Narrow gauge steam locomotives at the SVR
Although the SVR is a standard gauge line, a number of narrow gauge steam locomotives have visited the railway, mainly appearing as static exhibits or giving rides on short demonstration lines.
Ffestiniog Railway No 2 Prince[edit | edit source]
Prince (originally The Prince) is a 'small England' class 1ft 11½ in gauge 0-4-0ST+T. It was built for the then-named Festiniog Railway by George England & Co as works no 199 of 1863 and was named after Albert Edward, Prince of Wales (later King Edward VII).[1] The 'small England' class were built as side tank locomotives, although Prince was later fitted with a full cab and saddle tank in 1892.[2]
Prince saw regular service on the FR until the mid-1930s. After the FR closed in 1946, it reopened as a preserved line in 1955, with Prince being the first locomotive rebuilt for use on it. It underwent a major rebuild between 1974 and 1980, which included conversion to oil firing.[1]
Prince was withdrawn from service for a boiler overhaul in May 2010. As the FR's Boston Lodge Works could not begin this straight away, it was lent to the SVR for display in The Engine House at Highley,[1] arriving in late July[3] and appearing on display on 3 August.[4] It is pictured there shortly after arrival. It returned to Boston Lodge in 2012 and resumed service in 2013 after a further overhaul which included conversion back to coal firing.[1]
The locomotive returned to the SVR for an appearance at the 2017 Autumn Steam Gala, giving rides with a carriage on a short demonstration line in The Engine House car park (the same location used by Edward Thomas the year before). One over-enthusiastic run left its mark on the car park gate, although fortunately with no damage to the locomotive or rolling stock.
Prince on 22 September 2017
The Engine House gate on 23 September 2017
Further information on Prince on festipedia.org.uk.
Corris Railway No 3 Sir Haydn[edit | edit source]
This 2ft 3in gauge locomotive was originally built as an 0-4-0ST, works no 323 of 1878, by Hughes' Loco & Tramway Eng. Works Ltd of Loughborough. It served on the Corris Railway, a narrow gauge railway on the border between Merionethshire (now Gwynedd) and Montgomeryshire (now Powys) in Mid-Wales. After closure of the railway in 1948, it was acquired by the Tallylyn Railway in 1955 and named Sir Haydn after the line’s late owner, Sir Henry Haydn Jones.[5]
Sir Haydn visited the SVR in 2013. It was transported on Flat ED B906811 in part of a goods train during the 2013 Autumn Steam Gala,[6] then spending a period on display in The Engine House. It is pictured there in January 2014 alongside 45110.
Further information on Sir Haydn on www.talyllyn.co.uk.
Corris Railway No 4 Edward Thomas[edit | edit source]
This 2ft 3in gauge 0-4-2ST locomotive was also built for the Corris Railway by Kerr Stuart & Co of Stoke as works no 4047 of 1921. It was acquired by the Tallylyn Railway in 1951 and named Edward Thomas after the TR’s former manager.[7]
The locomotive appeared as a visitor during the 2016 Spring Steam Gala, giving footplate rides on a short demonstration line in The Engine House car park. Pictured there on 19 March 2016.
Further information on 'Edward Thomas on www.talyllyn.co.uk.
Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch Railway No 7 Typhoon[edit | edit source]
No 7 Typhoon was built by Davey Paxman & Co. for the 15 in gauge Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch Railway as works number 16043 of 1927. It was built as a 3-cylinder configuration based on the existing 2-cylinder Henry Greenly-designed Pacifics already at the railway, but converted to the two-cylinder configuration during 1935-36.
The locomotive had a tenuous connection with the early SVR in preservation. In 1975 the SVRA Midland Branches organised the "Romney Railtour" from Kidderminster to Folkestone and back for a visit to the RH&DR. While there, Typhoon double-headed a 20-coach train for the visiting party. The trip raised over £100 for the Bridgnorth Bypass Bridge appeal.[8]
Typhoon was loaned to the SVR by the RHDR in spring 2019 for display in The Engine House. It remained on display there until 2022.
Typhoon and LMR 600 Gordon in July 2021
Further information on Typhoon on rhdrsa.org.
