This locomotive was acquired by the NCB from the War Department in 1963, and worked thereafter at Comrie Colliery, Fife. This is a standard World War Two austerity design of locomotive.
The boiler smokebox is fitted with a Giesl ejector to improve steaming and to allow poor quality coal to be used.
Only recently introduced into service at Bo’ness after a major overhaul, but already a popular favourite, the locomotive has been given its War Department number 75254 and a livery to match that worn when she was originally supplied to the MOD. Railways were important to the war effort at home and abroad during World War 2, and the Ministry of Supply developed three “Austerity” standard designs to suit the circumstances. Between 1943 and 1946, 377 were built, and 75 of these locomotives passed to British Railways at the end of the War. Others were absorbed into industrial service, while further examples were built into the 1950s. There are four examples of Austerity locomotives at Bo’ness, all formerly used by the NCB in Scotland.
