This locomotive was built by Peckett & Sons at Bristol in 1955and was the only fireless locomotive ever built at the Atlas Works. It cost £4,760.
| Wheel diameter | 2ft 9in |
| Wheelbase | 5ft 3in |
| Cylinders | 12in x 18in |
| Pressure | Charged – 160psi Working – 60psi |
| Weight in working order | 20 tons |
| Tractive effort | 4,006lbf |
It was a fireless locomotive which means that it had a steam accumulator rather than a boiler and was charged up with steam from a stationary boiler. It also meant that there was no chance of it starting a fire. The locomotive could operate for up to two hours between steam charges.
It was delivered new the CWS Irlam Soap, Candle and Starch works and spent its entire working life there. CWS at Irlam had a number of Peckett locomotives (works numbers 1530, 2130 and 2130 have been preserved) which is why they ordered a fireless locomotive from Peckett rather than Andrew Barclay who made quite a lot of them.
Unlike other fireless locomotives the cylinders were quite small which coupled with the fact that it had Stephenson valve gear which was less economical with the use of steam resulted in the locomotive being underpowered.
An attempt was made to improve the locomotives efficiency by converting it to run on compressed air. This was done by mounting a contractor’s type air compressor on a flat truck. Whilst this configuration worked better than might be anticipated working on the steep gradients proved to be a major problem.
An attempt to sell the locomotive for £250 was made but there were no buyers.
It was taken out of service in 1969 when the works closed. It was then presented to the local council who displayed it in the George Thomas Recreation Ground in Irlam.
When the park was redeveloped the locomotive was earmarked for scrap but was salvaged by the Irlam and Cadishead Community Committee and the Rotary Club of Irlam.
It was then cosmetically restored and moved to a new site next to the A57 Cadishead bypass in 2005. It remains on static display there.
Preserved British Steam Locomotives 