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 reunited in 1993 at the Ffestiniog Railway for their 'Hunslet Hundred' gala celebrating the locomotives' centenary.

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.

The Roundhouse model of these world famous and well loved locomotives is available in a number of versions. All are available with either manual or full radio control. On radio controlled models, some equipment is housed in the tender for the Ffestiniog Railway version of Linda whilst the Penrhyn Railway versions have the addition of a typical quarry wagon:

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.

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.
• The r/c version is supplied with a coal truck; the manual version is not.

Charles in Penrhyn Railway form.

radio controlled version

• 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.
• The r/c version is supplied with a coal truck; the manual version is not.

manual version

Please note that Blanche in Ffestiniog form and Linda in later 2-4-0 form are not available.

Technical specifications

• 0-4-0 outside framed chassis with two double acting slide valve cylinders operated by inside valve gear.
• Internal gas firing using the Roundhouse 'FG' type burner.
• Water gauge and boiler top-up valve fitted as standard.
• Other controls fitted as standard: steam regulator, safety valve, pressure gauge, displacement lubricator, gas regulator, and reversing gear.
• Dimensions: length 300mm (460mm with r/c), width 105mm, height 140mm
• Weight 3 kg (4kg with r/c).
• Full radio control is available for both regulator and reversing valve gear.
• Gauge of locos is adjustable between 32mm and 45mm. A gauge conversion kit is available to allow adjustment of wheels on tenders. Please state gauge when ordering.
• Also available with insulated wheels.
• Full set of name and works plates for all three engines supplied.
• Colours available: Blue, Mid Brunswick green, Dark Brunswick green, Black, Gamboge, Tan, Maroon, DHR Blue