Exmoor Steam Railway Anne[edit | edit source]
This 15-inch gauge 0-6-2T locomotive was built by the Exmoor Steam Railway in Bratton Fleming as works number 323 of 2004. It was originally named John Hayton and worked on the Longleat Safari Park Railway. It moved to the Perrygrove Railway at Coleford in the Forest of Dean in 2015 after being acquired by one of the railway's volunteers, and was renamed after the owner's late mother.[9]
Anne appeared as a guest at the 2022 Autumn Steam Gala, giving rides on a short length of track on the terrace in front of the Engine House. Pictured on 15 September 2022.
Further information on Anne on www.perrygrove.co.uk
Isle of Man Railways No 12 Hutchinson[edit | edit source]
2-4-0T No 12 Hutchinson was built for the 3ft gauge Isle of Man Steam Railway by Beyer Peacock & Co as works no 5126 of 1908. Following expiration of the locomotive's boiler certificate in August 2019, it was withdrawn for major work with an overhaul commencing in May 2021. It arrived on the SVR for a contract overhaul of the frame stretcher and side tanks. The former is pictured at Bridgnorth in April 2022. The constituent parts and a new boiler were returned to the Isle of Man in October 2023.[10]
Further information on No 12 Hutchinson on www.iomsrsa.org.
Talyllyn Railway No 6 Douglas[edit | edit source]
This locomotive was built as a 2ft gauge 0-4-0 WT by Andrew Barclay & Co, works no 1431 of 1918. It was originally used by the Air Service Constructional Corps (RAF). After a period in storage at Calshot, it was bought by Abelson & Co. (Engineers) Ltd. in 1949 and presented to the Talyllyn Railway in 1953. It was overhauled and converted to 2ft 3in in gauge, entering service in 1954 named 'Douglas' at the donor's request.[11]
Last steamed in January 2024, it arrived on the SVR on loan from the Talyllyn Railway in July 2024 for display in The Engine House. It departed in the November.
Further information on No 6 Douglas on www.talyllyn.co.uk.
Chaloner[edit | edit source]
Chaloner is a vertical-boilered 2ft gauge locomotive. It was built by De Winton & Co of Caernarfon in 1877, and supplied new to the Pen-y-Bryn slate quarry at Nantlle, North Wales. It was sold to the nearby Pen-yr-Orsedd Quarry in 1888 where it remained until being withdrawn from service around 1950. It was acquired for preservation in 1960 and hauled the first train on the Leighton Buzzard Light Railway in 1968, where it has been based since.[12]
Chaloner was one of two locomotives which gave footplate rides on a short length of demonstration track at the Engine House on 5-6 July 2025 as part of the Railway 200: Trains through the Ages event.
Further information on Chaloner on www. www.buzzrail.uk (Leighton Buzzard Railway).
Holy War[edit | edit source]
Holy War is a 600mm (1ft 11.5in) gauge 0-4-0ST locomotive. It was built by the Hunslet Engine Company of Leeds as works no 119, and delivered new to the Dinorwic quarry in North Wales in May 1902. It was named Holy War in 1908 to commemorate a racehorse. The locomotive remained at Dinorwic throughout its working life, and was the last steam locomotive in operation in a North Wales slate quarry when finally withdrawn in November 1967. It was originally preserved at the Buckinghamshire Railway Centre before moving to its present home, the Bala Lake Railway, in 1975.[13]
Holy War was one of two locomotives which gave footplate rides on a short length of demonstration track at the Engine House on 5-6 July 2025 as part of the Railway 200: Trains through the Ages event.
See also[edit | edit source]
- List of rolling stock
- Steam locomotives at the SVR in preservation
- Former 15in gauge railway at Hampton Loade
- List of contract overhauls for boilers of narrow gauge locomotives
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Prince on Festipedia
- ↑ Festiniog Railway 0-4-0TT on Wikipedia.
- ↑ SVR News 171 p. 31.
- ↑ SVR News 170 p.24.
- ↑ Sir Haydn on www.talyllyn.co.uk.
- ↑ SVR News 184 pp.4, 24, 38.
- ↑ Edward Thomas on www.talyllyn.co.uk.
- ↑ SVR News 37 p. 28.
- ↑ www.perrygrove.co.uk
- ↑ www.iomsrsa.org
- ↑ www.talyllyn.co.uk
- ↑ Chaloner (locomotive) on Wikipedia.
- ↑ Holy War (locomotive) on Wikipedia.
External links[edit | edit source]
See under each locomotive above.