LBSCR E4 No. 650

LBSCR E4 No. 650 was purchased from a failing heritage railway on the East Coast, around Tyne Dock. The original owner had intended to turn the 0-6-2T into a 2-6-0T with inside cylinders, but the design wouldn't have allowed for the transformation of the loco, and the owner's brother decided to sell the engine off to attempt to recuperate some of the money spent on purchasing the engine from BR.

When the engine arrived on the railway, Mr. Phoenix had been in a bit of a bind, having to spare the odd shunting engine he owned, hoping it'd be capable for long journeys, including the climb from Gainford. The Warehouses at Rise Carr depot, on the same side as the works and Whessoe Foundry, needed an engine to shunt the yards and take hop goods trains.

The engine, repainted into his LBSCR Umber livery, settled into life in obscurity. He was and is capable of handling trains from the warehouse, as well as the shunting in the yard. Occasionally, when the yard or warehouses are closed for repairs, the engine does turns on MoW trains and even acts as shed pilot at West Auckland.

In 1975, 650 was used on a fast fish train from Piercebridge, taking it in relay with 945 and he was just as capable of the work as the 4p, while keeping a relatively same speed as to the 4P itself. He's earned the nickname the "Small Punchbox" by crews due to his ability to punch with the big engines.