The Corris Railway sumarised this project by saying: "Keef's have been very supportive throughout and their work exemplary." And we're so pleased that this project fulfilled all their expectations!

From concept and detailed design to final build, this long-term project saw close collaboration between the railway and Alan Keef Ltd, resulting in a fine replica of an original Corris Railway locomotive, but updated to meet the operating standards of a modern railway.

Initially debuted at our 50th Anniversary Open Day in 2022, the locomotive was then carefully dismantled before being painted and reassembled. Commissioning in September 2023 saw the locomotive enter service almost immediately to the delight of the railway's dedicated followers and fundraisers.

With many thanks to Luke Ryan for his images shown here.

The new wagon will help the railway's staff to maintain the permanent way as well as undertake other servicing work. With its low floor height, it has been designed to carry plant equipment with ease. Developed and built by Alan Keef Ltd, the wagon has a fully galvanised chassis and treated softwood deck and side boards to cope with the demands of its exposed seaside location and entered service in mid 2023.

With thanks to P. Stevens for the images of the new well-wagon in use at the railway.

Having worked with Peter Best when he acted as Project Lead for the 762 Club's build of Lyn for the Lynton & Barnstaple Railway, we were asked to undertake the partial dismantling and component restoration of 'Harry'.

Delivered to his home, the locomotive has proved to be of great interest in the village where Peter lives and whilst the future for the locomotive is yet to be finalised, work has been completed on several main components and the locomotive painted ready for whatever the next stage of its life might be.

Alongside the two carriages, we were asked to overhaul this Darjeeling and Himalayan Railway B Class replica locomotive for this 10¼" gauge railway set in the grounds of the owner's home. Each carriage was designed to comfortably seat 12 passengers as they enjoy the railway that was carefully designed and built by the owner over the last few years.

Carrying works number AK98R/17, the Tramcar incorporates components from the original vehicle (Bg/DC1647 of 1927), but is largely an all-new, traditionally constructed vehicle, faithfully replicating its 1927 condition and having been technically adapted for operation on a conventional railway. (First image courtesy of J.C.H. Faulkner.)

Award nomination

This vehicle has now formally entered service and has also been nominated for an award by the Heritage Railway Association.

Our images show the proud team that worked on the project just before the Tramcar left our Mitcheldean workshop.

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Originally manufactured in Chelmsford for use on Southend Pier, this Tramcar had been in storage for many years before we were commissioned to undertake a full cosmetic restoration and then oversee its installation as the focal point outside the City's museum.

Our images show the finishing touches being put to the tramcar before being transported from our Mitcheldean workshop to Chelmsford.

Originally built by the Avonside Engine Company in Bristol, Nancy arrived with us in need of a complete 'ground-up' restoration and was returned to Ireland in 2019. As well as full mechanical overhaul, along with the fitting of a new boiler, side-tanks, cab and bunker.

The world's first public electric railway was built in Brighton in 1883 offering a service along the seafront. Now council owned, the railway needed significant investment to secure its future. With Heritage Lottery Funding, three of the original Tramcars were completely rebuilt, retaining as many original components as possible. This highly successful project was completed in 2017 when the Tramcars were returned and entered service on this iconic railway.

Built for the North Wales Narrow Gauge Railways, but most famously associated with the original Welsh Highland Railway, Russell is now based at the Welsh Highland Heritage Railway in Porthmadog.

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HRA award-winning

Working closely with Lyn's specialist designers and the 762 Club Ltd, this Heritage Railway Association award-winning locomotive entered service at Woody Bay in 2017.

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Rescued from two separate locations around the world, these two small, metre gauge steam locomotives have now been restored back to full working order. The restoration was undertaken with a very specific eye to conservation of original material wherever practical. Now housed in a private museum, the engines form part of a much larger collection of Continental metre gauge equipment. The OEG wagons form part of the same collection.

Upwards of 18 ex-OEG Tramway wagons have now been fully restored, many from derelict condition, to the highest possible conservation standard whilst still meeting current German operational standards.

Exacting standards

Work on these four-wheel and bogie wagons is on-going and is undertaken by a dedicated team of craftsmen at our second manufacturing site, which allows the team to concentrate on the attention to detail required by this exacting collector.

