Hazel Locomotive works presents the Chester and Holyhead Railway class 17.
The most famous engine from Gwylan Locomotive Works is the C&HR Class Class 16 Pacific, but this wasn't the only engine to end up on the Chester and Holyhead.
The Class 16 Pacific was an attempt by the GLW to break into new markets. Express engines were by their very nature impressive and eye-catching, and it was hoped the engine would bring attention to their company.
As the construction of the class 16 was coming to a close, the GLW was approached by a railway to build them a new express locomotive. The railway, the Seagull Line, had very sharp curves for a standard gauge mainline, so they needed an express locomotive with a shorter wheelbase.
The GLW was elated, here was the chance they had been waiting for. A chance to break out with a brand new express locomotive. The engine GLW designed was a 4-6-0, as large as the Seagull line allowed for, sharing many design traits with the class 16. The cab overhung behind the rear drivers, allowing the fitting of a larger boiler and firebox. The Seagull line approved the design, and a contract was drawn up and signed. The down payment was made and construction began.
The engine came together quickly, and the GLW sent word to the Seagull line upon completion...only to receive no reply. In the time since the order had been placed, the Line had been subject to a hostile takeover, and the new management had no interest in the engine. To make matter worse, the contract prevented GLW from offering the Locomotive to other railways until October of that year.
Gwylan Locomotive Works had invested a lot of money into the class 16, and more into the seagull lines express engine. That had been fine with the guaranteed payment for the 4-6-0, but as the Seagull Line's new management dragged out paying for the engine via a legal battle, betting the works would run out of money before the lawsuit could be settled. They were correct.
In June 1939, Gwylan Locomotive Works filed for bankruptcy. The Class 16 Pacific was protected by her contract with testing eith the Chester and Holyhead Railway, but all other remaining GLW assents would fall to the debt collectors.
The 4-6-0 was locked into legal limbo by contract, so was left in the back if the works, and largely forgotten. However, fate was not done with the engine.
Following the declartion of War against Germany in September 1939, the Class 16 would officially pass into Chester and Holyhead ownership. In early October, the debt agency sent a team to search the derelict works for any usable spare parts or plans to pass on to the railway. During this visit the dust covered 4-6-0 was rediscovered. The debt agency knew next to nothing about railways or locomotives, but they had legal contacts that did.
The Chester and Holyhead was surpised to be contacted by the debt collection agency again.
"To the Board of the Chester and HolyHead Railway,
While searching premises formerly belonging to 'Gwylan Locomotive Works' for usable parts or schematics for the No.16 4-6-2 Locomotive in your possession, we discovered a second express locomotive of 4-6-0 design. Locomotive has been trapped by contract till this week. Please advise."
The C&HR quickly offered to purchase the locomotive. Their standard class 9 pacific had been designed as for mix traffic, so they were in heavy demand for goods traffic. A smaller more efficent engine for the smaller passenger trains was needed
The engine was purchaed for undisclosed sum, and was given the number and classification 17. Routinely during the war No.17 was seen pulling what was left of the C&HR express services.
After the war once over, the class 17 gracefully retired from express passenger work to run the C&HR milk trains, where she has remained every since.
