Locomotive Services Limited
Locomotive Services Limited is a train operating company in Great Britain. The company operates rail tours using heritage steam, diesel and electric locomotives with support from associated companies and trusts.
History
In August 2017, Locomotive Services Limited was granted an operating licence by the Office of Rail & Road allowing it to operate mainline trains in the United Kingdom. Based at Crewe Diesel TMD, it is owned by Jeremy Hosking. It operated its first tour from to Kingussie in March 2018.It built up a fleet of, and, mainly acquired from Direct Rail Services. In December 2017, it purchased two - D9000 and D9016. The former is being restored at Locomotive Services' Crewe depot, whilst the latter has been cosmetically restored and transferred to the company's One:One Collection facility in Margate.
In August 2018, preserved D213 Andania (1921)|Andania] joined Locomotive Services on a three-year lease. In 2020, a,, two and an InterCity 125 set were purchased.
Related companies, brands, and trusts
Hosking formed Locomotive Services under Royal Scot Locomotive and General Trust, a company dedicated to the maintenance and operation of steam locomotives owned by the trust, and also a number of other engines owned by Hosking. The company initially operated from a main base at Southall Railway Centre and also a summer outpost at Bristol Barton Hill.Locomotive Diesels Ltd
Already formed under Locomotive Services to handle operations and maintenance of RSLGT's stock of locomotives, which were purchased to assist and move both steam locomotives and coaching stock around the UK network, the division took more prominence after Hosking agreed to acquire two locomotives in November 2017. In January 2018, Locomotive Services announced that they had taken out a three-year loan agreement on a locomotive D213 to operate on the mainline in the later half of 2018.Locomotive Storage Ltd
After acquiring the former Hornby factory in Margate, Kent, the Trust formed Locomotive Storage Ltd, to enable safe and weather-secure storage of locomotives awaiting overhaul, away from the busy main site at Crewe. After refurbishment and the installation of seven tracks, the first stock to arrive on the site was a in May 2018, followed by former LNER Class A4 4464 Bittern on 1 June 2018.Train operating company
In August 2017, the associated company Locomotive Services Ltd obtained the required certifications, licence and agreements to become a UK train operating company enabling the company to operate trains on the mainline network. The first tour was operated from to in March 2018. It subsequently created the associated company Saphos Trains which runs tours and excursions, starting and ending mainly at present from Crewe railway station. Two and an InterCity 125 set were purchased from Porterbrook.The Steam Dreams Rail Company
In June 2022, it was announced that Locomotive Services had purchased Steam Dreams and LNER Thompson Class B1 61306 from former owner David Buck. Steam Dreams now operates under the LSL umbrella, with the operator continuing to operate its own tours too.Fleet
The Crewe-based fleet includes steam, diesel and electric locomotives.Steam locomotives
Not all steam locomotives listed below are owned by RSLGT/Locomotive Services, as some are operating with Locomotive Services under an agreement. Not all are also mainline certified so are restricted to on heritage railways, mainline permitted speed listed below.| Number | Name | Class | Livery | Owner | Tops No | Max Speed | Air Brks | Location | Photograph | Present Status | Mainline Certified | Notes |
| 4270 | GWR 4200 Class | GWR Lined Green | N/A | 25 mph | No | One:One Collection | Stored | No | Stored at Margate | |||
| 5029 Nunney Castle|5029] | Nunney Castle | GWR "Castle" | GWR Lined Green | 98728 | 75 mph | Yes | LNWR Heritage, Crewe | Operational | Yes | Returned to mainline services in 2025 after overhaul. | ||
| 6024 King Edward I|6024] | King Edward I | GWR "King" | BR Green, Late Crest | Royal Scot Locomotive and General Trust | 98824 | 75 mph | Yes | LNWR Heritage, Crewe | Under Overhaul | No, to be certified | Maintained and operated by 6024 Preservation Society. | |
