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Ruston LAT ZM-32 "Horwich"

S.G.L.R. No.11 - This famous locomotive is a conventional Ruston & Hornsby 20hp Class LAT diesel locomotive, but enjoys considerably more celebrity than any similar machine due to it having been in the ownership of British Railways as their no. ZM32.   It was built in 1957 as works number 416214 and worked for seven years on the 1’6" gauge railway at Horwich Locomotive Works in Lancashire until the line’s closure.  An intended export to British Honduras in 1965 failed and it remained in store until 1971, when it was purchased by preservationist Richard Morris, who had it re-gauged to 2’0”.   It spent from 1976 until 1997 at the Narrow Gauge Railway Centre at Gloddfa Ganol Slate Mine in Blaenau Ffestiniog.  Upon closure of this tourist attraction it was to have been auctioned in early 1998 with the rest of the locos there, but it was withdrawn and sold directly to a member of the S.G.L.R. Society.  In late 1999 it was sent to F.M.B. Engineering in Hampshire, where it was re-gauged back to 1’6” and fitted with air braking.  Returning to Derbyshire the following summer it gained ZM32 number plates and the name HORWICH.  In the November a mechanical fault occurred and two weeks later the loco was sent to Dorothea Restorations at Whaley Bridge for attention, eventually returning to the line at the beginning of 2003.  During its time away it was repainted in Brunswick green livery complete with the British Railways "Lion and Wheel" emblem.   No.11 sees fairly regular use at the S.G.L.R

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