# Alan Keef Ltd

Alan Keef Ltd is a British narrow gauge railway engineering company which manufactures, overhauls, and deals in narrow gauge locomotives, rolling stock and associated equipment.

## History

The limited company was formed in 1975 at Cote, Bampton, Oxfordshire, continuing what Alan Keef had already been doing for some years as an individual. The first new locomotive was built in 1976.
In 1986 the company moved to larger premises at Lea, near Ross-on-Wye in Herefordshire. In 1987 it took over the production of Motor Rail locomotives.

## Production

As of 2008, the company had built more than eighty locomotives – steam, diesel and electric. Most have been miniature or narrow gauge except for two standard gauge steam locomotives for Beamish Museum: the replicas of "Steam Elephant" and "Puffing Billy". In 2008 the company built the frames, running gear and mechanical parts for two Parry People Mover railcars for use on the Stourbridge Town branch (139001 and 139002). A number of Alan Keef's locomotives are replicas of steam locomotives but with diesel power. These are referred to as steam outline (s/o) in the listing below.
In addition to the replicas for Beamish, the company has also helped restore a number of historically significant engines including both UK preserved Baldwin Class 10-12-D locomotives – No. 778 – which now works at Leighton Buzzard Light Railway and more recently No 794 (referred to as No 590) from the Welsh Highland Heritage Railway. However, this project was eventually paused and the WHHR moved the locomotive to the Vale of Rheidol's Aberystwyth workshops for completion in 2020.
During the annual Open Day in September at the company's premises, the company welcomes the public to see and ride examples of rail equipment brought by visiting exhibitors, and its own in-house rail equipment, on the facility's tracks, which accommodate rolling stock of 3 feet 6 inches (1067 millimetres), 3 feet 0 inches (914 millimetres), 2 feet 6 inches (762 millimetres), 2 feet 0 inches (610 millimetres) and 10+1⁄4 inches (260 millimetres) gauges.

## New and rebuilt locomotives

| Works No. | Plated Year | Number/ name | Wheel arrangement | Gauge | Class | To | Notes |
| 1 | 1974 | "Trixie" | 0-4-0ST OC | 2 ft (610 mm) | Trixie | First steamed at Cote on 05/09/1974, sold to Meirion Mill Railway in January 1975. Returned to Alan Keef in 1976 and resold to Rail Rebecq in Belgium where it was renamed "Paula". Now located at the Tacot des Lacs railway in France. | Alan Keef Ltd did not build Trixie, though they were involved in the design. The builder was Trevor Barber, former manager of the Whipsnade and Umfolozi Railway. |
| 2 | 1976 | Skippy | 4wDM | 2 ft (610 mm) | Motorised skip wagon | Richardson's Moss Litter Co. Ltd | |
| 3 | 1978 | | | 2 ft 6 in (762 mm) | | Richardson's Moss Litter Co. Ltd | Rebuilt from AK 2 |
| 4 | 1979 | | 4wDM | 2 ft (610 mm) | | Wilmslow Peat Farm; donated to Moseley Railway Trust, 2020 | Available for service on Apedale Valley Light Railway |
| 5 | 1979 | | 4wDM | 2 ft (610 mm) | | William Sinclair Horticulture Ltd, now at The Highland Light Railway | Out of Use |
| 6 | 1981 | | 4wDM | 2 ft (610 mm) | | Private Location | |
