Hunslet Works No 686 ‘The Lady Armaghdale’ is the oldest engine at the Severn Valley Railway and has recently made a rare public appearance at Kidderminster Town station.

The special appearance took place between 1pm and 3pm on Saturday the 7th of October with locomotive owners, The Warwickshire Industrial Locomotive Preservation Trust present to discuss the loco’s history alongside cutting a birthday cake to mark the special occasion.

​Following the display at Kidderminster Town station, the locomotive was returned to the Severn Valley Railways’ Autumn Steam Gala, where a ceremony was carried out on the dock platform.

The stunning little locomotive was built by Hunslet of Leeds for the Manchester Ship Canal where it worked for 65 years. In 1963, the locomotive moved to ICI in Manchester, where it took on the name of ‘The Lady Armaghdale’ prior to moving into preservation at the Severn Valley Railway in 1969.

Nigel Cripps, Chair of the Warwickshire Industrial Locomotive Preservation Trust, said: ​“The ‘Lady Armaghdale’ isn’t historically very significant, but its life story is much more interesting. During its life it has changed gender four times, had three owners and has twice escaped the scrapyard. In preservation, it is well-travelled, having visited the continent on three occasions on ‘Thomas’ duties.”

“The birthday event for Lady Armaghdale created a lot of interest. We used the Shrewsbury observation saloon (ex-WR inspection saloon 80972) serviced by staff from the King and Castle, which was very successful. David Cooke, secretary of the predecessor group founded in 1966, cut the cake… or more accurately, what was left of it. Earlier, one of our members brought his one-year-old twin daughters, and they refused to go home without some of the cake to share with their mum!”