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additional info and history plus pictures
686 was purchased by the [[Warwickshire Industrial Loco Preservation Group | Warwickshire Industrial Loco Preservation Group]] in 1969, arriving on the Severn Valley Railway in July of that year.
Since arrival, 686 has spent some time serving as ‘Thomas’ both on the SVR and elsewhere, including overseas. She has also appeared in film and TV productions including [[The Incredible Dr. Baldick]]. Although not sufficiently powerful to haul service trains, 686 has from time to time acted as 'station pilot' and shunter. 1998 marked the centenary of HE 686. The locomotive began the year as a roving ‘Thomas’ and was photographed by David Cooke at the East Lancashire Railway in May of that year (see gallery). By October, 686 had been repainted in the more appropriate livery of Manchester Ship Canal No 14 and, as part of the celebrations, re-visited the East Lancashire Railway (see gallery) in the county where she first worked and the Middleton Railway in Leeds, the city where she was built.
After being withdrawn from service in September 2008, 686 has been cosmetically restored in ICI red livery, and is currently on display in [[The Engine House | The Engine House]] while awaiting overhaul.
<gallery>
File:HE_686_at_Hampton_Loade_1972.jpg | 686 cosmetically modified for filming in 1972 (David Cooke)
File:HE_686_ ELR_as_Thomas.jpg | 686 appearing as 'Thomas' on the ELR, May 1998 (David Cooke)
File: HE_686_ELR_as_MSC_14.jpg | 686 as MSC No 14, Buckley Wells October 1998 (David Cooke)
</gallery>
