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Ellie 0-4-0

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This is the concept art for my Hornby 'Little Giant' model remake. Essentially a traditional British industrial engine, only with a tender instead of side, saddle or well tanks. Her name is Ellie, and is based on a character a freind of mine created for a Victorian roleplay via MSN.

Anyways, time for a little fake history, just to get things interesting :):

The Weollod and Delflled Railway was a highly unusual line. Located in North Wales, to connect the harbour at Delflled to the slate mines at Weollod, the directors opted for a standard gauge track rather than narrow gauge as was generally more common by other slate carrying railways in North Wales. The decision to open such a line was made in 1875, but it was not until 1880 that the line itself was completed, due to the track beds being washed away by flooding twice, hence why the railway was commonly known as the ‘third time lucky’ by locals. A committee headed by a Mr Laurence Williams, a land-owner and railway contractor, were determined to see the line through, and it was a glorious day on the 21st of May 1880 when the first train was run.

Purchasing locomotives and stock proved to be challenging. Once the 18 mile stretch of track was started, it was clear that an engine would be required to haul the men, materials and equipment, including a most unusual steam powered earth-moving vehicle from MacAllan Engineering in Glasgow, from Weollod, which was connected via the Taff Vale Railway, up the line. Desperate searches were made for a suitable tank engine, but having found none that were powerful enough to negotiate the sharp curves and steep hills, and none being small enough to fit through the less-than-generous loading gauge (the navvies working the line claimed that even some of the directors wouldn’t be able to fit through), it was decided to commission one especially. The committee approached MacAllan Engineering yet again, but upon having finished the designs, a celebratory dinner was held. No one can remember what happened exactly, but rumours tell of events involving a crate of highland whiskey, a company traction engine and a large hole in the Glasgow Constabulary’s wall. Whatever the reason, the design was changed from a tank engine to a tender engine, probably the better option, seeing as the engine itself would be able to accommodate larger cylinders and a more powerful boiler on a small chassis and not have any major problems in regards to water. The engine, officially named Ellie, was delivered in August 1876, and proved a most worthwhile purchase, especially during the disastrous flooding of 1876 and 78, where she managed to pull away the worker’s train just in time before the floodwaters washed away half the track between Weollod and Owain’s Halt.

The railway was finally completed in May 1880, and was opened with the sole intent of transporting slate from the mines at Weollod. However, the port at Delflled, gthe cheapest harbour in the British Isles, began to attrack a number of ships from abroad, brining in coal, timber, and exports from abroad. The harbour soon became prosperous, and gradually expanded, so the railway decided to purchase another engine. Again, Macallan and Sons were approached, and in the spring of 1900, a small six wheeled side tank named Neptune, was delivered, via sea, to the port. Between them, Ellie and Neptune managed the traffic of the line fairly well, especially during the summer when holidaymakers came via the railway and the steamers to Delflled, which became a fairly popular seaside town.

During the First World War, the slate traffic experienced a decrease, however the railway was often contracted for the moving of military supplies and equipment for the army. The Royal Navy also used the railway, for Deflled was the berth of the gunboat, the HMS Furious, which was often called out to intercept German U-boats lurking in the Irish Sea. The railway was a bounty to the military powers, and when the conflict was over the railway was granted a reward for its services.

The year is currently 1924. Having mercifully escaped the Grouping, the W&DR is striving to regain lost profits in the fall of slate sales. Currently, the amount of maritime traffic is gradually increasing, the harbour providing a safe haven and cheap fuel for the steamers operating between mainland Britain and Ireland. For the moment, it seems the railway is coping, remaining strong and independent, with a good source of income and a cracking pair of really useful locomotives

For inspiration, the railway itself is based somewhat on the Ffestiniog Railway, the Merioneth and Llantisilly Rail Traction Company Limited, as well as the Penewtan Railway of Cornwall (unusual in that it used 2 six-coupled tender locomotives from Manning Wardle). The flooding idea I got from reading a magazine article on the history of the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway, during the early days of contrustion in the Victorian era, but it's a fairly generic idea that could apply to any railway. Otherwise it's mostly orginal, including the engine design.

That's pretty much it, apart from the usual, don't steal, this engine, the history, the concept, and the character belongs to me and my MSN RP friend.
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Comments4
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YanPictures's avatar
Kinda reminds me of the toy train from Wallace and Gromit - The Wrong Trousers, but with the front buffer in place of the cowcatcher.