Supplied new to T. Roddis Ltd of Roade, Northants with sister engine No. 1553 “Hilda”. Two years later the pair were sold to Bomford Bros of Pitchill, Warks and in 1935 moved to Bomford & Evershed of Salford Priors in the same county. During the winter of 1936/7 they worked in the village of Rye Harbour in Kent and were subsequently purchased by the River Wye Catchment Board. By 1943 the engines were with the Bristol Corporation and were being used on the demolition of buildings that had been damaged by bombing. The engines ended up in R. Edwards & Sons yard in Swindon. In 1958 “Hilda” was cut up, but “Hero” was sold for soil sterilising at Locke’s Nurseries in Langport, Somerset. From here the late G. Hawkins purchased the engine for preservation in the early 1960’s. The present owners started looking after the engine in 1962 and subsequently became the owners.
