One of 155 members of a class of narrow gauge locos built ordered by the UK War Department from Hunslet in Leeds for use behind the trenches during WW1 for the movement of personnel, munitions, and equipment. The 4-6-0T locomotive, Works No. 1215 was built in 1916. It was returned to UK from near Brisbane, Australia in Sept 2005. The locomotive was built at a time when Hunslet were also constructing arms and munitions as well as locos. These locos ended up in diverse locations such as the Scottish Highlands, the Pampas of Argentina, Harrogate gasworks, Australian Canefields, Oxfordshire Ironstone and Palestinian Power Stations. 1215 is now owned by the War Office Loco Society, which is raising funds for its restoration. Currently on display at Locomotion, the NRM’s annexe at Shildon, it is believed to be the only one of its type in the Northern Hemisphere. Four others survive in Australia, including one at the Australian War Memorial museum in Canberra.
