John Fowler & Co., Works Number 4220007 built in 1960.
KETTON No.1 – KETTON PORTLAND CEMENT Co Ltd., Ketton Quarries, Rutland.
This small locomotive was supplied on the 4th April 1960 to the Ketton Cement works to replace the fleet of old steam locomotives and despite being a modern motive power unit, was specified with sprung “Dumb Buffers” for working with the Victorian wooden side tipping wagons then used in the quarry railway to deliver raw materials for the cement works. The locomotive still retains its original Leyland 176hp diesel engine and a stick change gearbox which gives a ride sound reminiscent of a vintage bus! Steel quarry wagons were introduced and the Museum’s collection includes three quarry wagons that once worked with the locomotive.
The locomotive gave loyal service at Ketton Cement Works on the quarry railway but after a period out of use was isolated on a length of track within the works. Looking woebegone under a layer of accumulated cement dust, now set hard, the loco was eventually donated to the Museum as a representative of one of the few non-ironstone rail served quarry systems in Rutland.
The loco arrived on 24th March 2005 and was started up and run for the first time only a few days afterwards.
Having spent a number of years displayed in its ex-industry condition many hours of restoration work later means that a return to operational service is anticipated in the short term.