This is the last fireless locomotive built by W G Bagnall. It was ordered in December 1955 by English Clays Lovering Pochin Co. Ltd. and delivered in May 1957 to their Marsh Mills Drying Works at Plympton in Devon.
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 china clays drying works at Marsh Mills was served by sidings reached by a steeply graded line from the BR Plymouth to Yelverton branch line and produced clay extracted from Lee Moor.
The locomotive was acquired for preservation by the Cornish Steam Locomotive Preservation Society at some time. The society initially had a site at Bugle on the Par-Newquay branch before moving all of their stock to the Bodmin & Wenford Railway in 1986.
I do not know the when the locomotive was taken out of service at Plympton or its subsequent movements although I do know it was stored at the Bodmin & Wenford Railway at some time.
The locomotive is now stored at the Plym Valley Railway near Plymouth.
Preserved British Steam Locomotives 