Manning Wardle 0-6-0ST

This locomotive was the last locomotive to be built by the locomotive building firm of Manning Wardle and Co. Ltd. of Leeds, which went into voluntary liquidation in 1927 after 68 years of existence. In August 1926, it was delivered to the Rugby Portland Cement Company Ltd.

2047 was put to work hauling wooden-framed tippler wagons on the steeply-graded line between the  limestone quarry and the crushing plant, and for this task was fitted with square ‘dumb buffers’. Apart from spending a short period at the Southam Works in 1943, 2047 was used at New Bilton, together with an earlier Manning Wardle-built locomotive, until the mid-1950’s, when a conveyor system was installed to transport the stone, the track in the quarry being removed.

Following a complete overhaul in 1954, including the fitting of a new firebox, 2047 found a new lease of life hauling coal trains from the exchange sidings on the B.R. Rugby to Leamington line to the works. 2047 continued on this duty until 1966, when it was decided that a diesel locomotive would be more economical, as only three or four hours of work per day were involved. Although 2047 was not used after December 1966, it was not officially removed from the active list until May 1967, when it was offered for sale for the very modest sum of £150, as the firm was keen to see the locomotive preserved. The loco was bought by the ‘Warwickshire Industrial Locomotive Preservation Troup, and in October was moved to Bridgnorth by road.

After arrival, 2047 was completely stripped of its cab, tank and boiler cladding and a hydraulic boiler test was successfully performed. Following re-assembly and painting in blue livery, the locomotive was first steamed in December 1968, thereafter being used fairly regularly on such duties as stock shunting, works trains, and footplate rides in Bridgnorth yard. A complete repaint was made in July 1974, and 2047 then appeared with black and white lining and carrying the name ‘Warwickshire’ to commemorate forty years’ work in that county. In that guise, it visited the Royal Show at Stoneleigh, Warwickshire in 1974.

2047 was taken apart at Bridgnorth in the summer of 1993, and found to require very extensive boiler work; after cosmetic restoration into a very attractive green livery, the engine then went on static display at Kidderminster Railway Museum.

In 2010, it was moved back to Bridgnorth for restoration to begin, and then in 2019 to Bewdley for work to continue.  A new boiler is to be constructed, and hopefully, 2047 will be back in steam before too long!

More info may be obtained here and at the Warwickshire Industrial Locomotive Trust website.