The Timoleague and Courtmacsherry Light Railway, opened in April 1891, was originally operated by two locomotives, both from the Leeds works of the Hunslet Engine Company, named Slaney and St. Molaga.

When delivered in 1894, the locomotive, works number 611, was typical of a type used on unfenced lines, particularly in an area where livestock is reared and the horse and cart or even the packhorse the main mode of local goods transportation.

To aid its progress around the tight track work on the line it had a rigid wheelbase of just 9 ft (2.7 m) band the centre driving wheel was without flange.

As part of the line ran alongside the road cowcatchers front and rear and side-skirts, to prevent the scaring of animals by the motion of the coupling rods and the seeping of steam from the cylinders, were also fitted.

The locomotive was basically an 0-6-0 but the axle load was lightened by the addition of a leading truck and to accommodate this the frames and footplate were extended forward by a couple of feet or so.