own their own narrow gauge the component needed, for example a Hunslets that worked at the quarry steam locomotive. boiler (!), became available from just four did not survive into The first place to ask was at one of another loco. It’s fair to say that preservation. This statistic becomes the two great slate quarries of , almost all of the Dinorwic Hunslets remarkable when you consider that Dinorwic, and its neighbour over the that survive today are in fact hybrids within two years of Robert’s enquiry mountain at Penrhyn. Both had fleets with parts shared between them... the asking price for some locos had of small Hunslet 0-4-0STs, in fact Robert’s bid to become a steam doubled to £1,000, despite several they were so prolific a user that the locomotive owner floundered, not on needing a lot of work from their new locos would become forever known as the £500 asking price (equivalent to Above: Final days owners before being able to work the Quarry Hunslets. around £8,000 today, or when at Dinorwic – in reliably. Over the mountain at this shot taken Penrhyn locos were in some cases on 15th June snapped up for just £100 – Nigel 1967 ‘Holy War’, Bowman, who created the Launceston by then the last Steam Railway in , was working steam reputedly told in 1965 that because loco, sits by one of the inclines. ‘Lilian’ had a copper firebox, he Photo: Michael would have to pay £60 for it... Bishop Early casualties Left: ‘George B’ Three of the four Dinorwic engines working in the that never made it were the earliest quarry on 19th built for the quarry – delivered in August 1959, 1870 were Hunslet’s first narrow six years before gauge loco ‘Dinorwic’ (later renamed departing for a short preservation ‘Charlie’), and ‘George’ (later life before renamed ‘Minstrel Park’). The smaller beginning an ‘Louisa’ followed in 1877. All appear overhaul that has to have been scrapped before 1945, lasted to this day. though there is no hard evidence of Photo: Tony Travis the ultimate fate of Louisa.

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The fourth ‘victim’ was the only “An overhaul Next to go from Dinorwic, in James Evans, better known today as secondhand Hunslet loco to work at December 1964 ,was ‘Covertcoat’ of the man who initiated the project to Dinorwic. ‘Lady Madcap’ was built as started in 1898, an example of the earlier of create Lynton & Barnstaple replica ‘Sextus’ in 1896 for a granite quarry 1978 and two ‘Port Dinorwic’ classes. These locomotive ‘Lyd’. And yes, Velinheli in Leicestershire and arrived at lasted 20 were so named because they were has made not one but several visits to Dinorwic, via a return to Hunslet, in built for duties at the quarry’s final the Ffestiniog… 1910. It was withdrawn in 1952 and years...” transhipment point, on the Menai soon stripped of parts, the frames Straits at the other end of the 4ft Transatlantic travels finally disappearing at the end of the gauge . Covertcoat Within a month of Velinheli’s sale 1960s. But as our later panel shows, worked there until 1923 when the two more locos were on their way, the tale didn’t end there... loco was transferred to the quarry, travelling by far the furthest and into The stories of the 18 survivors are finally being withdrawn in 1959. a life of mystery. ‘King of the Scarlets’ highly varied – some have not turned The purchaser was a John Butler was built in 1889, a member of the a wheel since leaving the quarry, some of Ripley in , but by 1984 the Alice class and in its early years called have seen several new environments as engine had been sold again, to Nigel ‘Alice’. The much-younger ‘Michael’ new lines appeared and disappeared. Bowman’s Launceston Steam Railway. of 1932 was one of the later Port Some of the earliest departees It has worked there since in close-to- Dinorwic engines though just to travelled by far the furthest, some of quarry condition, apart from gaining confuse matters never worked at the the last hardly went anywhere at all... a replica cab and a tender. Covertcoat port, only in the quarry – the theory is also among the many Dinorwic is that Hunslet was confused by the First of many engines to have visited the Ffestiniog. Dinorwic order and sent the wrong Robert’s enquiry was actually quite Launceston also proved to be the type of loco! Coincidentally it also pioneering – while the first sale of a ultimate destination of the next loco was the last steam engine built for a Dinorwic loco was made in August to go, Alice class ‘Velinheli’ of 1886. North Wales slate quarry. 1962, the clearout did not really Sold to Armstrong Evans on 11th Both were purchased by a gather pace until 1965. That first to Above: In 1967 May 1965, it did not leave Dinorwic Canadian, Charles Matthews, and go was ‘Cloister’, built in 1891 and ‘Alice’ was until 1969 to run on his private line together with several Penrhyn locos, like most of her sisters a member of marooned in in Cornwall. When this line was shipped across the Atlantic. They the ‘Alice’ class. her shed and closed in 1986 the loco transferred to joined several others stored in a barn Withdrawn from duties in 1959, slowly being Launceston where it remains today. It in Langstaffe, Ontario, and while Cloister was bought by R.C.U. cannibalised to is now owned by Mr Evans’ son, much of the collection was later » Corbett, President of the Hampshire keep her sisters Narrow Gauge Society and donated running. to the society. After a rebuild and Above right: regauging (the Dinorwic engines were Another shot of 1ft 103/4in gauge whereas most lines Holy War, within they have since worked on have been months of steam 1ft 111/2in) Cloister ran on the working in the Society’s line at Durley until an quarry ending. overhaul was required. This started in Both photos: 1978 but lasted 20 years, during Michael Bishop which the loco was moved to run on Right: ‘Maid a new line, then operated by the Marian’ returns Hampshire society, at Kew Bridge to Dinorwic in Steam Museum by the River Thames. 