The hotel was being created in the footprint of an original Burma Railways head office building in Yangon and the hotel owners wanted to remain faithful to the building's heritage by displaying a locomotive outside, along with a traditional carriage. Further railwayana was identified to help create an exhibition of the hotel's heritage.

Extensive travel throughout the railway network took place before the right engine was located. Once the locomotive had been secured by the hotel, a detailed restoration project started and, as the engine was not allowed to leave the country, a workshop was set up in Yangon and a team recruited to undertake the restoration work.

Sadly the project came to a premature end, not only with the start of the Covid pandemic but also due to the escalating political situation in Myanmar. The hotel project has been completely mothballed and everyone concerned watched the unfolding situation with great sadness and concern for the many friends made during the course of the project.

The Groudle Glen Railway was restored at this time and we worked with the them to provide track materials, wheel sets and the creation of a replica of the original 'Polar Bear' battery-electric locomotive that had operated on the railway in the early 1930s.

Steamplex story

The vertical boiler shown with 'Polar Bear' is our own house locomotive 'Taffy' when it took its holiday on the Isle of Man. The other vertical boiler locomotive is the unique 'Steamplex'. Conceived in a pub, we were approached to bring the design to life and, working from a Simplex chassis and a collection of appropriate components, we created something never seen before! The locomotive ran successfully at Groudle Glen for several years. A fun project all round!

Located close to our own workshops, Perrygrove has often acted as a host to new equipment on trial prior to despatch to our customers. The Perrygrove Railway winds its way from the station uphill, through the woods to Oak Iron Terminus where passengers can alight and enjoy a picnic and the children's play area.

Most recently in early 2022, we have worked with the team at Perrygrove to realign and relay two significant complex curved sections of track. Each rail section was individually curved on site to ensure the most accurate and smooth alignment possible.

This locomotive remained operational on the West Clare railway right up to its closure in 1961. It was subsequently placed on a plinth in Ennis where it inevitably deteriorated.

From its plinth back to the rails

As part of the plan to restore the original railway, the locomotive was sent to us for full restoration which included the fitting of a new boiler and major mechanical repairs.

Originally built for Trentham Gardens and subsequently used at Alton Towers, this locomotive now operates in Scotland and has been subject to a complete mechanical and cosmetic restoration.

These locomotives are possibly the most recognisable that were used by the Allies on the Western Front during WW1. Subsequently exported to an Indian sugar mill, this Baldwin was returned to the UK in a totally worn out condition. A full 'ground-up' restoration was undertaken for the Greensand Railway Museum Trust to return the locomotive to steam for operation on the LBLR.

The earliest railways in the UK are faithfully reproduced at the Pockerley Wagonway at the museum. Alan Keef Ltd are immensely proud to have played a substantial part in the manufacure of the two replica locomotives that date from the dawn of railways.

Creating the impossible

No drawings existed of their deign, in fact, the only reference point for the Steam Elephant was a contemporary painting. Extensive research, working from primary sources, and with specialist designers, both engines faithfully reproduce the appearance of the originals whilst being fully operationally compliant in the 21st century. That this project was conceived, let alone brought to life, is a testament to the dedication and skill of everyone involved and to this day stands out as a particular high point of railway restoration work and in our own company's history.

Originally brought to us for restoration, we subsequently bought the locomotive and its been working hard for us on site, especially at the major track laying project for Leighton Buzzard Light Railway, where there was a need to move materials along the completed track. Sue is a 40SD Simplex locomotive.

Alan Keef Ltd completely rebuilt a Simplex T-Series locomotive to make it more appropriate for operation at Fintown. A new bogie carriage was also supplied as part of the completed train.

Taking over an existing project, Alan Keef Ltd created this practical, hard working locomotive which now undertakes the lion's share of the day-to-day operation on this attractive railway.

An Irish Government, millennium project, we undertook all of the historic research required to produce both a practically operational, as well as visually faithful replica of this unique railway system.

The scope of our work included the locomotives, two carriages and the highly complicated track infrastructure! 

Styled as a Leak and Manifold railway locomotive, the overhaul included fitting of new, high performance piston valve cylinders and a redesigned front-end draughting with LemPor blast nozzles.

Working well

This locomotive now handles ten-carriage trains on the Bure Valley Railway in Norfolk.

These bogies feature a traditionally riveted frame construction, as per the originals, but incorporate modern, roller-bearing axle boxes to offer low maintenance.