LMS Furness Class 9004 City of Torfield

LMS Furness Class 9004 City of Torfield (British Railways number 99004, TOPS number 98950) is the only preserved steam locomotive based at Torfield TRSMD.

City of Torfield, as she was named by LMS and continues to be known by, is an 0-4-0 tank locomotive built in 1920 by North British Locomotive. She is classified as Class 98 under TOPS, like all mainline steam locomotives.

She is the only remaining example of the LMS Furness Class, built for the Furness Railway in the 1920s.

She is owned by the Torfield Preservation Group and painted in Furness Railway maroon livery.

History
The locomotive was one of fifteen 0-4-0 tank locomotives built in 1920 by North British Locomotive for the Furness Railway, being numbered 33 and carrying their standard maroon livery.

In 1923, the locomotive passed into the hands of the London, Midland, and Scottish Railway (LMS). The livery was slightly modified, with the addition of LMS logos and the display of new fleet number 9004. In 1925, she was named City of Torfield and designated to the LMS Furness Class, which contained all fifteen of the 0-4-0s built for the Furness Railway as well as several similar locomotives built new for LMS.

In 1948, the locomotive passed into the hands of British Railways, where it was given the fleet number 99004 and was repainted for a time into apple green livery, although it was soon repainted into a plain black livery and denamed.

The locomotive was withdrawn in 1963 and stored. It frequently changed hands with several different preservationists over the years, who each did little more than prevent it from falling into a state of decay before moving it on to another preservationist.

In 2010, the delapidated locomotive passed into the hands of the Torfield Preservationists Trust (later renamed to the Torfield Preservation Group). Here the locomotive was fully refurbished and returned to it's former glory. It was repainted back into Furness Railway's maroon livery and reunited with it's City of Torfield nameplates and LMS 9004 fleet number. In 2011, the locomotive returned to service after forty-eight years on the sidelines.

The locomotive suffered a boiler explosion in August 2011 and was temporarily withdrawn. After comprehensive repairs she re-entered service in September and conducted a number of tours over the Christmas period.

On 10 March 2012, the locomotive suffered a failure that was described as 'gravely serious' while working a tour at Torfield railway station. The locomotive was later withdrawn by the TPG, who admitted they were unsure if the locomotive would ever re-enter service. However, she entered the repairs workshop in 2013, despite all rumours.

City of Torfield returned to service with the "Furness Express" railtour on 1 June 2014, twenty-six months after her serious failure.