Penrhyn Main Line class

Infobox Locomotive
name=Penrhyn Main Line class
powertype=Steam

---

builddate=1982-1893
whytetype=0-4-0 / 2-4-0
cylindercount=2
gauge=RailGauge|22.75 / RailGauge|23.5
driversize=2 ft 1 in
boilerpressure=140 lbf/in²
fueltype=Coal
waterc
gallons
length=16 ft 7 in
numinclass=3
locale=Penrhyn Quarry Railway and Ffestiniog Railway
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 Straits. cite book |last=Boyd |first=James I.C. |title=Narrow Gauge Railways in North Caernarvonshire: Volume 2 the Penrhyn Quarry Railways |publisher=The Oakwood Press |year=1985 |id=ISBN 0853613125]

Penrhyn Quarry Railway

The original locomotives to work the "main line" of the PQR were a series of vertical boilered De Winton 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. cite book |last=Blenkinsop |first=Dick |title=Linda & Blanche: Penrhyn to Festiniog |publisher=AB Publishing |year=1993 |id=ISBN 1869915054]

Preservation

All three locomotives were preserved after the closure of the PQR. "Charles" was donated to the Penrhyn Castle Railway Museum.

"Linda" was loaned to the nearby Ffestiniog Railway in July 1962. For the 1963 season the locomotive was regauged to the Ffestiniog's RailGauge|23.5 and purchased, along with "Blanche" at the end of the year. Both have since received extensive modifications including tenders, pony trucks and superheating.

Technical specification

The following technical specification are for the locomotives as delivered from Hunslet and are from unless otherwise stated:

References