Built for Cilgwyn Slate Co

Lilla built by Hunslet Engineering in 1891 and given works number 554, was delivered to the Cilgwyn Slate Company quarry at Nantlle.

Lilla's principle dimentions are:

• Cylinders: 8½"x14"
• Nominal wheel diameter: 2' 2"
• Boiler pressure: 130psi
• Rigid wheelbase 4' 6"
• Tractive Effort (75% BP): 3,793lb
• Weight: 10 tons 15cwt

Described as a medium sized quarry engine she was used to shunt trains of slate wagons around the quarry system.

Lilla at Bala Lake Railway 1991

From 1923, Cilgwyn slates used to be despatched by a link with the Fron Quarry which provided access to the Bryngwyn Incline Drum Head and so down the incline and on via the Welsh Highland Railway to Dinas Junction

Moved to Penrhyn Quarry

In 1928 Lilla was sold to the Penrhyn Quarry and was moved from Cilgwyn to Penrhyn via the Fron Quarry - Bryngwyn Incline Drum Head - Welsh Highland Railway to Dinas Junctionsame route ending with a transfer onto a LMS standard gauge wagon from Dinas to Port Penrhyn where she was unloaded on 21st May 1928.

Although of a reasonable size, and apparently bought as a standby for work on the Penrhyn mainline, Lilla spent most her working life at Penrhyn as a quarry engine. The loco remained at Penrhyn until it was bought for preservation.

Preserved in 1963

Bernard Latham bought Lilla in 1963 and moved her to his back garden in Woking, Surrey, where he carried out restoration work on the locomotive.

Knebworth Park Rly

Following extensive restoration at Woking, the next location for Lilla was at the Knebworth Park & Winter Green Railway where she ran for a time along with Peckett 0-6-0 Triassic - the first industrial narrow gauge steam loco to be preserved, also owned by Mr Latham. This 1½ miles long pleasure line operated from 1972 to 1990, although Lilla's time there was shorter.

Kew Bridge Living Steam Museum

In 1987 Lilla was moved to Kew Bridge, where a demonstration 2ft gauge line had been laid round the Pumping Station, but not suprisingly Lilla was found to be too big for the compact industrial site. So before long she was on the move to yet another new home.

Bala Lake Railway

Festiniog Railway

Lilla was loved by the FR volunteers, if for no other reason that she was the sister to FR resident loco Linda (also ex-Penrhyn Quarry).

Lilla on the FR

In 1997 the FR bought Lilla off Bernard and placed her in the care of the Lilla Locomotive Group. She has remained on the FR ever since, making occasional appearances elsewhere - the WHR at the other end of Portmadoc for instance. Lilla has been found very useful on the Slate Shunt experiences and on occasional shuttle trains. Lilla has also been known to deputise for the diesel shunters when the temptation is too much. She has raised her own operating funds by offering drives to the public on Sundays during the main season and on special events.

Lilla has received a lot of attention while at the FR. New pistons and rings along with a mechanical lubricator were fitted in winter 1998/99 and in 2000 the loco was fitted with a concealed vacuum ejector to allow occasional passenger workings, for instance on shuttle services. Lilla is lined out in Penrhyn Quarry livery matching sister Linda.

In October 2004 Lilla's original boiler was pronounced life expired so the opportunity was taken to refurbish the entire chassis while a new boiler was constructed by FR engineers at Boston Lodge.

Lilla is now back in steam and was first used with Britomart and visiting engine Jerry M over May Day Bank Holiday 2008.

Photo Gallery:Lilla Collection