In 2020, Jack Dibnah, son of the late Fred Dibnah MBE, the famous Bolton steeplejack and TV personality, acquired the Kerr Stuart 0-4-0ST Witch class locomotive, works number 4388, with a view to restoring it to full working order. The locomotive was built in 1926 to an unusual design with outside valve gear and a very small saddle tank. It was built to shunt coal wagons for the Brith Gas Light Company’s works in Stoke-on-Trent. It arrived at the Foxfield Heritage Railway in 1983 where it was restored to steam, and ran until 1999, after which it was stored pending an overhaul. The loco was acquired by Jack Dibnah in 2020, and was in a decrepit state requiring major restoration work.
Its overhaul and rebuild has seen a lot of work carried out which has included the fitment of a new saddle tank. A major milestone was reached in June 2022 when it was steamed in one piece for the first time since 1999, and restoration work continued delivering the completed locomotive as it can be seen today, and in recognition of this work, Jack has been presented with Lady McAlpine’s special recognition award.
