Blanche
From Festipedia, hosted by the FR Heritage Group
Click here for a more pictorial view and details of Blanche
This powerful engine was built as an 0-4-0ST by the Hunslet Engine Company, Leeds in 1893 (works No. 589) for main-line service on the Penrhyn Quarry Railway. Cost: £800 new. It is one of a class of three , the other two being Linda (q.v.) and Charles. The latter is preserved in the museum at Penrhyn Castle.
Named after Blanche Georgina Fitzroy (1865-1944) who married Edward Sholto Douglas-Pennant (the 3rd Baron of Penrhyn).
Blanche was fitted with a new boiler in 1955, and purchased by the FR in 1963. The cab roof was reprofiled as a result of clearance tests at Garnedd tunnel Equipped with a new tender which incorporated an extended cab. Wheel back to back dimension adjusted to fit the FR track gauge (Penrhyn gauge was 1ft 10.5"). Blanche initially ran on the FR as an 0-4-0STT and was [[Blanche (Pictorial Views]| photographed in this condition by Cyril Perrier in 1968]].
In the 60's Blanche had a prang in the woods, this location now carrying the name Blanche's Bump.
Rebuilt as a 2-4-0STT (saddle-tank tender engine) in 1972, with extended frames, new piston valve cylinders, oil burning and superheating. The pony truck fitted as part of the rebuild used a pair of wheels from the rear bogie of Single Fairlie Moel Tryfan (the other pair of wheels having already been used for a pony truck for Linda).
The principal stated dimensions are: Cylinders: 10.5" x 12", Nominal wheel diameter: 2' 2", Boiler pressure: 160 psi., Rigid wheelbase 5' 0". Tractive Effort (85% BP): 6,320lb, Weight: 12¼ tons (excluding tender)
Blanche was used on the Welsh Highland Railway (C) between Dinas and Caernarfon in 1999, returning to the railway and requiring heavy maintenance in 2000. She was withdrawn from service when her boiler ticket expired in March 2003. Despite her status as a "traffic" engine, not part of heritage fleet, the parlous state of the company's finances required extensive fundraising for her new boiler, but following a large number of donations she returned in May 2005.
Blanche is affectionally known by those who work on her as Ricket.
The engine also has a support site, aptly entitled Ricket Rescue, which detailed her return to active service. Click here (external site)
