Linda, Blanche & Charles
The Hunslet Engine Company of Leeds, built three 0-4-0 saddle tank locomotives for the Penrhyn Railway between 1882 and 1893. Of very similar design, they were named Charles, Blanche and Linda after members of the Penrhyn family and, for over 60 years, they operated the main line slate trains between Port Penrhyn and the quarries.
In 1962, Linda and Blanche were purchased by the Ffestiniog Railway where they were to become the mainstay of their locomotive fleet for many years and are still in regular use today. Charles had become unserviceable by this time, and was placed on permanent loan to the National Trust and moved to Penrhyn Castle Industrial Railway Museum in a cosmetically restored condition. All three were re-united in 1993 at the Ffestiniog Railway for their ‘Hunslet Hundred’ gala celebrating the locomotives 100th anniversary.
Linda and Blanche have gone through many changes since their move to the Ffestiniog Railway, most notably, the addition of tenders, re-profiling of the cab roofs and the addition of leading pony trucks. Blanche received the most radical changes as she was converted to piston valves and now has the very distinctive round topped valve chests together with a half cab fitted to the tender.
We offer three different models which are based on the locomotives during Penrhyn and early Ffestiniog days.
Technical specifications of the model:-
- 0-4-0 outside framed chassis with two double acting slide valve cylinders operated by Roundhouse inside valve gear.
- Internal gas firing using the ROUNDHOUSE 'FG' gas system.
- Controls fitted as standard are :- steam regulator, safety valve, pressure gauge, displacement lubricator, water gauge, boiler top-up valve, gas regulator and reversing gear.
- Dimensions :- length 300mm, (460mm r/c) width 105mm, height 140mm, weight 3kg. (4kg r/c)
- Full radio control is available for both speed and direction.
- A gauge conversion kit is available to allow adjustment between 32mm and 45mm gauge. Please state gauge when ordering
- Available with Insulated wheels.
- Full set of name and works plates for all three engines supplied.
- Available in any standard ROUNDHOUSE colour.
Each model comes complete with a full set of etched brass name and works plates for you to fit yourself.
The Roundhouse model of these world famous and well loved locomotives is available in the following versions:-
Option 1—Linda in early Ffestiniog Railway form.
Linda in early Ffestiniog Railway form.
- 0-4-0 with open cab back and tender.
- FR profile roof.
- Twin dummy whistles.
- Large FR sand boxes.
- Single injector on saddle tank with second under r/h cab floor.
- Dummy reversing lever on left.
- Vacuum pipes front and rear.
- Both manual and r/c version have tender.
Front detail of Linda in early Ffestiniog form.
Option 2—Linda and Blanche in Penrhyn Railway form.
- 0-4-0 with closed cab back.
- Round spectacles front and back.
- Single dummy whistle.
- Small Hunslet round sand boxes on front of saddle tank.
- Twin injectors on saddle tank
- Fire iron brackets on saddle tank.
- Dummy reversing lever on right.
- Only the r/c version is supplied with a coal truck.
Option 3—Charles in Penrhyn Railway form.
Charles with radio control.
- 0-4-0 with closed cab back.
- Square spectacles on front, round on back.
- Single dummy whistle.
- Rectangular sand boxes on side of saddle tank.
- Roscoe lubricators on front of saddle tank.
- Twin injectors on saddle tank.
- Dummy reversing lever on right.
- Only the r/c version is supplied with a coal truck.
Rear view of Charles with manual control.
All versions are available with either manual or full radio control. On radio controlled models, some equipment is housed in the tender for the FR version of Linda whilst the Penrhyn Railway versions have the addition of a typical quarry coal wagon.
Detail shots of Charles.
Please note that Blanche in Ffestiniog form and Linda in later 2-4-0 form are not available.
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© 2006 Roundhouse Eng. Co. Ltd.