Page 2 - Introduction

This Website is based on, and inspired by, the four booklets which were produced by the Warwickshire Railway Society between 1966 and 1969 covering Industrial Steam Locomotives which were still operating in England & Wales at that Time. Much research was carried out at the time including visits to many industrial locations to both verify information gathered from a number or sources and to photograph what was seen. The W.R.S. organised many official visits to a number of industrial locations which are now covered by this website. Unless stated otherwise all photos were taken by the webmaster, David Cooke who was personally involved together with Bob Evans, Roger Hickman & Robin Jones in producing the original booklets and the formation of W.I.L.P.G. (see below).

Following a visit by W.R.S. Members to Rugby Cement Works in late February 1966 and the subsequent publication of the first booklet 'Industrial Steam Locomotives of Central England' the WRS was offered the chance to purchase (for only £150) 0-6-0ST MW2047. This offer, which was gladly accepted, led to the formation of the Warwickshire Industrial Locomotive Preservation Group in early 1967 and the movement of the locomotive to Bridgnorth on the Severn Valley Railway in October 1967.

By co-incidence, following the publication of the fourth booklet 'Industrial Locomotives of Lancashire, Yorkshire & Cheshire' in early 1969 W.I.L.P.G. was offered the chance to purchase a second locomotive (for £250) 0-6-0T HE686 'The Lady Armaghdale' from I.C.I. Ltd., Dyestuffs Division, Blackley Works, Manchester. The locomotive (which was formerly owned by the Manchester Ship Canal Co. Ltd.) was also moved to the S.V.R., Bridgnorth in July 1969. In 1993 the Warwickshire Industrial Locomotive Trust (a registered Charity) was formed to help raise funds for a new boiler (for MW2047) which is due to be placed on order shortly.

In early 1970 a group of enthusiasts from W.R.S. and S.V.R. formed the 15xx Pannier Tank Trust and were able to purchase Ex.BR Pannier Tank No.1501 from the N.C.B. (in fact all three locomotives 1501, 1502, & 1509 were initially purchased but regretably two had to be sacrificed to save the third) and moved by rail from Coventry Colliery (via Tyseley for tyre re-profiling) to Bewdley on the Severn Valley Railway in October 1970. The trust was later re-formed (2006) as the 1501 Pannier Tank Association (a registered Charity).

All three locomotives mentioned above are currenly stll based on the Severn Valley Railway with MW2047 presently  underging overhaul at Bewdley, HE686 on static display at The Engine House Visitor Centre, Highley and 1501 in S.V.R. service.  All three locomotives have visited other locations since their arrival on the S.V.R.  Details of these visits can be found on the owning groups own websites (see Section F).