| 7 | 1982 | BARBIE | 4wDM | 21 in (533 mm) | | Pleasure Beach Railway, Blackpool | |
| 8 | 1982 | T2 SALLY | 4wDH | 2 ft (610 mm) | | William Sinclair Horticulture Ltd | Out of Use |
| 9 | 1982 | | 4wDH | 2 ft (610 mm) | | Leemspoor Narrow Gauge Museum, Netherlands | |
| 10 | 1983 | 5 ALISON | 4wDH | 2 ft (610 mm) | | Gartell Light Railway | |
| 11 | 1984 | IVOR | 4wDH steam outline | 2 ft (610 mm) | | Thorpe Park | Treasure Island Railway closed 1993 |
| 12 | 1984 | SIR GEORGE | 4wDH steam outline | 2 ft (610 mm) | | Greenlea Light Railway | |
| 13R | 1984 | | 4wDH | 15 in (381 mm) | Ruston & Hornsby 452280 rebuilt | Evesham Vale Light Railway | |
| 14 | 1984 | | 4wDH steam outline | 2 ft (610 mm) | | John Redden's Scrapyard, Wellingborough | |
| 15 | 1984 | | 4wDH | 2 ft (610 mm) | | India | |
| 16 | 1985 | WEASEL | 0-6-0DH steam outline | 10+1⁄4 in (260 mm) | Replica of Wisbech & Upwell Tramway locomotive | Wells & Walsingham Light Railway | |
| 17 | 1985 | 3 | 0-4-0DH steam outline | 2 ft (610 mm) | | Cotswold Wildlife Park Railway | |
| 18 | 1985 | 05 581 | 4wDH | 2 ft (610 mm) | | William Sinclair Horticulture Ltd | |
| 19 | 1985 | JEFFREY | 4wDH | 2 ft (610 mm) | | William Sinclair Horticulture Ltd | |
| 20R | 1986 | | 4wDM | 2 ft (610 mm) | Ruston & Hornsby 283513 rebuilt | William Sinclair Horticulture Ltd, now at The Highland Light Railway | Dismantled |
| 21 | 1987 | 05/582 | 4wDH | 2 ft 6 in (762 mm) | | Chemring Energetics UK Ltd | |
| 22 | 1987 | 05/583 | 4wDH | 2 ft 6 in (762 mm) | | Chemring Energetics UK Ltd | |
| 23 | 1988 | 3 JACK | 0-4-0DH steam outline | 2 ft (610 mm) | | East Hayling Light Railway | |
| 24 | 1988 | | DH | 2 ft (610 mm) | U-series | Kyung Dong Coal Mine, Korea | |
| 25 | 1988 | | DH | 2 ft (610 mm) | U-series | Kyung Dong Coal Mine, Korea | |
| 26 | 1988 | | 4wDM | 2 ft (610 mm) | 40SD | William Sinclair Horticulture Ltd | Out of use |
| 27 | 1988 | | Bo'Bo'-DH | 9+1⁄2 in (241 mm) | | J. Hall-Craggs | |
| 28 | 1989 | T9 | 4wDM | 2 ft (610 mm) | 40S | West Fife Munitions Railway | |
| 29 | 1988 | | | 3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm) | 60S | Nigeria | |
| 30 | 1990 | "Taffy" | 0-4-0VBT VC | 2 ft (610 mm) | | Alan Keef | De Winton replica |
| 31 | Chassis (AKL) 1990 Body, Tender and Mechanical (RVM) 2012 | Princess Swee' Pea | 0-6-0DH steam outline | 10+1⁄4 in (260 mm) | | Hastings Miniature Railway | Substantially reconstructed; currently out of action at Bickington Steam Railway |
| 32 | 1990 | | 4wDMF | 2 ft (610 mm) | | Nigerian Coal Corporation | |
| 33 | 1990 | | 4wDMF | 2 ft (610 mm) | | Nigerian Coal Corporation | |
| 34 | 1991 | | 0-4-0TDH steam outline | 2 ft (610 mm) | | Singapore Zoo Railway | Garden ornament |
| 35 | 1991 | | 4-4-0DH steam outline | 2 ft (610 mm) | | Singapore Zoo Railway | |
| 36 | 1990 | | | 3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm) | 60S | Nigeria | |
| 37 | 1990 | | | 3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm) | 85S | Chemicals & Fertilisers of Port Harcourt, Nigeria | |
| 38 | 1991 | "Trijntje" | 0-4-0T OC | 600 mm (1 ft 11+5⁄8 in) | | De Efteling B.V. | Efteling Steam Train Company |
| 39 | 1992 | SIR WINSTON CHURCHILL | 0-6-2DH steam outline | 15 in (381 mm) | | Blenheim Park Railway | |