| 6960 Raveningham Hall|6960] | Raveningham Hall | GWR Modified Hall | GWR Lined Green | 98560 | 25 mph | No | One:One Collection | Awaiting overhaul | No | Boiler ticket expired July 2021. Moved to Margate in September 2021 | ||
| SR [West Country class 21C146 Braunton|34046] | Braunton | SR "West Country" | BR Green, Late Crest | Royal Scot Locomotive and General Trust | 98746 | 75 mph | Yes | Bishops Lydeard | Operational | Yes | ||
| 35022 [Holland America">SR Merchant Navy Class 35022 Holland America Line">35022 [Holland America Line|35022] | Holland America Line | SR "Merchant Navy" | N/A | Royal Scot Locomotive and General Trust | 98822 | 75 mph | N/A | LNWR Heritage, Crewe | Stored | No | Awaiting restoration from scrapyard condition. | |
| 35027 Port Line|35027] | Port Line | SR "Merchant Navy" | BR Green, Late Crest | Royal Scot Locomotive and General Trust | 98827 | 75 mph | N/A | LNWR Heritage, Crewe | Stored | No | Awaiting major overhaul. To be fitted with boiler from 35022. | |
| 45231 | The Sherwood Forester | LMS Stanier Class 5 | BR Black, Late Crest | 98531 | 60 mph | Yes | LNWR Heritage, Crewe | Awaiting overhaul | Yes | |||
| 46100 | Royal Scot | LMS "Royal Scot" | BR Green, Early Emblem | Royal Scot Locomotive and General Trust | 98702 | 75 mph | Yes | One:One Collection | Static Display | Yes | Stored at Margate since February 2025 | |
| 60007 | Sir Nigel Gresley | LNER A4 | BR Blue | Sir Nigel Gresley Locomotive Trust | 98898 | 75 mph | Yes | LNWR Heritage, Crewe | Operational | Yes | On ten-year partnership with SNGLT. Worked inaugural post overhaul railtour on 21 May 2022. | |
| 60019 | Bittern | LNER A4 | LNER Garter Blue | 98819 | 75 mph | Yes | No | Moved from the One:One Collection in February 2025 | ||||
| 60532 Blue Peter|60532] | Blue Peter | LNER A2 | BR Blue | Royal Scot Locomotive and General Trust | 98832 | 75 mph | Yes | LNWR Heritage, Crewe | Operational | Yes | 60532 made its debut return to the mainline in May 2024 undertaking its loaded test run on 02/05/24. | |
| 61306 | Mayflower | LNER B1 | BR Apple Green | Locomotive Services Group | 98506 | 75 mph | Yes | LNWR Heritage, Crewe | Operational | Yes | Acquired in June 2022 from David Buck. | |
| BR [Standard Class 7 70000 Britannia|70000] | Britannia | BR Standard Class 7 | BR Green, Late Crest | Royal Scot Locomotive and General Trust | 98700 | 75 mph | Yes | LNWR Heritage, Crewe | Operational | Yes | Withdrawn for repairs to motion following failure of its crosshead on 22 August 2023. Returned to service in March 2024 following completion of repairs. | |
| 71000 | Duke of Gloucester | BR Standard Class 8 | BR Green, Late Crest | BR Class 8 Steam Locomotive Trust | 98800 | 75 mph | Yes | Tyseley Locomotive Works | Operational | Yes | In February 2024, it was announced that the BR Class 8 Steam Locomotive Trust & the Royal Scot Locomotive & General Trust had formed a partnership that will see the operation of 71000 on the mainline after its overhaul is complete. 71000 operated its first train since its overhaul on 6 November 2025. | |
| List of preserved [BR Standard Class 9F locomotives#92212|92212] | BR Standard Class 9F | BR Black, Late Crest | N/A | 25 mph | No | Mid-Hants Railway | Under Overhaul | No | The entire 9F class is banned from mainline running due to flangeless centre wheels. Withdrawn for 10 Year overhaul in late 2019. |
Diesel locomotives
Locomotive Services Ltd & RSLGT Owned Diesels
The locomotives owned by Locomotive Services Ltd and Royal Scot Locomotive and General Trust are listed below.Note: Marked names indicate that the loco is not presently wearing them.
Loco numbers in bold mean their current number.
Shunting Engines
Mainline Diesels
The operational mainline diesel fleet is entirely based at Crewe Diesel Depot. Some locomotives are off site either in storage, on hire or under restoration.Class 43 (HST) Power Cars
Locomotive Services own 9 class 43 powercars, with 7 currently in service. All powercars are used/to be used on the Midland Pullman luxury train service, with the exception of 43083.Preserved Locomotives
Not all diesel locomotives used by Locomotive Services are owned by them, some are on loan to the company for use on railtours. The privately owned locos are listed below.'''Bold = Current number'''