Pen yr Orsedd 'Diana'.

Evening All,

I have recently added a not very good 1963 vintage picture of Kerr Stuart 0-4-0T DIANA at Pen yr Orsedd slate quarry to my Flickr site. As with most if not all of the little engines that used to work the North Wales slate quarries, 'Diana' was preserved but there is very little information as to her present whereabouts and condition.

An Internet search led me to a site where she is listed as being privately preserved near Swansea, but details are brief and I do not know how up-to-date this is. No mention is made of her condition or how far the restoration has progressed.

Does anybody here know any more? Do get in touch if you do.

If anyone is interested to see the 1963 picture, here's a link : R0987 DIANA Pen yr Orsedd June,1963 | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

 

Looks like she's at Alan Keef's works: Diana in 1999

Hope this helps,


Keith

 

But that was in 1999. The question is, is she still there, in private preservation near Swansea, or somewhere else?

 

Sorry


Keith

 

Following a protracted restoration by Alan Keef Ltd from 1993 to 2005, DIANA returned to her owner's home near Swansea.

 

Many thanks for the up-date. I knew that someone would know!

Does he have any track on which he can run her, do you know, or is she just kept as a museum piece?

 

Regret I don't know. But it would seem odd to have a loco rebuilt and not have any opportunity to run it. (I am assuming that the loco was overhauled to a running condition. But I don't actually know that!)

 

Oh well, perhaps someone out there can tell us.

 

I would assure a operational restoration was carried out as the shot of her at Keefs show her with an air pump going on the front tank and she certainly would not have had continuous breaks in industrial service.

 

She has also aquired a cab, an indication that she was being overhauled for use in all weathers.

http://www.djr12ecg.demon.co.uk/pictures/kerr.html

 

Diana is being patiently restored by her owner in South Wales (she is no longer at Allan Keef Ltd). The major restoration work is complete (including new boiler) but some parts are still to be made and the speed of restoration is very much dependent upon the health of the owner! There is no immediate prospect of seeing Diana in service, but when this does happen I am told it will be at the Bala Lake Railway. I am updating my list of ex-Nantlle Vale quarry locos - I will post a link to the update when complete (it's the appendix to 'Dyfrryn Nantlle - a landscape of neglect' which I am converting to an ebook, hence updating the appendix).

 

Thanks for the update Alan. It would certainly be nice to see her in steam at Bala one day.

 

Dear all. We are currently restoring Kerr Stuart 1158/1917 Sirdar class Diana of Kerry Tramway, Oakley & Pen yr Orsedd quarries and hope to return this one of a kind loco to working order in 2015. With the loco being out of use by 1951 very few photographs exist of the locomotive in working order and we are struggling to find details of lining and paint carried whilst at Kerry or Oakley. Official records say it was supplied in Ministry of Supply grey to Kerry? If anybody has and is willing to let us have any photos or details of the loco in working order I would be most grateful. My email is premierfiress@gmail.com Many thanks Phil

 

The rebuild of "Diana" Kerr Stuart 1158 / 1917 continues to progress well at The Vale of Rheidol workshops in Aberystwyth. It is hoped that the locomotive will make its first public appearance at their Gala at the end of September.
For further details on the rebuild you can visit the Diana KS1158 / 1917 Facebook page. https://www.facebook.com/groups/247533388763708/?ref=bookmarks