99 Ruston & Hornsby 191658 of 1938

Very little is currently known of the early years of this locomotive. Its first recorded location was with Lytham St. Annes Borough Council who were known to have had the loco at a depot in the 1960s. It next appeared at the railway operated by DSF Refractories Ltd at their Friden works near Newhaven in the Peak District where it worked alongside Ruston & Hornsby 237913 of 1946 (MRT fleet No. 30). June 1982 saw the loco to move to the Welsh Highland Railway (1964) Ltd in Porthmadog (today’s Welsh Highland Heritage Railway). In August 1991, it left Porthmadog and its history after that time is rather confused, but it was with a private individual (Mr Quentin) in Herefordshire for a time. Most recently, the loco was in store near Whaley Bridge before arriving at Apedale on 11 July 2018.

Restoration is now well advanced on the loco, and is now in operable condition. Better wheelsets were sourced, the gearbox has been rebuilt, including replacement of the final drive shaft and the reversing box input shaft. The frame has received significant attention as parts resembled a doily and the majority of the mounting studs were seized in and corroded. The main remaining activity is to complete the bodywork.