This locomotive was built by Sentinel in 1927 and it is believed to be the oldest original example of a Sentinel locomotive. There are earlier built locomotives, but these were not built from new by Sentinel who rebuilt them from engines manufactured earlier by other constructers.
It was delivered new to British Tar Products at Irlam, near Manchester where it worked until it was taken out of service around 1969.
The locomotive started its life in preservation at the Embsay & Bolton Abbey Steam Railway in 1969 where it lay derelict until during the 1980’s when an attempt was made to restore it. The attempted restoration was undertaken by a school metalwork teacher took it to the school as a project for the his pupils. When the pupils left school the locomotive returned to the E&BASR in a partly restored state.
In 1995 Ian Douglas, the railway’s Treasurer, took on the task of restoring the locomotive which resulted in it being steamed again in 1998.
After that it was used in winter to provide a source of carriage heating in the mornings. It was well suited to this task as it can raise steam in forty-five minutes from cold or about fifteen minutes if the fire was lit the night before.
The locomotive has taken on the identity of a Sentinel locomotive which operated on the LMS as number 7164.
The locomotive was out of service awaiting on an overhaul at the Embsay & Bolton Abbey Steam Railway for some time before a change in ownership resulted in the locomotive moving to the East Lancashire Railway in July 2020.
Just a few days after arriving at Bury the boiler was removed from the locomotive as part of what a rapid overhaul. The locomotive lost its fake LMS livery and gained an authentic deep bronze green British Tar Product guise. It is planned that the locomotive will be used on light duties such as brake van rides following its overhaul.
Six months after the locomotives arrival at Bury the locomotive steamed again in February 2021. A successful boiler test at the start of the following month resulted in the engine being issued with a new boiler certificate.
Preserved British Steam Locomotives 