| 40 | 1992 | | 4wDH | 2 ft (610 mm) | | AKL Hire Loco | |
| 41 | 1992 | | 0-6-2DH steam outline | 15 in (381 mm) | | Haigh Railway | |
| 42 | 1992 | | 0-6-2DH steam outline | 15 in (381 mm) | | | |
| 43 | 1992 | | | 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+3⁄8 in) | 60SP | Guyana Sugar Corporation | |
| 44 | 1993 | | 4wDH | 3 ft (914 mm) | | Peatlands Park Railway | |
| 45 | 1993 | | 4wDH | 2 ft (610 mm) | | India | |
| 46 | 1993 | | 4wDH | 2 ft (610 mm) | | Woodhead Tunnel; donated to Moseley Railway Trust | For service on Apedale Valley Light Railway |
| 47 | 1994 | T5 SANDRA | 4wDH | 2 ft (610 mm) | | West Fife Munitions Railway | |
| 48 | 1994 | | 4wDH | 2 ft (610 mm) | | TPC, Moshi, Tanzania | |
| 49 | 1994 | | 4wDH | 2 ft (610 mm) | | John Muir Country Park Railway | |
| 50 | 1994 | | 4wDH | 2 ft (610 mm) | | India | |
| 51 | 1995 | | 0-6-2DH steam outline | 15 in (381 mm) | | Cricket St Thomas Railway | |
| 52 | 1996 | PAM | 0-4-0DH | 15 in (381 mm) | | Wotton Light Railway | |
| 53 | 1997 | | | 2 ft (610 mm) | Rail Lorry | Sub-contracted from Severn Lamb, delivered to Dream World, Cairo Egypt | |
| 54 | 1998 | DENSIL | 0-6-0DH steam outline | 10+1⁄4 in (260 mm) | | Wells Harbour Railway | |
| 55 | 1998 | | 4wDH | 3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm) | | Walton Water Treatment Works Scrapped December 2010 | |
| 56 | 2000 | | | 600 mm (1 ft 11+5⁄8 in) | K80 tram | Rainforest Ecological Train, Iguazu Falls, Argentina | |
| 57 | 2000 | | | 600 mm (1 ft 11+5⁄8 in) | K80 tram | Rainforest Ecological Train, Iguazu Falls, Argentina | |
| 58 | 1999 | CHARLES | 0-6-0DH steam outline | 10+1⁄4 in (260 mm) | | Ferry Meadows Railway, Peterborough | |
| 59R | 1999 | 80 BEAUDESERT | 4wDH | 2 ft (610 mm) | Motor Rail 101T018 | Leighton Buzzard Light Railway | |
| 60 | 2000 | Edward Milner | 0-6-0DH | 12+1⁄4 in (311 mm) | | Buxton Miniature Railway | |
| 61 | 2000 | SIR WALTER RALEIGH | 0-4-0DM steam outline | 18 in (457 mm) | | Bicton Woodland Railway | |
| 62 | 2002 | 4 | 0-2-0+1wDH | Lartigue Monorail | | Listowel & Ballybunion Railway | |
| 63 | 2001 | JAMES GORDON | 0-4-0DH steam outline | 2 ft (610 mm) | | Alford Valley Railway | |
| 64 | 2001 | POMPEY | B-B DH | 15 in (381 mm) | | Wotton Light Railway | |
| 65 | 2001 | MARGAM CASTLE | 0-4-0DH steam outline | 2 ft (610 mm) | | Margam Country Park Railway | |
| 66 | 2002 | 2 THE EARL OF OAKFIELD | 0-4-0DH | 15 in (381 mm) | | Difflin Lake Railway | |
| 67 | 2003 | | 4wBE | 2 ft (610 mm) | | Morwellham Quay | |
| 68 | 2003 | 4 BELLA | 0-4-0DH steam outline | 2 ft (610 mm) | | Cotswold Wildlife Park Railway | |
| 69R | 2003 | 9 MARK TIMOTHY | 2-6-4T OC | 15 in (381 mm) | Winson 20 rebuilt | Bure Valley Railway | |
| 70 | 2004 | LADY ALEXANDRA | 0-4-0DH steam outline | 20 in (508 mm) | | Great Woburn Railway | |
| 71 | 2004 | "PUFFING BILLY" | 4wG VC | 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge | Replica of 1813 locomotive | Beamish Museum | |
| 72R | 2004 | 313 POLAR BEAR | 4wBE | 2 ft (610 mm) | Wingrove & Rogers 5568001 rebuilt | Groudle Glen Railway | |
| 73 | 2005 | | 0-6-0DH | 12+1⁄4 in (311 mm) | | Private owner, north Devon; later Statfold Barn Railway | |
