The Hunslet Engine Company supplied a small saddle tank engine to the Dinorwic slate quarry in 1870. The 'Alice' class developed from this engine, being slightly larger but now proving ideal for working the galleries of the vast slate quarry. The Hunslet company supplied engines to the same or very similar design to several other slate quarries in North Wales. Many of thee engines were still in existence in the mid 1960s when the quarries were closing and being a quite manageable size were purchased by enthusiasts wanting to own their own steam engine.
While existing narrow gauge railways like the Talyllyn and Ffestiniog which were taken over for preservation had their own locomotive already a number of new narrow gauge heritage railways have been built and the small 'quarry Hunslet' engines have proven just as efficient at hauling passengers as they were at moving slate! Many of these popular little engines can still be seen at work.
391-053 Dorothea
- Late-type ‘Port’ Enclosed Cab
- Angled Frames
- Piston Access Holes in front Bufferbeam
- Backhead Injectors
- Ramsbottom Safety Valves
- Riveted Water Tank
- Wrap Around Tank Handrail
- Twin Smokebox-mounted Lubricators
- Blower supply fitted to right hand side of locomotive