This loco is one of two that came from I.C.I. Nobel’s Explosives, Shevington, Wigan, in January 1992. It worked at Shevington from new. It was the last loco still running on the site and was named “The Commercial” by maintenance engineers at I.C.I. It is almost a standard “20 DL” but has been “flameproofed” by fitting an “exhaust quencher” (note the large box on the rear of the loco).
The “quencher” is simply a series of chambers that the exhaust gases must pass through before being emitted. The chambers contain either water, to remove the toxic gases and most of the smoke, or fire suppressing fibres to inhibit sparks. All this allows the loco to be used more safely underground or in this case at an explosives works. The loco has been on display in the Apedale Heritage Centre since 9/7/04.