| 74 | 2005 | HOWARD | 0-6-0DH steam outline | 10+1⁄4 in (260 mm) | | Wells Harbour Railway | |
| 75R | 2007 | 2 BICTON | 4wDH | 18 in (457 mm) | Ruston & Hornsby 213839 rebuilt | Bicton Woodland Railway; later Waltham Abbey Royal Gunpowder Mills | Store |
| 76 | 2006 | 15001 | 0-4-0DM s/o | 600 mm (1 ft 11+5⁄8 in) | | Lithuanian Railways, Ignalina, now at Vilnius Railway Museum | |
| 77 | 2007 | LYDIA | 2-6-2T OC | 15 in (381 mm) | | Perrygrove Railway | |
| 78R | 2007 | 6 | 4wDH | 3 ft (914 mm) | Motor rail 102T007 rebuilt | Difflin Lake Railway | |
| 79 | 2007 | 7 FLYNN | 0-6-0DH | 15 in (381 mm) | | Longleat Railway | |
| 80 | 2007 | BORIS | 0-6-0DH | 10+1⁄4 in (260 mm) | | Hotham Park Miniature Railway | |
| 81 | 2008 | 139001 | British Rail Class 139 | 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) | | Parry People Movers for West Midlands Trains | |
| 82 | 2008 | 139002 | British Rail Class 139 | 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) | | Parry People Movers for West Midlands Trains | |
| 83 | 2008 | ERIC | 0-6-0DH | 10+1⁄4 in (260 mm) | | Lappa Valley Steam Railway | |
| 84 | 2008 | SIR PETER GADSDEN | 4wBE | 2 ft (610 mm) | | Blists Hill Victorian Town | |
| 85R | 2010 | BUNTY | 2-6-0T+T OC | 15 in (381 mm) | Construction started by Neville Smith and Sid Ford. completed by Alan Keef Ltd. | Heatherslaw Light Railway | |
| 86 | 2010 | MERLIN | 0-4-0DH | 2 ft (610 mm) | | Wicksteed Park Railway | |
| 87 | 2009 | Claus | 4wBE | 600 mm (1 ft 11+5⁄8 in) | | Mønsted Kalkgruber | K20E type |
| 88 | 2009 | Svend | 4wBE | 600 mm (1 ft 11+5⁄8 in) | | Mønsted Kalkgruber | K20E type |
| 89 | 2010 | No 1 Eagle/Helang | 4wBE Railcar | 5 ft (1,524 mm) | | Brunei Liquid Natural Gas | |
| 90 | 2010 | No 2 Sparrow/Layang-Layang | 4wBE Railcar | 5 ft (1,524 mm) | | Brunei Liquid Natural Gas | |
| 91 | 2022 | Corris No. 10 | 0-4-2ST | 2 ft 3 in (686 mm) | Replica of Corris Railway "Falcon" locomotive | Corris Railway | Under construction in 2018, a replica of one of the Corris Railway's original Hughes locomotives. |
| 92 | 2012 | E762 LYN | 2-4-2T | 600 mm (1 ft 11+5⁄8 in) | "Lyn" Replica | Lynton & Barnstaple Railway | Various components and final assembly of replica of 1898 Baldwin loco |
| 93R | 2013 | "STEAMPLEX" | 4wVBT | 2 ft (610 mm) | Motor Rail 5877 rebuilt | Groudle Glen Railway | |
| 94 | 2013 | Winston | 0-6-0DH | 15 in (381 mm) | | Blenheim Park Railway operating in the grounds of Blenheim Palace, in Oxfordshire, England. | |
| 95 | 2014 | THE DUKE | 0-6-0DH | 10+1⁄4 in (260 mm) | | Wells Harbour Railway | |
| 96R | 2015 | CUMBRIA | 4wBE | 2 ft (610 mm) | Rebuilt and regauged from Clayton B4227B/2006. | South Tynedale Railway | |
| 97 | 2016 | | 0-6-0DH | 12+1⁄4 in (311 mm) | | Ree Park – Ebeltoft Safari, Denmark | |
| 98R | 2021 | | 4wDMRDM | 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) | | Isle of Wight Steam Railway | |
| 99 | 2018 | VER 4 | | 2 ft 8+1⁄2 in (825 mm) | Extensive rebuild of the original car. | Volk's Electric Railway | |
| 100 | 2017 | Arthur | 0-6-0DH(so) | 12+1⁄4 in (311 mm) | | Wellington Country Park, Reading | |
| 101R | 2018 | VER 6 | | 2 ft 8+1⁄2 in (825 mm) | Extensive rebuild of the original car. | Volk's Electric Railway | |
