This locomotive was built in 1956 for the National Coal Board (NCB) by the Hunslet Engine Company to the design used to supply to the Ministry of Defence and is thus regarded as an Austerity type locomotive.
See LNER class J94 for details.
Wimblebury’ was delivered new to the NCB Cannock Wood Colliery near Hednesford in Staffordshire in 1956. It worked there until the early 1970s when it was withdrawn from service. The colliery close in 1973.
The locomotive was purchased privately for preservation and moved to the Foxfield Railway in September 1973. It was originally planned that it would provide spares for another engine but this was not what happened.
After being fitted with vacuum brakes Wimblebury was used regularly on the Foxfield Railway in the later 1970s. It was taken out of service and overhauled in the early 1980s after which it returned to traffic for many years.
Following this it was out of service for ten years and then after another overhaul it was back in steam in July 2017.
It was taken out of service and lifted in early 2018 in order to undertake axlebox repairs but returned to service by the middle of the year.
Preserved British Steam Locomotives 