This loco was delivered new to the Eclipse Peat company in Somerset. This company harvested peat using an extensive network of 24 inch gauge railways (see MRT publication “Picking Processing and Packing of Peat”). This was Eclipse no.2. The locomotive has been both re-engined and fitted with a new hydraulic transmission in place of the original Lister units. It seems likely that this re-engineering was carried out at Eclipse Peat.
In 1983, the loco moved to Country Kitchen Foods Ltd at Lindow Moss (see nos.4 and 55).
This was always the “preferred” locomotive in use at Lindow Moss – the Keef (no.4) seems only to have been used when LB50888 was indisposed for some reason. There are many photos and videos showing the loco hauling (or pushing) three or four wooden wagons through a rural landscape which belied the location being on the outskirts of Wilmslow and under the flight path to Manchester airport.
Along with nos. 4 and 55, this loco came to Apedale, arriving on site on 24 June 2020.