Dinorwic Alice Class

Specifications
Specifications
Configuration:;
• Whyte	0-4-0ST
• UIC	B n2t
Gauge	1 ft 10+3⁄4 in (578 mm)
Driver dia.	1 ft 8 in (508 mm)
Fuel type	Coal
Water cap.	100 imp gal (450 L; 120 US gal)
Boiler pressure	140 lbf/in2 (970 kPa)
Cylinders	Two

Type and origin
Type and origin
Power type	Steam
Builder	Hunslet Engine Company
Build date	1886–1904
Total produced	11

Hunslet *Alice* Class
Hunslet Alice Class
	Irish Mail on the Welsh Highland Heritage Railway, August 2005
Power type
Type and origin
Power type	Steam
Builder	Hunslet Engine Company
Build date	1886–1904
Total produced	11
Configuration:;
Specifications
Configuration:;
• Whyte	0-4-0ST
• UIC	B n2t
Gauge	1 ft 10+3⁄4 in (578 mm)
Driver dia.	1 ft 8 in (508 mm)
Fuel type	Coal
Water cap.	100 imp gal (450 L; 120 US gal)
Boiler pressure	140 lbf/in2 (970 kPa)
Cylinders	Two
Operators
Career
Operators	Dinorwic Slate Quarry
Withdrawn	1957–1967
Disposition	All preserved

The Dinorwic Alice Class is a class of eleven narrow-gauge 0-4-0 ST steam locomotives built specifically for the Dinorwic quarry. These locomotives were built by the Hunslet Engine Company between 1886 and 1904, and were designed and supplied specifically to work the many galleries of the quarry at Llanberis, North Wales.

History[edit]

After earlier experiences with vertical boilered De Winton locomotives, the quarry company decided they needed more powerful locomotives to run on heavier, double-headed rail in chaired track on its more intensively worked quarry galleries. To improve transport of cut slate to the mills and waste to the slag tips, a standard locomotive design that was powerful, lightweight and had a short wheelbase was required.^[1]

In 1870, the quarry placed an order with the Hunslet Engine Company of Leeds for a prototype locomotive. They produced Dinorwic (works number 51 of 1870), which is a clear precursor to the Alice class. This locomotive proved a success and two further locomotives were ordered in 1877 to an improved design.

Hunslet continued to evolve the design, and when the quarry ordered a fourth locomotive in 1886, Hunslet delivered the first of the Alice Class engines, named Velinheli (No. 409 of 1886). The class name was derived from the second example of this class of engine to be built, named Alice later King Of The Scarlets (No. 492 of 1889). This was done to avoid confusion with the Port organisation (Port Dinorwic or Y Felinheli) which was separate from the quarry operation.^[1]

11 locomotives of this class were built for the Dinorwic Slate Quarry, with all surviving into some form of preservation. Hunslet allocated the telegraphic codename VELIN to this class, named after the first locomotive.^[1]

Locomotive information[edit]

First name / No.	Second name	Year built	Works number	Working location at Dinorwic (Gallery name or Port)	Disposal	Current location
Velinheli	~	1886	409	Ponc-Fawr 1928 Dyffryn 1935 Gilfach Ddu 1950 Village Line 1952 Hafod Owen 1959 Gilfach Ddu 1962	Sold May 1965	Ffestiniog Railway^[2]
Alice	King Of The Scarlets	1889	492	Dyffryn 1947 Gilfach Ddu 1965	Sold June 1965	Statfold Barn Railway
Enid	Red Damsel / Elidir	1889	493	New York, Gilfach Ddu 1931 Lernion 1950 Gilfach Ddu 1957	Dismantled, parts sold 1969	Llanberis Lake Railway
No.1	Rough Pup	1891	541	Dyffryn, Pen Garret, Gilfach Ddu 1960	Moved To NGRM, 1968	Narrow Gauge Railway Museum at Tywyn
No.2	Cloister	1892	542	New York 1932 Gilfach Ddu 1933 Dyffryn 1934 Ponc-Fawr, Gilfach Ddu 1961	Sold August 1962	Statfold Barn Railway
Wellington	George B	1898	680	The Port 1898 Dyffryn 1929 Gilfach Ddu 1935	Sold October 1965	Bala Lake Railway
No.3	Holy War	1902	779	Lernion, Penrhydd-Bach, Gilfach Ddu 1969	Sold November 1969	Bala Lake Railway
No.4	Alice	1902	780	Australia	Sold January 1969	Bala Lake Railway
No.5	Maid Marian	1903	822	Village Line 1903 Gilfach Ddu 1931 Padarn-Peris Tram Line 1956 Pen-Garret, Gilfach Ddu 1966	Sold 1965	Bala Lake Railway
No.6	Irish Mail	1903	823	Pen-Garret 1903 Sinc-Fawr 1929 Australia 1936 Gilfach Ddu 1959	Motion parts sold 1969	West Lancashire Light Railway
No.7	Wild Aster / Thomas Bach	1904	849	Pen-Garret 1904 Gilfach Ddu 1934 Ponc-Fawr 1935 Penrhydd-Bach 1950 Gilfach Ddu 1962	Dismantled, parts sold 1969	Llanberis Lake Railway

References[edit]

^[1] ^[3]

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Thomas, Cliff (2001). Quarry Hunslets Of North Wales. Oakwood Press. ISBN 0-85361-575-6.
^ O'Mahoney, Charlie (19 February 2018). "A new boiler for Velinheli". Launceston Steam Railway.
^ Boyd, James I.C. (1986). Narrow Gauge Railways in North Caernarvonshire, Volume Three: The Dinorwic Quarry and Railways, The Great Orme Tramway and Other Rail Systems. Oakwood Press. ISBN 0-85361-328-1.

Related Wiki Pages[edit]

External links[edit]

[Thomas-1] Thomas, Cliff (2001). Quarry Hunslets Of North Wales. Oakwood Press. ISBN 0-85361-575-6.

[2] O'Mahoney, Charlie (19 February 2018). "A new boiler for Velinheli". Launceston Steam Railway.

[Boyd-3] Boyd, James I.C. (1986). Narrow Gauge Railways in North Caernarvonshire, Volume Three: The Dinorwic Quarry and Railways, The Great Orme Tramway and Other Rail Systems. Oakwood Press. ISBN 0-85361-328-1.

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