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This class of steam locomotive was designed by H.G.Ivatt for the London Midland & Scottish Railway. Construction of the type began 1946. The railways were nationalised in 1948 and the modern Ivatt 2MT was deemed suitable for continued construction. This particular locomotive, 46512, was built in 1952 in the ex-Great Western Railway workshops at Swindon and was initially allocated to Oswestry Shed where she replaced older types. She worked the last passenger train over the Llanfyllin branch on the 17 January 1965. After this she was transferred to Willesden - finally returning to the tracks of the old LMS, the company for which she was designed. With dieselisation advancing rapidly, she was withdrawn from Crewe in November 1965 and sold for scrap, arriving at Barry Scrapyard in June 1966. She was rescued from Barry Scrapyard in 1982 and rebuilt at Aviemore - the work being completed in 1999. She carries the name E.V.Cooper Engineer in recognition of the engineer who oversaw the rebuild.

Information from the Strathspey Railway and the Cambrian Railway Forum.