| 102R | 2018 | VER 10 | | 2 ft 8+1⁄2 in (825 mm) | Extensive rebuild of the original car. | Volk's Electric Railway | |
| 103 | 2018 | HOWARD | 0-6-0DH | 10+1⁄4 in (260 mm) | | Beale Park | |
| 104 | 2018 | 8 JOHN THYNN | B-B DH | 15 in (381 mm) | | Longleat Railway | |
| 105 | 2019 | | B DH | 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+3⁄8 in) | | Centre de Culture Scientifique, Technique et Industriel, Beauport, Grande-Terre, Guadeloupe | |
| 106 | 2020 | | Bo-Bo BE | 15 in (381 mm) | | Sonoma TrainTown, California | |
| 107 | 2020 | | 4wDM | 2 ft (610 mm) | AK40 type | Pakistan | |
| 108 | 2020 | | 4wDM | 2 ft (610 mm) | AK40 type | Pakistan | |
| 109 | 2021 | | | 10+1⁄4 in (260 mm) | | | |
| 110 | 2021 | Jill | 0-4-2BE | 10+1⁄4 in (260 mm) | | Delamont Miniature Railway | |
| 111 | 2021 | | 4wBE | 2 ft (610 mm) | | Morwellham Quay | |
| 112 | 2021 | 9 HENRY THYNN | B-B DH | 15 in (381 mm) | | Longleat Railway | |
| 113 | 2023 | tba | B-B DH | 15 in (381 mm) | | Lappa Valley Railway | [36] [37] |
| 60SD757 | 1986 | | | 3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm) | 60S | Ghana Bauxite | Ordered by Ghana Bauxite from Simplex Mechanical Handling Ltd but delivered by Alan Keef Ltd. |
| 40SD530 | 1987 | | 4wDM | 2 ft 8+1⁄2 in (825 mm) | Motor Rail 40S | Volks Electric Railway | Originally for Butterley Building Materials Ltd, ordered by them from Simplex Mechanical Handling Ltd but delivered by Alan Keef Ltd. |
| M001 | 1988 | | 2a-2DH | Monorail | | Mrs. Whites Garden Ltd, Wiltshire | |
| M002 | 1989 | M002 IVOR | 2a-2DH | Monorail | Skip wagon | Alan Keef Ltd | Stored |
| M003 | 1989 | | 2a-2DH | Monorail | Skip wagon | Alan Keef Ltd | Stored |
| | 1977 | PW 3 REDGAUNTLET | 4wPM | 15 in (381 mm) | | Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch Railway | Originally built by Michael Jacot, rebuilt on new frames 1976. |
| | 1979 | "Thomas" | 4wVBG | 2 ft (610 mm) | | Telford Development Corporation | Frames built by Kierstead Systems & Controls; boiler and steam engine by Peter Bridges; wheelsets by Allens of Tipton; bodywork and final assembly by Keef. To Telford Horsehay Steam Trust c.1987 |
| | 1988 | | 4wDM | 2 ft (610 mm) | Motor rail 9932 rebuilt | Chilmark Mine & Teffont Quarry | |
| | 1988 | 8 | | 2 ft (610 mm) | Baguley 2w-2DM Railcar | Leighton Buzzard Light Railway | Rebuild of railcar to unpowered carriage. |
| | 1993 | 1 DROMAD | 0-4-2T OC | 3 ft (914 mm) | Kerr Stuart 3024 rebuilt | Cavan & Leitrim Railway | |
| | 1995 | | 2w-2DHR | 3 ft (914 mm) | Drewry Cars 1495 rebuilt | Cavan & Leitrim Railway | |
| | 2001 | STEAM ELEPHANT | 6wG | 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge | Joint construction with Dorothea Restorations, replica of Steam Elephant. | Beamish Museum | |
| | 2004 | COL. FREDERICK WYLIE | 4wDH | 2 ft (610 mm) | Hunslet 9349 rebuilt | Beeches Light Railway | Line being reconstructed at new location |
| | 2004 | 3 ENTERPRISE | 4wDH | 3 ft (914 mm) | Motor rail 60S382 rebuilt | Waterford & Suir Valley Railway | |
| | 2019 | Nancy | 0-6-0T | 3 ft (914 mm) | Avonside 1547 of 1908. Rebuilt between 1999 and 2019 | Cavan and Leitrim Railway | |