Jessie at Blaenavon High Station on the Pontypool Blaeravon Railway - May 2019
"Jessie" was built in 1937 by the Hunslet Engine Company. It spent all of its working life at the East Moors Steelworks in Cardiff as the No.18 locomotive in the fleet.
Years of vandalism had taken its toll
It was withdrawn from service in 1965 and presented to the City of Cardiff where it was put on display at Splott Park near the steelworks. Here it was provided with steps and railings for onlookers, but eventually it garnered the attention of vandals who had covered it in graffiti. Over time its whistle and dome cover also became lost. By 1979 it was in a deteriorating condition and was put up for sale by the City Council.
Jessie restored and in a red livery - 2005
A member of the Dean Forest Railway examined the locomotive and was impressed with its general condition despite the vandalism and missing parts. He put in a bid and was successful in buying it. The arrangements were made and the locomotive was recovered from the park in 1980. It was transported to Norchard on the Dean Forest Railway where it was dismantled as the first stage of restoring it to working order. The culmination of efforts on the locomotive came towards the end of 2003, when it moved for the first time in almost forty years under its own steam.
Jessie during their time as a Thomas look alike - 2015
Following another overhaul, the locomotive re-entered service on the Llangollen Railway. During the overhaul it was converted from a saddle tank to a side tank engine and painted blue so that it could run as a life sized Thomas the Tank Engine.
Jessie restored to their original shape
In 2019 the locomotive was converted back to its saddle tank self and became permanently based on the Pontypool & Blaenavon Railway.
.webp){kind=link}
HUnslet No. 3839 in front of 1873 on the Blaenavon Heritage Railway – June 2022
Jessie's boiler certificate is currently valid until 2023. When it expires it is unknown at this time if the engine will undergo an overhaul back to operational status or return to static display once again.
Main features of the locomotive-
- Tractive Effort – 22,150lbf
- Boiler Pressure – 170psi
- Cylinders – 18 inch x 22 inch
- Wheels – 4 feet 0½ inch
- Weight – 46 tons 7 cwt