1971 to work Cloister ran there for many years, and on the then visited several other lines including new the Ffestiniog and Bala Lake. Lake Railway. Recently, with another overhaul due, Photo courtesy the loco has moved to Amberley Llanberis Lake museum in Sussex. Railway

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respectively to work the bottom mills and the tramroad that ran to the Padarn Railway loading point at , Llanberis. Unusually these two engines retained their own identities, with none of the component swapping that went on with the quarry locos. Cackler was the first to go, on 29th March 1966, seven years after hauling its last Dinorwic train. D C Potter bought the loco, reputedly for £1,000. He ran it on a short length of track in a builder’s yard in Dereham, Norfolk, and later at a five-eighths of a mile line called the Yaxham Park Ralway. Auctioned in 1971 Cackler passed through two more owners without being used, then joining the traction engine collection of George Cushing at Thursford, Norfolk. purchased by Ontario’s science centre, to requirements and she returned to A line of almost a mile was laid for the Dinorwic pair have remained in Dinorwic to run on the Llanberis the loco to run on and indeed the the ownership of the Matthews Lake Railway, more of which later. Above: Nigel author recalls traveling behind it in family, and away from public view in Another move took place in 1975, Bowman has done the late ’70s. Sadly, however, several the barn, in exactly the condition in to the then-new , much to preserve factors, notably increasing health and the Quarry which they left the quarry. Several and Marian lives there today, still in Hunslet line on safety requirements, brought an end attempts to buy them have been met the ownership and care of the Fund. his Launceston to the train rides and for almost 20 with flat refusals. Today, King of the Steam Railway years now Cackler has been a static Scarlets and Michael remain a The longest overhaul in Cornwall. exhibit at Thursford, looking, it has frustrating enigma… ‘George B’, another of the 1898 ‘Covertcoat’ is to be said, slightly sad… Back in 1965 American buyers Alice-class intake, was sold in pictured here Sister Jerry M was not left behind were also homing in on the Welsh October 1965 to Alan White, who in 1998, with for long. Out of use not long after engines and UK enthusiasts were used it for a time on a line run by the ‘Velinheli’ peeking Cackler, in April 1967 the loco was spurred into action, resulting in the Dowty Railway Preservation Society out of the shed. sold for use at the then newly-built Photo: Andrew saving of possibly the best-known at Ashchurch in Gloucestershire. In Charman line at the Hollycombe Steam Quarry Hunslet. The Maid Marian 1968 the loco was stripped down for Collection in Liss, Hampshire. The Locomotive Fund was formed to an overhaul, and the work has been price was only £450 but on arrival target a 1903 Alice-class Hunslet going on ever since! In the ensuing Jerry M failed a boiler inspection… thought to be in the best condition of four decades the components have Below: Port A major rebuild was thus put in three locos on sale, and destined, it moved from Ashchurch, to Dinorwic class place, and yet again it was one for the seemed for export to the USA. A Toddington, to the owner’s home in ‘Dolbadarn’ patient, Jerry M finally entering £500 payment ended that plan, and South Wales, and finally to the Bala is one of the service at Hollycombe in 1984. Since after a two-year overhaul at the Lake Railway, where progress has least-travelled of then it has been the mainstay of the the locos, today quarry Maid Marian passed into the stepped up somewhat. There is now working on the centre’s 1.5-mile Quarry Railway, for ownership of the fund. real hope that George B will be back Llanberis Lake many years carrying a smart blue Initially ‘Marian’ worked on the in service before too long. Railway. This livery but in 2007 being given a line Alan Bloom had laid around his The two largest Quarry Hunslets shot was taken in repaint into Dinorwic lined red. nursery at Bressingham in Norfolk, at Dinorwic were ‘Jerry M’ (initially the early 1990s. but by 1971 the arrival of two called ‘Vaenol’) and ‘Cackler’, Photo: Andrew Scarce pickings Penrhyn engines rendered her surplus supplied in 1895 and 1898 Charman By the time Jerry M left Wales steam loco operation at Dinorwic was virtually finished, with only 1902-built ‘Holy War’ still in regular use. For those wanting to buy the options were getting fewer – there were still locos available but generally in poor condition and in some cases partially dismantled. At least ‘Bernstein’, which left the quarry in July 1967, was in working order – just not very good working order. Delivered in 1898 as the first of the early Port engines, and initially imaginatively called ‘The First’, it worked at Port Dinorwic until 1923, then spending the next 33 years on just one level at the quarry, the 1,500ft-high Pen Garret. Bernstein’s new owner was noted enthusiast Jim Morris and its new home Lytham Motive Power Museum

