This loco was built as a “protected” 40HP and would therefore have originally looked like no.47. It was ex-works from Motor Rail in Bedford on 10 September 1918, and was allocated number LR3041 by the War Department Light Railways. Whether it ever left the UK is open to conjecture. The First World War only lasted for two more months, and the “Hundred Days Offensive” was well under way by September, sweeping away the network of trenches and the light raitways which supported static attrition warfare.
After the end of the First World War, it was sold as surplus to Inns & Co., Moor Hill Pits, Crnney Street. This location is now underneath the M25 and the London Colney shopping centre! It was later stored at Redland-lnns Waterford depot, Hertfordshire. The loco was initially preserved at the Brockham Museum in January 1978 and then moved to the Amberley museum on 7 February 1983 (when Brockham closed). In late 1989 or early 1990, the loco went north to Ian Jolly’s private railway near Mold. The loco moved to the Cadeby Light Railway on 5 March 1994 and then to Apedale on 29 April 2006. When new, this locomotive would have been fitted with a Dorman 4JO petrol engine. However, when at Inns & Co, it was heavily rebuilt with the current diesel engine. At or around this time, the bodywork was changed to give the loco its current appearance. It gains its name from this bodywork that resembles a post-Second World War tower block.
2017 saw the start of a major restoration project on the loco. The engine was in poor condition, and was becoming difficult to start and run. A decision was taken to retain the bodywork in its later configuration, as this was appropriate if the loco retained its diesel engine. Replacement wheelsets were sourced, as the previous ones had extremely sharp flanges, which posed a considerable derailment risk. The engine was sent away to a specialist, where it was found the bores were severely pitted and one cylinder head (each head covers two of the four cylinders) was cracked, fortunately a replacement head was found. The bores were relined and the original pistons turned down to suit. Meanwhile at Apedale, the rest of the loco underwent a ground up restoration, including the replacement of 100+ individual radiator tubes with new ones, which were assembled at Apedale from individual fins (more than 22000 in the completed radiator) and copper pipe. As the sheet metalwork of the body was in poor condition, new sheets were cut and fitted to the loco as per the original. Once the engine returned the remaining parts, including the sump and the refurbished fuel pump were reinstated and the engine fitted to the loco. The loco is now very reliable and useful, it has also electric start (the ring gear and mounting point were already on the loco) and is a world away from the clapped out condition it was in before restoration.
Moseley Railway Trust Fleet List 