Stanier 8F 48305

After the war, the 8Fs were concentrated on the London Midland Region - their natural home. They were augmented by some of those brought back from overseas service both of original LMS build that had been commandeered in the early days of the war and some of the North British built ones. Those on the GWR and LNER were replaced by Austerity 2-8-0s - a poor exchange in the opinion of many engine crews. A few of the 8Fs survived to the end of steam in 1968.

No. 8305 was built in November 1943. In 1950, it was working from Wellingborough shed on the coal trains to Brent Sidings, Cricklewood, and to Toton. In April 1957, it was transferred to Northampton, remaining there for the next 5½ years until its next transfer to Crewe South in December 1962. After 2 .5 years there, it went to Northwich for 3 months before it made its final transfer to Speke junction in Liverpool. It was withdrawn from there in January 1968 and arrived at Woodham's scrapyard at Barry in September 1968.

Whilst at Barry, it became well known as the engine with the slogan "please don't let me die", and the crying face on the smokebox door. It remained at Barry until it was transported to Loughborough, the engine arriving at Quorn on November 20th 1985. and the tender followed on April 22nd 1988. The restoration was completed to BR unlined black livery in early 1995. The engine visited the Midland Railway centre that summer, returning via Toton wheel lathe.