Performing well on the Embsay Bolton Abbey line
Wearing the guise of BR 68005. Of the 485 'Austerities' constructed, around 70 have survived into preservation. Although the Hunslet Engine Company were responsible for the design, not all of these locomotives were built by the company. In order to meet wartime demand, Hunslet subcontracted some of the construction to Andrew Barclay Sons & Co., W. G. Bagnall, Hudswell Clarke, Robert Stephenson and Hawthorns and the Vulcan Foundry.
Despite its number and livery, 68005 is not an ex-BR engine, rather a standard Austerity, built by Robert Stephenson & Hawthorn (7169) in 1945. As with almost all the railway's locomotives, it spent all its life in industrial service prior to preservation.
It came to the railway from the East Somerset Railway, who had acquired it from NCB Swallwell, and converted it to resemble a BR version, taking the number just prior to the BR series. This was one of the first locos to be 'converted' in this manner (now a more common occurrance), and the job was carried out very thoroughly, as can be seen from the photographs. 
Being an Austerity design, it is very well suited to the line, as these locos can handle trains superbly, despite the climb from Bolton Abbey, and have been free steaming.
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