55 “Cortina”, Lister Blackstone 52528 of 1961

This locomotive was delivered new to Smithbrook Brickworks (1936) Ltd, who employed it at their Cranleigh brickworks in Surrey. The works closed in 1964, but lay derelict for some years; the loco lingered until May 1968, when it moved north to Wrington Vale Nurseries (Buxton) Ltd. Despite the name, the loco actually worked at Wilmslow in Cheshire. This was the same peat works on Lindow Moss which also employed nos.4 and 5. The site regularly changed names, being known succesively as Country Kitchen Foods, Middlebrook Mushrooms and latterly as Croghan Peat. This locomotive was never preferred at Lindow, and photographs of it working are scarce. It was put to one side during the 1980s, and progressively donated parts to keep the other Lister loco (no.5) operating, losing wheels, engine and gearbox in the process. Along with nos. 4 and 5, the remains of LB52528 moved to Apedale, arriving on 24 June 2020.

A rare photo of LB52528 in action during 1982