Built in 1959 to works number RH 431761/1959, 97654 was one of 5 'Ruston & Hornsby' diesel shunters purchased new by the Western Region of BR in 1953/1959 for PW duties. Numbered as PWM654 by the Western Region, it was delivered to Hookgate Welded Rail Terminal. However, it proved unpoplar for shunting Long Welded Rail Trains and by 1964 it was transferred to Newland PAD, which remained it's home until 1982. In April 1982 it was called into Swindon Works for an overhaul, which seen it emerge in Yellow livery and numbered 97654 under the TOPS system. Used on PW trains during the Paddington Remodelling in 1993, it was taken out of use and stored at Reading. In 1997 it was purchased by Jarvis Rail, whom moved it to Scotland with the intention of allocating it to Dalmeny to operate PW trains on the Forth Rail Bridge. It was delivered by road to Millerhill Depot, and ran under it's own power to Slateford OTP depot (via the Edinburgh Suburban Line). Here, it underwent asessment but unfortunately, without even seeing Dalmeny, it was deemed unsuitable for use on PW trains on the Forth Rail Bridge on a technicality and lay unused at Slateford OTP depot, although it was started up every so often here and even done the odd spot of shunting a track machine around the yard. In 2005, 97654 was purchased by Heritage Shunters Trust who moved it to Peak Rail in Derbyshire. In this illustration, taken on Sun 4th Mar 2007 at 13:58, 97654 stands at Roweley South on the Peak Rail.

Photo: Ross Aitken (aos@blueyonder.co.uk)
Website: http://garagecat.fotopic.net