'Holy War', a 0-4-0 ST (saddle tank) steam locomotive, no. 779, was built by the Hunslet Engineering company near Leeds in 1902. When the engine was supplied new to the Assheton-Smith family owned Dinorwic Slate Quarry, Llanberis North Wales she was named No.3, a plate she still carries today.

In 1908 the engine was renamed 'Holy War' after one of the owners winning racehorses and spent most of its life working on the highest quarry levels.

While on Lernion Level during 1961, at a height of 1,860 feet above sea level, the engine was trapped by a rockfall. Because the engine had plenty of life left in it (according to quarry records), a rescue was mounted in October 1961. The rescue saw the engine dismantled and the components were lowered 2 levels by ropeway, then down two inclines, moved to the "A" side of the quarry and finally taken up the incline to Penrhydd Bach level where reassembnly took place.

'Holy War' remained on the Penrhydd Bach level until November 1967. She was the last steam locomotive to work in a British slate quarry, ending 120 years of steam in the quarries.

In 1968, 'Holy War' was sold to J. Marshfield-Hutchings and in March 1970 the loco finally left Llanberis and was taken to the Buckinghamshire Railway Centre at Quainton Road, near Aylesbury, for preservation. 'Holy War' was kept in an ex-LMS container and occassionally steamed until 1975, when she was sold on.

In 1975, she was purchased by Rev. Alan Cliff, then Minister of Wrexham Methodist Church, and finally arrived at Bala Lake Railway that December.

On arrival at Llanuwchlly, a major overhaul was immediately undertaken and a full cab, manufactured by apprentices at Brymbo Steel Works, was added. The overhaul was completed and the engine finally entered service at Bala on Good Friday 1979.

Along with 'Maid Marian', 'Holy War' bore the brunt of the service train operations for the next six years until 1986 when extensive boiler repairs were found to be required.

In March 1986, the engine having been dismantled during the winter, the boiler was sent off to Gowy Engineering at Hoylake for a new firebox to be fitted. The boiler and new firebox returned to Llanuwchllyn in October 1987.

Because the front tubeplate had been removed to enable wasted areas to be repaired, Bala Lake Railway Society member Richard Gibbon and then Chief Engineer at Kelham Island Museum, Sheffield arranged for a boilersmith to attend the railway.

During a very cold and wet weekend in November 1987, Richard (who later went onto become Curator of Engineering at the National Railway Museum, York) led a team of Society members in assisting the boilersmith in hot rivetting the front tubeplate back onto the boiler. During that winter the locomotive was rebuilt and the first trial steamings took place on 11th and 12th June 1988.

The loco re-entered service 25th June 1988, painted in "works" grey. She was withdrawn again in Easter 1989 to receive a full paint job, finally re-entering full service in late April complete with a brass chimney cap donated by then Society member James Evans (owner of Velinheli).

Holy War was purchased from Alan Cliff by the railway company in 1989, securing its long term future at Llanuwchllyn.

Holy War celebrated her 100th birthday in 2002 - it was a simple affair but the railway had repainted her for the occassion. We all hope that both the loco and the railway are around in 50 years for her 150th!!