48305 Class 8F in maintenance at LoughboroughPhotographed on 28 September 2008.
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 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 It was withdrawn from there in January 1968 and arrived at Woodham's scrapyard at Barry in September 1968.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.
After a few years away, the engine returned to the Great Central Railway in April 2006.
Picture added on 03 October 2008
Added by Peter Langsdale on 29 August 2011.