Lister Blackstone Shunter | 52886 | Twyford Waterworks | 06/10/24

52886, a Lister Blackstone Shunter that has recently been overhauled at Twyford Waterworks, has finally returned to service and currently operates on some of the short sections of track around the Chalk Quarry during the Autumn Rally at Twyford Waterworks. This locomotive was built in 1962 for use by the engineering company Painter Brothers in Hereford, being used to move materials around their stockyard and factory. Heavy steel plates were added at either end to protect both the locomotive and the driver. In 1974 it was presented to the Waterworks Museum at Hereford and initially ran on their passenger railway but in later years saw little use. As an excellent example of cooperation between museums, the Waterworks Museum at Hereford has kindly lent this locomotive to The Twyford Waterworks Trust, and it arrived here in February 2012. The loan was extended in 2022 to allow for the locomotive to be fully overhauled here at Twyford so that it can take a turn at operating on our open days.