Jonathan HE 678 ex-B.L.Rly

Built 1898

'Jonathan' 0-4-0 ST (originally calledThe First & then renamed Bernstein) was built by the Hunslet Engineering Company of Leeds in 1898.
Bernstein at Dinorwic 1961 - copyright Ron Fisher
Bernstein at Dinorwic 1961 (high up, peering out of the mist)- copyright Ron Fisher

The loco carried the works number 678 and was built for use at Port Dinorwic, the slate shipment port built on the banks of the Menai Straits, by Dinorwic Slate Quarries of Llanberis. The loco worked at the Port until 1922 when it was transfered to the slate quarries and after refurbishment in the quarry workshops was moved to Pen Garret, 1.500 ft above sea level. It holds the record for Dinorwic quarry locos - 33 years in the same place!

Into Preservation

In 1966 the loco, at this time called 'Bernstein', was brought down from Pen Garret and sold into preservation with Jim Morris and moved to the Lytham Motive Power Museum at Lytham St Annes near Blackpool. By 1972 it had been restored to full working condition and repainted and renamed 'Jonathan' after the owners son.

Jonathan shunting at Llanuwchllyn May 1986 - authors collection
Jonathan shunting at Llanuwchllyn May 1986 - authors collection

Moved to Bala Lake Railway

In 1979 a party from Bala Lake Railway visited the Lytham Creek Railway Museum and were asked to help change the top row of tubes. On removing the old ones they discovered that the firebox was life-expired and also found other things that needed to be carried out to restore the loco once again to full working order.

An agreement was reached between Jim Morris and BLR where the loco would be moved to Llanuwchllyn, BLR would undertake the relevant work and then use the loco for a period of five years. 'Jonathon' arrived in January 1980 and was moved into the engine shed. At that time, the railway was undertaking a major overhaul of 'Maid Marian' and 'Kerr Stuart 3114' (which was on loan from Glodfa Ganol).

For one reason or another, work did not start on 'Jonathan' until 1983 when the wheels were removed and sent to the Talyllyn Railway for regauging and reprofiling. 'Jonathan' was stripped down and the boiler/firebox went off to Gowy Engineering for the new firebox to be added and other remedial work to be carried out.

Unfortunately, the whole of the original loan period was taken up with the repairs that had not been completed by January 1985. The railway negotiated to complete the work as a contract job and the loco was reassembled in May 1986.

Jonathan reunited with owner Jim Morris Llanuwchllyn yard May 1986 - authors collection
Jonathan reunited with owner Jim Morris Llanuwchllyn yard May 1986 - authors collection

The loco was the "star guest" at that years May Gala weekend and your author spent the weekend driving it and a small demonstration goods train around the yard tracks at Llanuwchllyn. On the Sunday I was joined by Jim Morris himself and a thoroughly enjoyable day was had by all (even if the weather made it feel more like September).

West Lancs Railway

The loco remained at Llanuwchllyn until Spetember 1986 when it was moved to the West Lancs Railway at Heskith Bank near Preston, who had purchased it from Jim Morris.

After being used for a while, the loco was once again stripped down for a partial overhaul with the smokebox, slide bars and brasses receiving attention. The loco was also repainted, in the same colour scheme as carried when at the Lytham Creek Railway but without the Lytham Creek name on the water tank. 'Jonathan' reentered service at Heskith Bank in 1994.

In 1998, the loco visited the Isle of Man for the Groudle Glen 125 celebrations.


I am indebted to Ron Fisher for the photo of Bernstein at Dinorwic - I recommend his Fotopic Galleries for all steam loco fans
Last Updated on Wednesday, 28 January 2009 00:07