The 0-4-0 "Wren" Locomotives were a series of 0-4-0ST narrow-gauge steam locomotives that were constructed by Kerr, Stuart & Co. and the Hunslet Engine Company for narrow gauge railways across the world.
History[]
The first Wren locomotive was officially produced by Kerr, Stuart & Co. in 1905, and more were constructed until the last one was built in 1941. A total of 167 examples had been constructed with 162 of them produced by Kerr Stuart & Co. with the last 5 being produced by Hunslet. They were the smallest class of locomotive available in the Kerr Stuart & Co. catalog and were often used for industrial applications such as construction or quarry work. Many of these locomotives were either delivered to various narrow gauge railways across the United Kingdom or were imported to railways overseas.
All 167 examples of the Wrens were withdrawn from active service on their respective railways, and what happened to them after being withdrawn is mostly unknown. Some examples were scrapped, while others were saved for preservation and are even operational.
The design of the Wren is so popular, that it is often reused in new build projects for narrow and miniature gauge heritage railways. Two new examples were built by the Hunslet Engine Company, those two being "Jennie" and "Thomas Wicksteed". Jennie was built between 2008-2009, and Thomas Wicksteed was built in 2010 for the Kew Bridge Steam Museum.
Stock list[]
Image | Loco Name | Works No. | Rail Gauge | Build date | Manufacturer | Operators | Status |
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Indaya | 1041 | 915 mm | 1908 | Kerr, Stuart & Co. | Unknown | Unknown |
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Maipoori | 1248 | 2 ft (610 mm) | 1912 | Kerr, Stuart & Co. | Unknown | Unknown |
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- | 2387 | - | 1915 | Kerr, Stuart & Co. | Siam Country Club | Display |
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Haig | 3015 | 2 ft (610 mm) | 1917 | Kerr, Stuart & Co. | Potsgrove Brickworks | Scrapped |
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Dryw Bach | 3114 | 1 ft 11+3⁄4 in (603 mm) | 1918 | Kerr, Stuart & Co. | Ashover Light Railway
Bala Lake Railway Vale of Rheidol Railway |
Unknown |
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Roger | 3128 | - | 1918 | Kerr, Stuart & Co. | - | Operational |
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Little Bess | 4031 | 2 ft (610 mm) | 1919 | Kerr, Stuart & Co. | Sandstone Steam Railway | Operational |
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Lorna Doone | 4250 | 2 ft (610 mm) | 1922 | Kerr, Stuart & Co. | Amerton Railway | Operational |
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Peter Pan | 4256 | 2 ft (610 mm) | 1922 | Kerr, Stuart & Co. | Leighton Buzzard Narrow Gauge Railway | Operational with Pixie |
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Pixie | 4260 | 2 ft (610 mm) | 1922 | Kerr, Stuart & Co. | Leighton Buzzard Narrow Gauge Railway | Operational with Peter Pan. |
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Pet | - | 5 in (381 mm) | 1998 | Keith Hardy | Sherwood Forest Railway | Operational |
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Jennie | 3905 | 2 ft (610 mm) | 2008-2009 | Hunslet Engine Company | - | Operational |
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Thomas Wicksteed | 3906 | - | 2010 | Hunslet Engine Company | Kew Bridge Steam Museum | Operational |
Trivia[]
- The character Luke from the television series Thomas & Friends is based on the Wren locomotive Peter Pan.