This locomotive was built in 1882 by Manning and Wardle & Co for Lucas-Aird and Perry and Co. This company undertook a considerable amount of railways and docks work. Projects included stretches of the Metropolitan and District Lines in London, the Royal Albert Dock, Tilbury Docks, East and West India Docks extension. In 1886 they built the second Blackfriars railway bridge.
At some time the locomotive was sold to the Air Ministry for use at RAF Kenley in Surrey. This was a base in the First World War for the Royal Flying Corps and the RAF in the Second World War. Its main active phase commenced in 1917, and ceased in 1959 when RAF Fighter Command left the aerodrome.
The locomotive moved at some time to the Ministry of Works Depot at RAF Kidbrooke in south-east London. This site operated from 1917 until 1965 and was mainly used as a stores, maintenance and training facility.
It is now on static display in the Leeds Industrial Museum.
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865 at Caerleon – August 1976 |
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865 in the Leeds Industrial Museum – July 2014 |
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