More famous for its road-going steam vehicles, Sentinel were not one of the most common locomotive builders for the industrial market, but they offered something not many others could. With its vertical boiler and encased engine and cylinders, these locomotives were economical, could be driven by one man and took very little to maintain or prepare, making them ideal for small operations like ‘Ann’ was destined for.
Ordered by British Tar Products Ltd of Cadishead in South Manchester, it was pressed into service in the autumn of that year and was the works’ sole shunter, moving tar and other related products around the site until its eventual retirement in 1969. It is thought that the name ‘Ann’ came from the managing director’s daughter.
Throughout its whole working life at the Tar works, ‘Ann’ was only ever crewed by three men, a Father and his two sons.
Retired from Service
In 1971, the loco was donated to the fledgling Yorkshire Dales Railway in Embsay, North Yorkshire, where the loco stood idle for over a decade until its restoration began.
The locomotive returned to steam in 1997 and was used periodically for shunting demonstrations and steam heating of carriages during the winter months.
In 2020, during the height of the lockdown, the loco was bought by Callum Porter and Chris Boocock, and moved to the East Lancashire Railway at Bury, where restoration began immediately. Within 7 months, the loco had received a full overhaul including a new firebox, several new boiler fittings, full plate work repairs and a new paint job into what we believe to be pretty close to original.
One other major upgrade was the addition of an extra set of gears, meaning ‘Ann’ was capable of travelling at 14 mph as opposed to its original 6 mph, giving it much more versatility.
Since 2024, the loco has been a resident at the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway in West Yorkshire, where the loco is used on events and as a shed pet for some much-needed enjoyment and training.
‘Ann’s’ visit to Steam on the Square: Dockyard in Motion is sponsored by Rapido Trains UK
