This delightful little loco is well-known to many as Diana, the most famous locomotive of the class. Her restoration was completed in 2015, after which she travelled the UK, capturing the hearts and minds of enthusiasts across the country.
Built as a modified 0-4-0 Sirdar class by Kerr, Stuart and Co. in 1909 and to a gauge of 2’5½”, Works No.1158 had a rather difficult life. She featured 200-gallon tanks, more than twice the size of those usually fitted to standard Sirdar class locos.
Originally built alongside 5 other locomotives of varying gauges, she was intended for a railway in Mauritius; however, No.1158 sadly never made it abroad.
Despite several attempts to sell the loco, No.1158 would remain ‘in stock’ until 1917. She was purchased by the Home Grown Timber Committee and delivered to the Kerry Tramway near Newtown, Powys. Prior to delivery, No.1158 was regauged to 2’.
Following the closure of the Kerry Tramway, No.1158 was sold to the Oakeley Quarry in Blaenau Ffestiniog in 1925. It was here that she had the name Diana painted on her tank sides.
She would remain at the Oakeley Quarry for a further 18 years, following which she changed hands several times. She continued to work in Wales up until 1950 when her boiler was declared unsafe. It wasn’t until 1963 that her long journey to eventual preservation would begin.
Passing from one well-meaning owner to another, there were several unsuccessful attempts to fully restore this sweet little loco. Thankfully, in 2014, Phil Mason purchased the weather-beaten remains of Diana, and, using the Workshops at the Vale of Rheidol Railway, restored her to her former glory. Diana now resides at the Amerton Railway in Staffordshire.
A very similar Long-Tank Sirdar to Diana was also built by Kerr, Stuart and Co. for the Sons of Gwalia, a mining company based in Western Australia. Built in 1901 and arriving in Australia in 1902, Leonora was tasked with pulling trains full of firewood, fuel for the busy mines; she was also fired using this instead of coal. As such, she featured distinctive ‘cane bin’ style rails over both her tanks and boiler top.
Incredibly, Leonora was delivered to Sons of Gwalia by horse and cart and undertook a journey considerable distance, which is no mean feat!
To accompany Diana and Leonora six further versions are being produced featuring a number of eye-catching liveries and physical differences – perfect for customisation.
Throughout the range, there are standard, stove pipe and balloon stack chimneyed versions, as well as cabs with either doored or plain backsheets. In addition to this, some models are fitted with cane bins.
All versions are available in both DCC-Ready and DCC-Fitted, and feature 6 wiper pick-ups, and a small coreless motor with flywheel.
So that customisation and servicing is uncomplicated, the loco’s removable body is held in place with 4 easily-accessible screws; this also gives you access to the model’s 6-pin DCC socket.
Sourcing parts to customise models can often be challenging, so we have made it as simple as possible by including a polybag full to the brim with interesting and easy-to-fit parts. With a huge number of combinations, we are sure you will have great fun personalising your models.
These detailed parts include screw-in alternative chimneys, dumb buffers, vacuum brake gear, toolboxes, coal bunker covers and front steps.
To enhance the 009 hobby even further, we have collaborated with our friends at Fourdees Ltd, the leading producer of narrow gauge 3D-printed kits and models. We are very proud to be supplying them with Kerr, Stuart & Co. Sirdar Class 0-4-0 chassis so that they can offer kits based on this chassis. These will be available to pre-order directly from Fourdees Ltd.
We understand that many 009 modellers love to create their own locomotives, both from scratch and other kits, so we are also making the Kerr, Stuart & Co. Long-Tank Sirdar Class 0-4-0 chassis available separately. These will be available exclusively via our website and from Fourdees Ltd.
The order book is open for the new 009 Gauge Kerr, Stuart & Co. Sirdar (Long-Tank) 0-4-0. You can pre-order your model of Diana, Leonora and 6 other eye-catching liveries and variants now!
Order your model now by clicking on the item below:
