| Technical Data | |
| Built By: | Hunslet, Leeds |
| Class: | Alice |
| Date Built: | 1902 |
| Works Number: | 779 |
| Built For: | Dinorwic Quarries |
The railway principally operates three steam locomotives on it's passenger services. All are former Quarry Hunslet 0-4-0 saddle tank engines that worked in the Dinorwic slate quarries of North Wales.
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Holy War was originally delivered to the Dinorwic Quarry in 1902 from the Hunslet works in Leeds with the name No. 3. This was changed to Holy War after a race horse in 1908. Whilst working on the Lernion level, she was trapped by a rock fall and had to be rescued by being stripped down to most of her component parts and "flown" down to a lower level by a temporary ropeway. She was the very last operational engine at the quarries, working until November 1967.
After the Quarry closed, she passed through various sets of hands, until she eventually ended up being owned by the Revd. Alan Cliff, who brought her to Llanuwchllyn in December 1975. A full over then commenced, being completed in 1978 and returned to full service on Good Friday, 1979. Since then, her boiler has had a complete overhaul in 1986/87 and a full overhaul of the complete engine in 1998/99, returning just in time for the Gala Celebrations in August. To secure the long-term future of this delightful little engine, Revd Alan Cliff sold her to the Railway Company in September 1989.
During the winter of 2002/3, Holy War was repainted, retaining her blue livery.
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Maid Marian was originally delivered to the Dinorwic Quarry in 1903 from the Hunslet works in Leeds with the name No 5. It is not known when her name was changed to Maid Marian but as with Holy War, the name was taken from a race horse. By 1964, she had been withdrawn from active work in the quarries and there was a possibility that she could have ended up in the USA or Canada. Fortunately, the Maid Marian Locomotive Fund was created in order to preserve the future of the engine in Britain. She was formally handed over to the MMLF on 6th May 1967.
Initially, Maid Marian went to the museum at Bressingham but became surplus to requirements by 1969. She returned to Llanberis (where the Dinorwic Quarries were based) in 1971, working on the then-new Lake Railway, before finally arriving at Bala in 1975 and entering service at Easter. A large overhaul was undertaken between 1979 and 1984, and a boiler overhaul followed in 1987/8. Her latest full overview was in 1997/8.
The engine continues to be owned by the MMLF and, under an agreement with the Railway Company which was renewed 1993, the railway pays a nominal rent and maintains the engine. During the winter of 2002/3, and with agreement of the MMLF, Maid Marian was repainted in her original red livery, similar to the one she wore when working in the Dinorwic Quarries.
Note: Maid Marian is presently undergoing a major overhaul which will she her fitted with a brand-new boiler. It is hoped that the new boiler will be delivered during 2006 for re-assembly to begin and a return to steam.
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Alice was originally delivered to the Dinorwic Quarry in 1902 from the Hunslet works in Leeds with the name No. 4, and is the sister engine to Holy War. The name "Alice" was originally carried by engine No. 492, which was renamed King of the Scarlets in 1908. It is suspected that the name change occurred because the water tanks of the two locomotives were swapped, but there is not documentary proof of this exchange. She last worked on the Australia level in 1960 before being slowly dismantled to provide spare parts for other engines still working in the quarry.
Alice is owned privately by a volunteer on the railway. The restoration was a remarkable achievement; she was little more than a rusting hulk when purchased from the quarries and the original intention had been to use her for spare parts for the Quarry Hunslets that were being preserved in working order (such as Holy War). However, restoration back to full working order was decided upon and work started at Bala in the late 1970s/early 80s. In 1990, she moved from Bala to the Leighton Buzzard Railway (via her owner's garage!), where restoration to full working order was completed. She worked on the Bedfordshire line for 13 years before being returned to Bala in late 2003.
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No. 1270 one of six 'identical' locomotives built for Kay & Co. Cement Works near Rugby. It was purchased by J. B. Latham in 1957 and was the first locomotive to be preserved by a private individual. It is currently owned by his son and a full "heavy" overhaul of the locomotive has begun.
Pictures of Triassic's overhaul can be found on the Railway Photo Gallery:
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George B is a privately owned locomotive that was bought direct from Dinorwic Quarries in 1965 and then consequently dismantled for a full overhaul in 1969. Re-assembly never started and the locomotive has remained a kit of parts for the last 30 years. An agreement with the owner has now been reached and parts are starting to make their way to the railway for the engine to be completed.
Pictures of George B's overhaul can be found on the Railway Photo Gallery:
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Bob Davies is presently the line's main diesel locomotive, employed on a number of jobs from hauling the engine out of the shed in the morning to working engineering and charter trains.
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Meirionnydd was the original engine purchased by the railway for pulling passenger trains. As the steam fleet grew, it became less used. Recently, the engine went for a full overhaul but persistent hydraulic problems means it is not suitable for use.
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Originally used to shunt ammunition at RAF Chilmark in Wiltshire, this engine came to the Bala Lake Railway in 1976. Presently out of service with a smashed gearbox housing.