Barclay 0-6-0DH built 1964, number 486 "Meaford Power Station Locomotive No 4"

Kilmarnock, Scotland was the place of manufacture for this, the newest locomotive at the Foxfield Railway.  A 311hp engine powers the drive through hydraulic transmission to six coupled wheels with a flangeless centre set to cope with sharp curves, and the cab is positioned to allow good visibility in either direction.  Originally supplied by Andrew Barclay & Sons Ltd to West Burton Power Station, Gainsborough in Nottinghamshire in 1964, it was there known as "West Burton No1".  It was transferred to Meaford Power Station near Stone on 25 August 1979, to share duties with three smaller Barclay four wheeled diesel hydraulics that had replaced the steam fleet at Meaford in late 1969.  The smaller Barclays were "Locomotive No1", "Locomotive No2", and "Locomotive No3", so with impeccable logic but not much imagination, their new larger stablemate was called "Locomotive No4".  Together they brought coal into the power station that had been delivered in block trains by British Rail (see CEGB Tippler wagon no 23).

"Locomotive No2" and "Locomotive No3" fell out of use and were scrapped at Meaford in March 1983, and railborne traffic to the power station ceased in the mid 1980s.  Preservation of the remaining two locomotives was considered then, but it was not until 1990 that they became available. National Power (successor to the CEGB) offered "Locomotive No4" to the Foxfield Railway provided that it was preserved in the latest National Power orange livery with NP logos.  In immaculate condition it was delivered by road to Foxfield on 24 August 1990 and officially handed over to the railway in front of television cameras on 5 October.  By 2003 the paintwork was becoming rather faded so "Locomotive No4" has been treated to a repaint, and remains a powerful and useful part of the diesel fleet.

The previous generation of locomotives at Meaford Power Station is represented at Foxfield by 0-6-0 side tank "Meaford No2".

For details of the preservation of "Locomotive No 1" at the Embsay & Bolton Abbey Railway see the loco's webpage at: http://www.pogo.org.uk/railway/meaford.html