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The Coventry is an 0-6-0T tank engine it was built in 1939 by the North British Locomotive Company for the North British Railway to a Neilson Reid design at Hyde Park Works in 1939, and was part of an order for two identical locos, North British Locomotive Company No 24563 and No 24564, for Coltness Iron Co. Ltd.

In 1962, having been replaced by an ex-British Railways (Western Region) pannier tank, Coventry No 1 entered the NCB workshops at Ansley for a heavy overhaul, including fitting of a new boiler. Serving for a short time as a stationary boiler during the serve winter of 1962-63, it was eventually sent to Newdigate Colliery near Bedworth on 11 October 1963.

At Newdigate the 0-6-0T proved very popular with locomotive crews due to its power and free-steaming abilities, but was confined to the colliery yard due to its flangeless centre driving wheels. During 1965, Coventry No 1 was transferred to Haunchwood Colliery, returning to Newdigate once more in June 1967.

Due to the introduction of smokeless-zone restrictions and the arrival of diesel shunters at Newdigate, Coventry No 1 was little used and in December 1970 the loco was sold to the Quainton Railway Society. Movement to Quainton took place on 18 January 1971 and following minor attention it was used on passenger trains from October 1972.

Today the engine is at the Buckinghamshire Railway Centre.

Trivia[]

  • It appeared in Thomas and the U.K. Trip painted to resemble Thomas.
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