Andrew Barclay ROFs Nos. 578 & 579

Number 578 and number 579 are a pair of diesel-hydraulic shunting locomotives that were introduced to the Royal Ordnance Factory (ROF) in Puriton, near Bridgwater in 1972 as replacements for existing lower-powered locomotives that were unable to haul works trains over the gradients associated with the bridge that had been built over the brand new M5 motorway, just north of junction 23. Both locomotives were loaned to the West Somerset Railway by ROF parent company BAE Systems when the works closed in the 1990’s, with the formal ownership transferring to the West Somerset Railway as recently as 2019.

Locomotive Status: Both Operational