18 No 80 – NARROW GAUGE WORLD INSIGHT What’s in a name? n Most of the variety of names given to the Dinorwic locomotives have a singular source – race horses. Charles Garden Duff who inherited the quarry from his brother in 1904 was a keen horse owner and Grand National winner, and from then until his death in 1914 most of the applied names came from horses, in some cases replacing those of family members, Charles reputedly not getting on with his family... There were exceptions, mostly gaining geographical names, such as ‘Velinheli’ (from Felin Heli, the Welsh name for Port Dinorwic) and ‘Dolbadarn’ (a castle overlooked by the quarry). Then there is ‘Red Damsel’, thought to be named after a horse, but also reputed to refer to a woman near Blackpool. An overhaul took and No 1 embarked on a complex of lesser repute... When the loco was “The price until 1972 and the loco gained its post-quarry history. Compared to saved for the , was only third name, ‘Jonathan’ after the son of some of its stablemates only light it was renamed ‘Elidir’ after the £450 but on the museum owner. It worked at work was needed for a return to mountain that contains the quarry Lytham until 1979 when a Bala Lake service, and by Easter 1968 No 1 was and a name previously carried by an arrival Jerry Railway team, doing some repair hauling trains on a park line at Avonside loco at Dinorwic. The M failed work, discovered several issues Woburn Abbey in Bedfordshire. official reason was because the Red a boiler including a firebox needing replacing, This lasted only a season, followed Damsel nameplates were missing... inspection...” so they reached an agreement to do by two years on the Overstone the work in their workshops and then Solarium Light Railway at Sywell in The imposter to have the loco on loan for five years. Northamptonshire – another pleasure n Following the auction of the Unfortunately Quarry Hunslet line that has passed into history. quarry the county council turned the overhaul disease struck and the No 1 was then sold to Pleasurerail former workshops, where the remedial work took up the entire five Ltd, a company then owned by Sir Hunslets had been maintained, into years. The engine finally made a William McAlpine and best known the Welsh Slate Museum, a superb starring appearance at the Bala gala in for the line at Whipsnade zoo. attraction well worth a visit today. 1986, then that September Jim Pleasurerail also built the line at The presence among the exhibits of Morris sold it to the West Lancashire Knebworth House in Hertfordshire, a Quarry Hunslet was thought Light Railway at Hesketh Bank, and No 1 was dispatched there. On essential, and in 1977 ‘Una’ built in where it has performed well since. this line’s closure in 1982 the loco 1905, arrived at the museum. There was ‘The First’ and there gained a new owner, John Crosskey, The irony, however, is that Una was also a ‘No 1’, the first of the later who used it on his private Surrey never worked at Dinorwic. Until Port Dinorwic engines built in 1922. Light Railway for 15 years. withdrawn in 1960 the loco was However the name didn’t last long, In 1997 No 1 reached her present employed at the Pen-yr-Orsedd changed to ‘Lady Joan’ in the mid home, the Bredgar & Wormshill quarry near Nantlle. 1930s. However when the loco left Light Railway in Kent, where she has Dinorwic in February 1968 it was operated ever since – and since 1998 The Phoenix? again No 1, having reverted to the under the name ‘Lady Joan’! n As related in the main text ‘Lady name 20 years earlier. By 1968 Dinorwic Quarry was on Madcap’ was one of few locos The new owner was Trevor Barber, borrowed time and the rush to » scrapped at Dinorwic – but not entirely... Several parts remained, Above: ‘Holy War’ including the wheelsets, and these in preservation were eventually collected together guise, today by enthusiasts Dave Rushton and working on Andy Blackwell, with the aim of the Bala Lake recreating an original-style engine. Railway, a prime Lady Madcap’s cylinders were spotting place for eventually found in store at the Quarry Hunslets. Llanberis Lake Railway and used Photo: Tim parts bought as they were replaced Gregson on other locos, the idea being to Right: The engine renovate the originals for re-use. that was reborn Eventually a start was made on – ‘Alice’ pictured the rebuild as a private project at after its most the Porthmadog-based Welsh recent overhaul Highland Railway, where both men at Bala, with were volunteers. New frames have proud new owner been cut and the project continues Julian Birley. – it’s taken many years already and Photo courtesy will likely take many more... Julian Birley

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