51218 (L&YR 68, LMS 11218 & BR 51218)

The locomotive was built at Horwich in 1901.

BR motive power depot allocations since 1948.

Date Arrived	Depot
January 1948	Preston
September 1950	Monument Lane
December 1950	Crewe South
July 1953	Preston
October 1953	Crewe South
December 1958	Bank Hall
February 1959	Widnes
September 1959	Bristol Barrow Road
February 1961	Stored
December 1961	Bristol Barrow Road
March 1962	Stored
December 1962	Swansea East Dock
June 1964	Neath

51218 was withdrawn from service in September 1964 whilst at Neath after having been overhauled at Horwich in the previous year.

A group of enthusiasts, members of the Roche Valley Railway Society (RVRS) and mainly from Rochdale set their sights on preserving a L&Y engine. Initially the L&Y Radial 50850, which was used on the Rail tour of 1960 above, was considered. However, this engine at the time proved out of reach financially. So, a less expensive engine became the target and a Pug Fund was set up to purchase L&Y 0-4-0 Saddletank number 51218. Finally, enough money was obtained to secure the purchase. An additional cost was incurred as the engine had finished its days on BR at Neath MPD in South Wales.

It was brought back to Yorkshire by road and arrived at The Keighley and Worth Valley Railway (KWVR) in 1965. It was the first engine to arrive at Haworth.

51218 has spent about two and a half years away from the KWVR. After working enthusiasts’ excursions in Rochdale and Manchester in 1969 it was loaned for two periods to Messrs. Brown & Polson at Trafford Park, Manchester whilst their own locomotive was under repair.

The locomotive was re-tubed in 1974 and took part in the Stockton & Darlington Railway cavalcade that year.

The mid-1990s saw the first major overhaul since 1963, taking place at Haworth and the East Lancashire Railway, with a return to steam in late 1997 as 51218 complete with a replacement saddletank. The boiler tubes lasted well beyond the expected 5 years and were eventually condemned in early 2006, and now 51218 will not run again until the boiler has had a 10 year overhaul.

The locomotive was cosmetically restored in 2018.

It is intended that the next restoration to steam will be undertaken as a voint venture between the owners and the KWVR.