It was built in 1877 at De Winton's Union Works in Caernarfon and is an example of their distinctive vertical-boilered design, used in the North Wales slate industry.
Pen-yr-orsedd leased the Penybryn tipping tramway in 1890, so for a while Chaloner may have continued to run on its original line.
Chaloner has received a new boiler fitted at Boston Lodge Works but apart from that is composed of entirely original material, making it unique among mid-Victorian locomotives.
[citation needed] The newest part is the water tank which originated on a locomotive called 'Victoria' and dates from 1897.
A replica cab was built and fitted, but it made operating conditions difficult and it was removed and placed in store after two years.