These small steam locomotives were built at the Caledonia Works, Kilmarnock, of Andrew Barclays and Sons Ltd in Scotland. They are 0-4-0 wheel arrangement saddle tank engines (meaning the water tank is on top and around the boiler).

 

“2217” spent its working life at the Kilnhurst Tar Works of Yorkshire Tar Distillers near Swinton in Rotherham, a period of some 23 years, before being made redundant about 1970. This locomotive was despatched to store at Tinsley in Sheffield where they were to remain for some 35 years until being acquired on long-term loan by the Ecclesbourne Valley Railway Association, who have restored it.

 

There are a large number of this type of locomotive in preservation, in particular with the Ayrshire Railway Preservation Society, the Swindon and Cricklade Railway, Bowes Railway, East Anglian Railway Museum, Buckingham Railway Society etc.

 

In the case of “2217”, on arrival, it was in a perfectly filthy condition, as the method of keeping it intact was to pour lorry sump oil on it from time to time. Primitive, but effective. It had (possibly) a black or dark green livery, or that may just be tar. Following the return to traffic after restoration, "Henry Ellison" is mainly used shuttling up and down the 1 in 27 incline to Ravenstor on special events but occasionally forays further down the line too.