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Following their acquisition of [[2047 Warwickshire | MW 2047 Warwickshire]] in 1967, 686 was the second locomotive to be purchased by the [[Warwickshire Industrial Loco Locomotive Preservation Group Trust | Warwickshire Industrial Loco Preservation Group]], arriving on the Severn Valley Railway on 14 July 1969.<ref>SVR Stock Book Ninth Edition</ref> It is allocated [[TOPS codes#TOPS_locomotive_classification_and_numbering|TOPS]] number 98186 and is one of three standard gauge locomotives have run on the mainline that were not previously in BR stock; for numbering it was assigned power class 1F on the basis of its tractive effort<ref>[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Rail_Class_98 British Rail Class 98 on Wikipedia] (Retrieved 12 September 2023)</ref>.

In June 1992, fellow Manchester Ship Canal locomotive Hudswell Clarke 680/1903 No 32 'Gothenburg' [[Steam Locomotives visiting the SVR for galas#1992 | visited the SVR]] for a ‘Thomas the Tank Engine’ event. Following this successful visit, the WILPG agreed that 686 should be overhauled, converted and registered as ‘Thomas’ for use in future such events. The overhaul required further modifications including new tanks, steam heating, bunker rails to improve coal capacity and a new chimney and smokebox. Life as ‘Thomas’ began in March 1994 at Didcot Railway Centre, where the locomotive was [[TOPS codes|specially registered ]] to allow a movement over BR metals from the delivery point at the nearby power station.<ref>[[Bibliography#Books | Shaw (1998)]] p. 43.</ref>

A quick overhaul was carried out allowing a return to steam by 2001. 686 resumed duties as ‘Thomas’ in 2002, again [[SVR-based locomotives visiting other events|visiting many railways in the UK and also making overseas visits to Holland (Z.L.S.M.) and Germany (Krefeld) in 2005]]. After being withdrawn from service in September 2009, once again with boiler issues, 686 has been was cosmetically restored in at Bridgnorth into ICI red liveryas 'The Lady Armaghdale'. The locomotive then entered [[The Engine House]] on 18 October to be displayed while awaiting overhaul.<ref>SVR News 171</ref> She briefly left The Engine House on a few occasions, in March 2012 to visit the NEC (Best of Britain Exhibition) and again briefly in June 2018 and {{As March 2019 during shunts of|2017|lc=y}} is on display in displayed locomotives. In July 2019 she was extricated from [[The Engine House | ]] and transported from Bridgnorth for display at the Chateau Impney Hill Climb Motorsport event. The locomotive again left the Engine Housein June 2021 in order to create space for a 'Staycation' event, 'temporarily' moving to [[Kidderminster Carriage Shed]].<ref>[https://wilt.jimdo.com/7b-0-6-0t-he686-of-1898/ WILT]</ref> In the event it continued its storage there, occasionally appearing on display, such as at Kidderminster during the 2023 [[Christmas services]] while awaiting overhaul.