Darren

Darren is a LMS/S&DJR 2P that works on the South Western Heritage Railway. He is preserved in operational condition and one of the railway's few ex-LMS locomotives.

Bio
Darren was built at the ex-Midland Railway's Derby works in 1929 by the LMS (London, Midland and Scottish Railway) for express runs on the S&DJR. (Somerset & Dorset Joint Railway) as "S&D" number 49 but his LMS number is 576. In 1930, He was repainted to LMS black with red lining and his true number of 576 but ran in S&DJR "Prussian Blue" from March 23rd to July 18th of 1935.In 1948, he became BR No: 40576 and was stationed at Drumfries, Scotland. He was withdrawn by British Railways on November 30, 1959 and was sent to Derby's rivial's scrapyard at Crewe. In 1991, the South Western Heritage Railway was struggling with Swithland Hall and the heavy holiday traffic. Mr Davis and his 16-year-old daughter (Ginvera Davis) to Crewe because of the arrival of 5 ex-LMS "57ft" bogie coaches that were under restoration. Ginvera was surprised to see a lot of diesel going for scrap, she thought looking for an ex-LMS steam locomotive will be "Like looking for a needle in a haystack."

She found Darren (by accident) by looking under a class 20 written off in a derailment, she knew the wheels see saw when looking under that diesel was a steam locomotive because the wheels were larger then the diesel's bogie wheels. Mr Davis bought Darren from scrap for 5000 and Billinton (who they brought to take the engine they have bought) shoot steam over Darren, his wish of being rescued had come true.

Livery
Ever since his restoration, Darren has always been painted in S&DJR Prussian Blue livery with his S&DJR number, 49.

Trivia
Darren was rescued from Crewe scrapyard in 1991 but the real 40576 was scrapped at Cowlairs works in 1960.

Darren was originally going to be a reskinned LMS 2P for Railworks but this was changed for a custom model.