Kerr Stuart 4415 shunting in Minffordd Yard.

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(52°55′35″N, 4°5′14″W)

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683

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Kerr Stuart 4415 shunting in Minffordd Yard.

Kerr Stuart 4415 shunting empty slate waggons in Minffordd Yard, early 1929. The tractor driver is possibly William Jones. Note the chopper couplings, side chains & vacuum pipe fitted during the brief period spent working winter trains on the WHR. The cut down cab was necessary in order for the locomotive to fit the FR loading gauge. The cylindrical exhaust silencer was another early modification, replacing the previous 'double chimney' arrangement.

At the time it was built this was a truly experimental, and as events would turn out, revolutionary prototype thanks to its J&H McLaren (licensed Daimler-Benz) four cylinder diesel engine. The use of the railway as a testbed for a pioneer of what would become the dominant railway motive power for the rest of the century was a historic milestone, even if Colonel Stephens refused to recognise the potential.

After initial trials it found use as Bottom Shunter, where its relative power made it a better substitute for steam engines than the smaller petrol tractors.

The coal hole and the standard-gauge siding serving the chute are behind and to the left of the locomotive (note how the standard-gauge waggon visible immediately behind KS 4415's cab has its side door dropped and is in position to dispense its load into FR waggons waiting below). The small building visible to the right is the wharf office. This particular wharf was used for Llechwedd slate and stood on the site of the 21st century Waggon Tracks Shed.

FR catalogue. KS/MN/02C

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SH5978838619

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